Finger nails are very important to guitarists that use them all or most of the time. I fall into the later section. I tend to use both my pick and finger nails to play. So tend to pay particular attention to what nail care products I use on my nails. I’ve tried some nail care products in the past but I haven’t found the best one for my application.

Here are the top products I’ve used so far.

1. Acrylic finger nails
2. Crazy Glue
3. Ecrinal Durcisseur Vitamine

The Acrylic finger nails are the best I’ve used to date. They are VERY strong and reliable.

The reason I can’t use them is because these things collect bacteria like crazy … or so I’m told! I’ve been informed at work that due to the fact that acrylic nails carry germs easily, anyone at any hospital are forbidden to use them. Damn it!

Talking to a few of the nurses at work about this problem, some say that I can try putting on the hardener they put directly on the acrylic nail to thicken them up and make them just about impossible to brake! i tried it and I found that they would not stick to the nail. I even scuffed them up with emery paper to see if that would help me overcome my predicament but to no avail.

Bruce Cockburn my favorite guitarist of all time uses crazy glue. He once recommended not to apply it while drunk … good point Bruce, mental note! I tried it and at first it worked ok but it later started to look quite bad and it kept flaking off. Next!

Ecrinal Durcisseur Vitamine is what I’ve been using here and there. I found the product easy to apply over and over with fairly descent results. The only thing is that they do not provide the same strength and durability as Acrylic nails do. The best thing about it, is that the product helps out against microbial attacks.

While doing some research on what other guitarist use I came across an interesting article from this one site. It sounded good so I went looking for it. While going over the article it didn’t properly name the products so I wrote them and they replied they don’t know who about the items because the author is not working for them anymore.

I finally tracked him down and this is his reply.

Scratch all that- that was 10 years ago!
Now I use OPI Nail Envy (matte finish) for live playing: 2-3 coats is enough. Then I remove it when I’m home. For that I use Suncoat natural nail polish remover, available at health food stores. For moisturizing my nails daily, I use a bunch of products: L’Occitane Nail & Cuticle Cream; Burt’s Bees Lemon Nail & Cuticle Cream; Onymyrrhe.

So off I go to get me some of his recommended items. Hopefully they work out for me. Below are some links to the new lines of nail care for a guitarist.

• OPI Treatment, Matte Nail Envy, Natural Nail Strengthener
• Natural Nail Polish Remover 60 Milliliters
• Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme, .6-Ounces (Pack of 3)
• Tetra Onymyrrhe Natural Nail Growth Accelerator 1/2oz

Has anyone tried these products for guitar playing? If so how they react? If not, then what do you use to keep your nails in proper working order?

Keep on Jammin’