# Curved Index Toes - Normal?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curved-index-toes-normal/497614>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 25, 2009, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curved-index-toes-normal/497614 "2009-05-25T22:46:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![The\_Bith\_Shuffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Bith\_Shuffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Bith_Shuffle)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curved-index-toes-normal/497614/1 "2009-05-25T22:46:49Z")

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My index toenails (that is, the toenails on my “index toes”, the ones next to my big toes) are curved. They curve forward as they grow, staying fairly close to the skin, rather than growing straight out.

Is this an abnormality? Is it medically documented? Is it common?

Cheers,  
Joey

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**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curved-index-toes-normal/497614/2 "2009-05-25T23:51:35Z")

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I don’t know if it’s common or abnormal, but mine seem to do it, too. So you’re not alone.

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curved-index-toes-normal/497614/3 "2009-05-26T08:28:22Z")

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My guess is that it’s caused by the pressure of footwear. The nail on your big toe is thicker, and the other toes are recessed, so they’re not affected as much.

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**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curved-index-toes-normal/497614/4 "2009-05-26T16:26:29Z")

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All of my nails, fingers and toes both, curve forward as they grow; so do other folks’ nails in photos I’ve seen. I’ve never heard of completely straight nails.

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**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curved-index-toes-normal/497614/5 "2009-05-27T16:49:34Z")

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My index-toenails do something similar if I let them get a bit too long.

I believe this is directly linked to higher-than-average IQ 😃