how long do you keep your fingernails?

[Sartorian]

So I was reading in the Esquire 'Black Book' that a man shouldn't trim his nails below the edge of his fingertip. They state the rule of thumb as having them long enough to pick up a penny. I've always trimmed away all the whites, and I find it a little intrusive if they're that long. For me to grow the nails as long as they say in this book, the whites are going to be a good couple of mm, which seems kind of gross to me. But I'm also wondering if I let them stay long for a while whether the pink will actually grow longer, too.

Just wondering what most well-groomed men here do.

 

[lee_44106]

about 1mm

 

[jkennett]

I keep my fingernails with a couple millimeters of white. If I trim past the white it gets damned painful. So, I guess the pink does indeed grow further up when you keep your nails longer. I've always kept my nails this length and they've never interfered with any dexterity or anything (guitar included).

 

[Rambo]

Everything but the pinky down to the nib. The pink helps with my other extracurricular activities.



From what I see on most other men, I keep mine fairly long. I guess it'd be about the Esquire measurement. I don't like them when they're too short.

 

[Sartorian]

Originally Posted by rambo

Everything but the pinky down to the nib. The pink helps with my other extracurricular activities.



From what I see on most other men, I keep mine fairly long. I guess it'd be about the Esquire measurement. I don't like them when they're too short.

Thanks for the input to all. I trim down to the nib, too: problem is my nib is well below the actual tip of the finger. I guess I'll try keeping them longer and see if the pink will slowly get longer.

 

[LabelKing]

It's impossible for me to trim them down beyond the whites or the tips of the fingers. In fact, many Chinese people think white people's nails are extremely ugly since they either never grow naturally beyond the tips or are trimmed too short.

I do think a slightly longer nail is better-looking.

 

[xchen]

I cut them every weekend and at midweek if they need it but I usually take everything off. I feel gross if I don't and I always notice when someone keeps theirs longer or when they keep the pinky nail long (up to a 1/2 cm sometimes). I just think that's poor hygeine.

 

[Sartorian]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

It's impossible for me to trim them down beyond the whites or the tips of the fingers. In fact, many Chinese people think white people's nails are extremely ugly since they either never grow naturally beyond the tips or are trimmed too short. I do think a slightly longer nail is better-looking.
I'm actually 3/4 Asian.

But out of curiosity, where do your nail whites begin--at the fingertips? Mine are about 2 mm below my fingertips. Oh, and yeah, I agree the look a bit better with a small amount of white, figure that's why they leave some with manicures. But my problem has always been I hate having grime underneath there, and to me, trimming away the excess feels cleaner.

 

[xchen]

In fact, many Chinese people think white people's nails are extremely ugly since they either never grow naturally beyond the tips or are trimmed too short.QUOTE]

I bet Vietnamese people do so especially as it seems like they usually go into the Nail Salon business.

 

[HomerJ]

I can't cut the white out. That would leave my fingers raw but would depend on each individual's finger. I leave 1mm of white except my left pinky is 1" for doing coke.

 

[Dragon]

If you like fingering your girl, it`s better to keep them as short as possible.

 

[Sartorian]

Originally Posted by HomerJ

I can't cut the white out. That would leave my fingers raw but would depend on each individual's finger. I leave 1mm of white except my left pinky is 1" for doing coke.

Originally Posted by Dragon

If you like fingering your girl, it`s better to keep them as short as possible.

Now this thread's picking up some steam. Let 'er rip, fellas...