Fingernails

[Bailey]

I figured if we have a topic on make-up, I'm also curious to know about how short others keep their fingernails. As I stated in my other post, I keep mine extremely short, sometimes so short it hurts to give deep pressure in a massage. I try to keep them at a steady medium where nobody can feel them and it won't hurt, but sometimes I'll get carried away, hehehe. How short does everyone keep their fingernails? The times I cut them so short it sometimes hurts, I have no white showing at all. How about everyone else?

 

[Smitty]

Fingernails

seforum.xxxg, that's a little too close for my comfort. i do know that feeling though, when pressure is painful to the fingertip.i keep mine fairly short with a thin white line on each except for one of my pinkies. on one of them i leave just a little bit more so i have one to scratch with. loli do not like to receive hands-on oil/lotion/creme work from someone who have nails longer than their fingertips.

 

[ALL OR NOTHING]

Fingernails

Heh we were trained to cut them back till no white showed. I remember a classmate in tears. She was a perfectionist, and a clinic client had written across her evaluation...

CUT THOSE NAILS!!!


She held up her hands, and protested that they were cut so far back that they [glow=red,2,300]stung[/glow]

The problem was not the length, but that she was pressing the edge of her nail tip into the client's skin when she did deep work along her spine.

Something we all learned to watch out for.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I cut my nails until no white is showing, then I cut them a little more, and then I give them a good scolding about growing so quickly  One grooming tip that helps me is to take a nail buffer and round the tip of my nails downward (instead of sawing from side to side). This helps with the sharp, freshly-cut edge you get. Just don't try this with a regular nail file, or you will get nasty ridges in your nail. The soft, flexible buffers with fine/coarse grit is the one to use.

 

[Saramlou]

I find filing often and cutting less frequently the key.  To answer the original question, no whites!  two cents, Joe E.

 

[Dina W]

Fingernails

Almost no whites. My fingertips, especially on the thumbs just get way too sore if I cut out all the whites. I work on friends and my hubby often and always ask if they can feel my nails. I have not had a problem.

 

[AJ crab rrg |=(]

funnily enough I've just let my grow a bit longer than usual - I've got about an eigth of an inch of white.  I usually keep them even, and I usually split one before it gets to 1/8".  I haven't been very busy lately (summer in Australia and Christmas equals summer slump), plus most of the ones I have been seeing are pregnant, so there is no deep work.If I do a lot of hot stone, the hot water does make my nails split. I tend to use forearm, elbow or stones for deep work so I don't dig in much with my fingers.   I've got those thumbs that bend over at right angles, so even if I do thumb pressure (bad of me!) it is with the pad of the thumb rather than the tip.

 

[Stick]

Fingernails

Almost no white showing! I too scold them for growing too fast!!! I also file them every day to keep any snaggy edges of nail/skin smooth. Oh, if clients only know what we go through......................

 

[Crimson Rebirth]

I keep mine a little longer on the days that I do chair massage.I find that if they are too short, the tips of my thumbs get sore.Once I am done with the chair massages, I file them back till a very little white shows.My nails grow like a weed too!! LOL!  Shame on them!    

 

[Joe l]

No whites for me either!  Actually I file them till there's barely anything left to file/cut.  I get made fun of all the time.  People tell me that my hands look like a 5 year old kids hands.  I buff them too. I use the 4 sided thingy and I love it.  That way they are never sharp or pokey.  I notice too that my nails/fingert tips never hurt when I use this on them.

 

[Ohdipitsmelanie!]

Part of my morning routine to get myself into work mode is to sit down and file my nails after I've set up my workspace.  It gives me five minutes of quiet alone time before I go wash my hands and greet my first client.I think it definately has something to do with how you use your fingertips as well as how long your nails are.  Our new therapist keeps her nails free of whites, but I felt her nails when she worked on me the other day.  She's new to massage, and her technique needs some refinement, but she's gonna be great when she gets some experience under her belt!Katykangaroo

 

[?LFC? ?Torres Torres?]

I thought about this same topic when the make-up thing was discussed.  I keep mine with no white showing either.  Definitely need to file every day.  I have sometimes cut them so short that they hurt sometimes....don't like to do that too much.  They do grow so fast though.  With all the extra circulation to the hands, it really encourages the growth.  They never grew this fast when I WANTED them to.

 

[SirUberNoobPwnr]

Fingernails

Part of my morning routine to get myself into work mode is to sit down and file my nails after I've set up my workspace.  It gives me five minutes of quiet alone time before I go wash my hands and greet my first client.

Katykangaroo

I'm with Katy.  Make it part of your office routine and wash, wash, wash those hands between all your clients.  Dont forget to keep those clean, well manicured fingers away from your nose and you'll avoid most of the cold and flu season ;D

 

[eckxkid]

You nose and your eyes...yep, this will keep you very healthy.  I also wipe down the door knobs on all doors, the hanger in the room and my chair after every client.  It the best way I can help myself and my clients from getting any germs while in my office.  I even go out front and wipe the door handles to get in the building.  People often see me do this and they always give me a funny look.  Then I tell them I'm helping to keep them germ-free and they smile and say thanks!As for painful fingers.  Maybe if you tried to cut them a bit but file them the rest of the way that would keep them from getting sore or tender.  I keep mine very, very short and I don't ever have a problem.  But I do cut first, then file the rest of the way down.  

 

[Pompal 09.]

Fingernails

I'm a doorknob wiper too! (So, how do you get out of a public bathroom? ). Have thought about the chair, but not the hanger, 'till now. I very rarely get sick. Of course I wash my hands constantly and avoid touching my face.I keep my fingernails short. Unfortunately one of MY therapists has a split nail that "gets me" a lot, even though she keeps it short.

 

[Oh Balls!]

Fingernails

The problem was not the length, but that she was pressing the edge of her nail tip into the client's skin when she did deep work along her spine.

I keep some whites (thumb, second and third digit are pretty short and same length; while the fourth is longer than the third, and fifth is longer than the fourth).  Having no whites just hurts me and then I can't do good work.  I have technique which causes me to use mainly my pads, when using hand/finger work and I have not had any complaints of scratching or catching my nails in people's skin.  I know that on occasion I leave a little half moon mark here and there, but it is usually when going very deep in the neck or following under the shoulder blade.  Again, I have asked and no complaints.  So, it is either my clientele or the way I use my fingers that is not a problem.Nice thread!

 

[Dani:)]

(So, how do you get out of a public bathroom? ).  

I usually try to use the paper towel that I've used to dry my hands.  I open the door and then I toss the paper into the trash.  Of course this isn't always possible but I do whatever possible to not touch that knob!   ;D

 

[In my humble opinion...]

Fingernails

I also cut and then file/buff until there is no perceivable nail showing/felt.I would never see a therapist with nails/whites showing or massage anyone if mine were too long. I do not enjoy being scratched or marked and have been in the past. It is also more sanitary to have *no* "whites" at the tip.

 

[Peek prays for all]

Fingernails

I think my fingernails must be different than most people's.When I cut them down-- the nail (thumb, second and third as mentioned above) is actually below the skin line (if you look at the finger from the lateral aspect) -- and, as I said, I still have white.  I can go as far as to cut them down even further and further and I will still have "white".  This is why I mentioned I don't cut them to the nub.  If I did, I would just be bleeding and still have "whites".I am guessing no one elses nails do this?Just curious, must be the way I am made.  

 

[Eliza B]

My fingernails have always been strong and fast growing.  I cut them as short as I can, just a teeny bit of white showing - it seems to protect my tender fingertips a bit.  I keep a file in my car and file them when I am sitting at a red light.  I do miss my nails sometimes - especially when opening packages or picking up really small things.LaLoba