Why are my fingernails so stubby and short?

[stubbyhands]

(Inspired by the 'Why are my toenails so tiny' thread, I thought I would ask a similar question about my fingernails)

I have really short, stubby fingernails. I feel like they look so childlike. I paint them with a clear varnish to try and make them look as best they can. I have to keep my nails short due to my job so fake nails aren't really an option.

Is there anything that can help? Can pushing the cuticles back help or is this just the shape I'm stuck with? I can't see any half moons on my nails either.

Didn't you answer the question? You keep them short due to work?

Not quite the same but all my nails are different shapes and look really weird. I also can't have false nails due to work. There's obviously more of us with weird nails around that we think!!

Even when I grow them they are still stubby looking (wider than they are long).

Mine are exactly like yours. Watching with interest. I've always wished I could have lovely nails. My fingers are elegant but my nails just look 'stubby' to me.

I think it's just down to our own individual differences, the nail bed size is also genetically determined

Mine are the same.

Mine are quite similar (but I do chew on mine too)

I’ve got my dads short wide nail bed instead of my mums lovely long ones.

You could get rid of quite a lot of cuticle there too, which would make them look longer.

If you push back the cuticles they'll look a lot longer

yes pushing the cuticle back would help slightly but no you would never develop long almond shaped nail beds. i suspect genetic, but i often see this shape in people who bit their nails.

You’ve got very long cuticles. I’d visit a good nail technician to get them removed, then have them painted with gel polish. Ask them to leave a narrow strip down each side to create the illusion of a narrower nail. Use cuticle oil daily to prevent the cuticles growing so long.

Your fingernails are wider than they are long mine are the same surface area but the other way round.
Pushing back the cuticles will help a little, I use cuticle remover and then cuticle oil.
I never trim my cuticles. Use dissolver and a towel or flannel to push them back.

www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/nails/g34386887/best-cuticle-removers/

Does work allow you to have painted nails? If so, there's some trick which involves painting the nail but leaving a small strip at each side bare - makes the nail look slimmer.

Oops, have cross posted - sorry.

You need to push your cuticles back.
Mine are really ugly. My friend from school has the most beautiful nails. She once met a famous nail expert, a man, who told her she had the most beautiful shaped nails he'd ever seen.

Push your cuticles back and your nail bed will look longer. I do mine with a cuticle pusher tool thing every morning when I get out the shower so don't need to use a dissolver product very often.

I have tried to push my cuticles back, trim my cuticles and use cuticle remover but I just can't seem to get the hang of it. No matter what I do the cuticles look messy. I think I need to go to the nail salon, I just feel embarrassed to as I know there's not much to work with lol.

Pushing back the cuticles will reveal a tiny bit more nail but essentially you have short nail beds. It's just how you are made. I would just move on and stop making yourself upset about something genetic

I have similar-looking nails and several years ago DH paid for me to have a manicure as a treat for my birthday.

Never been before, never really done much to my nails at all. The manicurist attacked my cuticles with gusto and my nails have never been the same since. They were never particularly strong, but now they have vertical ridges from nail bed to tip and split a lot more than they used to. I'm positive that they were damaged by the manicurist.

Anyway - moral of the tale is: don't mess with your cuticles too much or it could damage the nail bed.

It’s like asking the question “why have I got short legs” or “why have I got no hips” Just because that’s the shape you are. Your nails won’t change shape in the same way as you won’t grow taller

This happens when you repeatedly cut or bite your nails very short. Yes genetics and your own nail bed plays a part but you could have bigger nails than this for sure. This is my own experience:

The skin that was hidden by the nail then hardens when you cut your nails so short it becomes exposed and dried up. so when new nail growth comes you end up, it acts like a ramp and the nail grows with a lift up too early. You end up getting a wide white stripe at the tip that starts early on the nail bed. If say it should start at 8/10 of the nail, if your nails are super short you could see the white stripe at 6/10. The white edge of a nail at the tip is separation from the nail bed. I think the skin hardening makes the nail lift higher.

The cycle of weak annoying ugly nail begins and you cut it again. But if you can bear it, let them grow with nail hardener applied daily. The first two times they grow they won't look great. Keep applying hardener and only when they are really longer ie beyond your finger tip then file them. It will take 3-6 months for your nails to get healthy and longer again.

Meanwhile you need to strengthen them from the inside with vitamin D and calcium and ideally also a skin hair and nail supplements. Supermarket own brand has the same ingredients as perfectil. Eat protein, fix any nutritional deficiencies. Iron is also a big one affecting nails.

You can push the cuticle back and it will make them longer but don't get too enthusiastic with it. I recommend getting cuticle sticks (available in shops or online), cuticle trimmer scissors and Sally Hanson cuticle remover. You will also need to apply almond oil or a hand cream frequently after washed and very importantly overnight. I also love the Neutrogena hand mask. My hands can look very dehydrated but after this mask my hands look well hydrated and very soft.

Goes without saying, don't use your nails as a tool. Carry a file with you so you tackle any annoying overhangs or file any tiny breakages before they become big.

Women with beautiful hands and feet usually spend time taking care of them especially once they're past 30 it's not a matter of luck anymore but a matter of regular care.

Make moisturizing your hands and cuticles as easy as possible.. I keep one by my bed, sink and in my bag.

So patience and upping the care.

Don’t think that’s the case here though. The white edge on op’s nails starts very near the end of her fingers so the nails haven’t been cut too short. She’s just got nails shaped like that.

Mine also looked wide and flared but after maybe 4 months they become longer looking and more proportionate.

It's easy to push your own cuticles yourself.

So many nail bars mess up nails make sure you go to a reputable one.

@Echosound I think it's the angle of the photo.

I don’t see that at all to be honest