To ask why a man may have a single long fingernail?

[parentsonthenet]

Is there a thing to do with having a single long fingernail as a man?

I just caught a glimpse and didn't want to stare but looked like all nails cut down except from nail on little finger.

It was disproportionately long compared to the cut ones too so not like it had just grown quicker than the others.

Grossed me out what is this?

Coke nail 100%

Guitar nails are also long on middle finger and forefinger.

I've dated men into both

I remember seeing a few men in Thailand have one long nail, but I don’t know why they did.
In The Apple by Michael Faber, one of the short stories concerns a man asking a woman to grow a nail long so, on his request, she can stick it in his bum.

I thought coke finger too, maybe it says more about the company I have been exposed to!

If he was South Asian, it was to indicate class/caste. The long pinky nail was to denote he isn't a manual labourer. It's common with blue collar workers in the more rural areas of South Asia, and he may be from one of those communities who migrated here decades ago but keep those traditions.

I assumed coke nail too but, regardless, it's grim.

This is an Asian man thing, it will be the left hand. Right hand for eating and left hand for wiping bum without toilet roll and using water to clean. Very common in Asian countries.

Deffo Coke, I'm an ex addict and tors was very common in men.

My husband plays guitar, as do both of my sons, my dad and brother. A mix of amateur, semi professional and session musician. None of them play the guitar (bass, electric or acoustic) with long nails. You can get clip on finger pics for that purpose that doesn't to your nails to shreds. My Husband plays so frequently that just the act of playing for 1-2 hours a day naturally keeps his nails super short. If he doesn't play for a week or two if we go on holiday then the pressure can tear and split the nails when he starts to play so he has to clip them to be able to play again.

@emmaw1405

It can be seen as a symbol of status and being upper class in some cultures - it indicates that you are not a manual worker so can grow your nails. The little finger is the least used finger so easiest to grow the nail.

I don't think it is coke. He is retired and doesn't seem the type. (Awaits backlash)

But he does seem to come across a bit high and mighty so this suggestion resonates more.

@TedMullins

Agree guitar or cocaine. It looks gross though. The guitar players I've known had longer nails on all fingers on one hand though, not just one. For the person who asked - its to scoop the coke out of the bag and snort it from the nail rather than making a line.

Ah thank you for explaining. Every day is a school day!

Cocaine

@AmandaHugenkiss

Could be cultural, I’ve only ever seen this on men from a specific background.

He's white british.

Just one long fingernail isn’t a lot of help to a guitarist. In fact, it’s precisely 20% of help.

DH plays the banjo so will have a couple of nails long for a specific style of playing, does look odd. But it wouldn’t be the pinky finger so it does seem weird.

@treesandweeds

This is an Asian man thing, it will be the left hand. Right hand for eating and left hand for wiping bum without toilet roll and using water to clean. Very common in Asian countries.

I'm going to regret asking this but what's the relevance of the fingernail?

I was going to say guitar, but DS plays guitar and all nails on that hand are long.

It’s guitar playing. My family member owns a nail salon and has a couple of men coming in for an extension putting on their pinkies only, for this reason (think acrylic/gel tip).

Hairdresser?

I've seen this in Greece (many years ago). As above, it shows that you are not a manual worker so can grow your nails (or at least two of them).

Is he a lemur?

Aye-ayes have one long thin finger for poking grubs out of rotten timber.

I keep my pinky finger nail long to pick my toddlers nose.

He's white british.

Coke spoon

When I lived in Asia a few guys I knew had this. I think it was a luck thing.

My friend and her family are from China and her dad has this, she said it's a cultural thing. I can't remember the reason though now!

@crispsarny

mini coke spoon, used to pick weed apart, scooping out ear wax, bogeys or arse scratcher

Thanks now I feel sick.

Coke spoon!