# For f'n sakes, gentlemen: Trim your fingernails! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 16, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400 "2010-12-16T19:17:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400/1 "2010-12-16T19:17:58Z")
Ugh. I’m a dude and I find it in no way difficult to keep my fingernails trimmed. For some reason, though, I’m finding more and more men have long, dirty, disgusting fingernails. If I see a foodservice worker with them, I leave the joint immediately. What’s so hard about keeping your nails trimmed? Hell, bite 'em if you have to. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400/2 "2010-12-16T20:49:49Z")
I don’t mind long fingernails on men or women. DIRTY fingernails are disgusting no matter the length, though. And it’s harder to keep longer fingernails clean. I keep about 1/8 to 1/4 inch of white on my fingernails. Any longer, and they just become too hard to keep clean, and to keep from splitting. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400/3 "2010-12-16T20:59:14Z")
[Okay](http://img.webmd.com/dtmcms/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/articles/health_tools/what_your_nails_say_slideshow/dermnet_photo_of_bitten_nails.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400/4 "2010-12-16T21:00:11Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Ugh. I’m a dude and I find it in no way difficult to keep my fingernails trimmed. For some reason, though, I’m finding more and more men have long, dirty, disgusting fingernails. If I see a foodservice worker with them, I leave the joint immediately. > > What’s so hard about keeping your nails trimmed? **Hell, bite 'em if you have to**. No! No! NO! Do not bite them. If you smash one and there’s a scraggly bit that will catch on stuff the rest of the day then a quick emergency nibble is okay to tide you over 'til you are in the same location as your implements. Other than that biting will not help. I Feel the same way as \*\*Agent Foxtrot \*\*about long dirty nails on a food service worker. My appearance is very low on my list of priorities and even I can manage to keep my nails in order. If I can, anyone can. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400/5 "2010-12-16T21:08:23Z")
But, but… I’m a _flamingo_ guitarist! 😉 Q ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400/6 "2010-12-16T21:10:51Z")
I keep mine clean. But For my whole life I’ve had this weird feeling on the bit of skin that is exposed when my fingernails are cut short. A feeling that makes it very uncomfortable to touch fabric (clothes) ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400/7 "2010-12-16T21:11:59Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > [Okay](http://img.webmd.com/dtmcms/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/articles/health_tools/what_your_nails_say_slideshow/dermnet_photo_of_bitten_nails.jpg). Am I the only guy who can bite his nails to the perfect length? I never use a clipper, yet my nails are always the right length. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400/8 "2010-12-16T21:16:47Z")
Do you have any idea what kind of damage you can do to my delicate girly bits with long fingernails like that? Do you?!? Trim that shit or give up the idea of ever sticking those claws into my pants. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400/9 "2010-12-16T21:50:42Z")
I grow my fingernails long, because the only things I ever touch are bitches and money. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400/10 "2010-12-17T01:08:19Z")
Also, PLEASE trim your toenails if there is even the slightest chance that I may see them. Seriously. Gross. ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400/11 "2010-12-17T01:24:52Z")
I trim my fingernails quite often - it annoys me if I don’t, as I use a keyboard all day. I don’t cut my toenails until I accidentally cut up my wife’s leg(s) in the middle of the night. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400/12 "2010-12-17T01:36:59Z")
Fingernails and toenails, please. Hygiene can go a long way. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400/13 "2010-12-17T01:54:29Z")
I don’t care if they’re clean or dirty - long fingernails on guys is just wrong. I don’t love them on women either, frankly - all I can think about is how much crap is stuck under them. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400/14 "2010-12-17T02:03:10Z")
I agree. Long fingernails on guys are seriously icky. If you’re gonna be touching me, please keep those things short. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400/15 "2010-12-17T03:52:00Z")
Thank you for your opinion, [Sister Aloysius Beauvier](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0918927/quotes?qt0510719) ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400/16 "2010-12-17T08:11:20Z")
Ick ick ICK! Long fingernails on men make my flesh crawl! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400/17 "2010-12-17T14:03:02Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > I keep mine clean. But For my whole life I’ve had this weird feeling on the bit of skin that is exposed when my fingernails are cut short. A feeling that makes it very uncomfortable to touch fabric (clothes) That means you’re cutting them too short. That’s a peeve of mine, nails that are trimmed too short: there should be some white (enough to let the nail perform its protective duty). ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400/18 "2010-12-17T16:55:47Z")
Heh. I used to play the violin in school, so I’d always make sure to keep 'em trimmed. When I forgot and had to play violin the next day, it was always cringeworthy. (Which reminds me, dear high school violin players: pizzicato with your fingernails is NOT OKAY, it sounds gross. Use the pads of your fingers, dammit.) Now that mindset has carried over to typing. I can’t type with long fingernails, because the sound of nails tapping against a keyboard is disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400/19 "2010-12-17T17:08:48Z")
I don’t really understand how hard it is to keep them clean. I generally keep my fingernails long, and trust me they are always clean. But I love my hands, so maybe it’s just that I do take care of my hands…I also wash my hands a lot during the day. Seriously if every time you go to the bathroom you wash your hands with soap and hot water - not because you might get pee on your hands but because you’re there anyway, and it’s a good opportunity - you can easily keep your hands clean. And in food service? No reason not to. I don’t particularly mind men with long nails, though I have never seen any with really long nails. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400/20 "2010-12-17T17:13:44Z")
I trust that YOURS are clean, **Anaa** , but not the general public’s. The general public has trouble remembering to wash their hands after using the toilet, and to even flush the toilet - I’m not trusting that they’re taking particular care to get the area under long fingernails really clean. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fn-sakes-gentlemen-trim-your-fingernails/564400.md?page=2)