# When did humans first start needing to trim their fingernails **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 9, 2025, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-humans-first-start-needing-to-trim-their-fingernails/1016838 "2025-04-09T18:56:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-humans-first-start-needing-to-trim-their-fingernails/1016838/21 "2025-04-27T19:01:14Z")
FWIW, I’ve always thought that John Lennon invented the word “toe jam”. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-humans-first-start-needing-to-trim-their-fingernails/1016838/22 "2025-04-28T16:50:14Z")
Hmm, not sure that’s something I would submit to. Seems to leave them a bit ragged and the chance of overcutting seems high! ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-humans-first-start-needing-to-trim-their-fingernails/1016838/23 "2025-04-28T17:54:14Z")
I’ve used a knife on my own nails when I’ve had to. Tearing them inevitably leads to ripping into the quick. > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Related question: why is the “undernail” so sensitive? Speculation: your normal skin has an epidermal layer that is resistant to penetration and not sensitive. The quick under the nail does not have that epidermal layer because it’s covered by the nail. Thus, you are hitting the dermis directly. > [@Dereknocue67](#): > > If I walk barefoot across the kitchen floor and hear my toenails clacking, it’s time to trim. I’m trying to envision what you mean. All I can think is your nails curving down over the front of your toes like big feelers off the front of your toes. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-humans-first-start-needing-to-trim-their-fingernails/1016838/24 "2025-04-28T18:25:53Z")
> [@Dereknocue67](#): > > I cannot answer your question, but in my personal hygiene routine, I have a built-in reminder on when to trim my fingernails. If I walk barefoot across the kitchen floor and hear my toenails clacking, it’s time to trim Are you a dog? Just asking. I mean, no one can tell, on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-humans-first-start-needing-to-trim-their-fingernails/1016838/25 "2025-04-28T22:05:09Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Are you a dog? Just asking. I mean, no one can tell, on the internet. [Derek, is that you?](https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fexternal-preview.redd.it%2Fy0HWZA0_NKvRbjVt2-LHrNi32sOL1Cgw697dVviu5sM.jpg%3Fwidth%3D1080%26crop%3Dsmart%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3Dfa80d999a4c596ac5d02fdf19eb1cc01b29422f6) ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-humans-first-start-needing-to-trim-their-fingernails/1016838/26 "2025-04-30T03:34:05Z")
Speaking for myself, I have mallet or hammer toes, so if I let my toe nails grow long, they could easily hit the floor and make noise. I don’t let that happen, but I can see where it could. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-humans-first-start-needing-to-trim-their-fingernails/1016838/27 "2025-05-01T08:46:35Z")
Are you satire challenged? ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-humans-first-start-needing-to-trim-their-fingernails/1016838/28 "2025-05-01T14:58:31Z")
Guess you don’t know me very well. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-humans-first-start-needing-to-trim-their-fingernails/1016838/29 "2025-05-04T07:35:01Z")
Interesting reply considering we don’t know each other. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-humans-first-start-needing-to-trim-their-fingernails/1016838/30 "2025-05-04T19:37:09Z")
must we do this? ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-humans-first-start-needing-to-trim-their-fingernails/1016838/31 "2025-05-05T07:09:24Z")
Your call. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-humans-first-start-needing-to-trim-their-fingernails/1016838.md?page=1)