Rock climbing is a difficult but rewarding activity but what if you can go rock climbing with fake nails? There are several guidelines to follow to be safe and have a pleasant and thrilling experience. The guidelines include everything from what to wear to avoid wearing fake nails and skin before trying a rock climb.
This article will go into the topic of wearing fake nails when rock climbing, as well as provide information on fingernail maintenance and basic hand care tips.
Guide to campusing rock climbing is here!!!
Rock Climbing with Fake Nails
No matter how much a climber knows, there are some basic things they must know, like how to take care of their fingernails and skin.
Rock climbing necessitates the ability to hold a rough surface well and lift oneself on a steep stone face or cliff. If fingernails are allowed to get too long, this hold could be weakened, which would make it easier to fall.
There is also the risk of catching a nail on a rock and either bending it backward, shattering it or pulling it off entirely. This is more than a nuisance since it produces discomfort, which diverts the climber’s attention away from the work at hand. When the pain strikes, this might result in a catastrophic snap and involuntary motions, which can lead to a fall.
The Expensive Cost of Rock Climbing With Acrylic Fingernails
While false nails are not a direct threat during a rock climb, keeping nails short or avoiding having lengthy fake nails can save a significant amount of money.
With the application and purchase of artificial nails costing between $35-$45 for a normal set and $50-$60 for a colored or white set, applying acrylic nails and keeping them attractive costs a small sum.
Not only is it the most expensive, but having a nail pulled off during a climb is very painful since they are put on with a strong adhesive that connects with the original fingernail. Tearing off false nails harms and pulls away layers of the genuine fingernail beneath.
The result is that expensive false fingernails are pulled off, squandering money.
How Short Should Your Fingernails Be?
If you trim your fingernails before rock climbing, you can’t just do a light trim; you need to do a heavy trim.
When clipping nails, make sure that just a small amount of white remains. If you hear scratching on the wall, it is because the nails were not properly cut. If they hurt after cutting, they were too short.
If the cuticle is clipped, an infection can occur, so proceed with caution. If one’s cuticles are bothering them, they should be removed by a skilled cosmetologist.
To avoid hangnails, cut along the edges to the side of the nail. Hangnails may be quite uncomfortable when climbing.
Trimming fingernails spares everyone from having to listen to them scrape across the pebbles like chalk on a blackboard.
Choosing Press-On Nails Over Acrylic Nails
Press-on nails are an excellent alternative to traditional and costly acrylic nail extensions. They are simple to apply and remove and cost half the price of standard acrylic nails.
The application uses peel and stick technology and can be applied by anybody without the need for strong glue that can bond with nails and make removal extremely difficult.
Also, press-on nails may be readily removed with soaking and just take a few minutes.
A rock climber can benefit from wearing press-on nails because they are easy to take off before the climb or can be worn without worry because if they chip or break, the climber won’t lose an arm and a leg.
Gel Fingernail Polish
When climbing, many female rock climbers apply fingernail paint to help toughen their nails against breakage. The thing they prefer by far is gel fingernail polish. Gel paint hardens the nails, giving them a fighting chance against damage.
The beauty of gel polish is that it may last for up to twelve days. But don’t expect them to be pretty after rock climbing since the scraping and wrestling to achieve a strong handhold will certainly break off and rip fingernails, removing the gel paint.
There are two disadvantages to using gel polish, which is as follows:
- Gel paint can cause your nails to peel and weaken.
- UV radiation exposure has been established as a risk factor for cancer.
Breaks/Pain in the Fingernails
The agony of breaking a nail during rock climbing is caused by the matrix, which is the region from which the nail develops. Tearing the matrix by ripping off a fingernail due to artificial nails affixed to it or having longer than advised nails causes considerable damage and can influence the way the nail grows in the future.
Many rock climbers use tape or gloves to protect their hands, but if their fingernails are covered for too long, they can get a fungal infection that is readily cured with anti-fungal ointment. If the yellowing keeps happening, you should see a doctor because yellow nails could be a sign of a serious illness like thyroid disease, diabetes, or lung disease.
Six Precautions and Things to Remember to Avoid Nail Breakage
While this post has previously discussed certain fingernail care recommendations, here are six more.
- Consume a biotin supplement (also known as Vitamin H and Vitamin B-7). Your biotin tablets might assist in strengthening your hair and nails. It may be obtained by the consumption of foods such as cooked eggs and beans.
- Eating well is also an excellent strategy to strengthen your fingernails. To keep your fingernails and the rest of your body healthy, eat a diversified diet rich in multivitamins and minerals.
- Acetone-containing nail polish removers should be avoided since they harm the nails. Use non-toxic polishes, soaks, and acetone-free polish removers instead.
- While having long or false fingernails is fashionable, it is neither safe nor comfortable. Without nails that fall off and cause discomfort to the climber, there are too many variables when rock climbing the way it is. Wearing clear or colored gel paint on well-trimmed nails can assist with two things:
- Gel polish strengthens the nail, preventing it from breaking.
- Well-trimmed fingernails reduce the risk of breaking while climbing.
Conclusion
Yes, you can rock climb with artificial nails, but it is not encouraged since it may be less safe than climbing with short nails, and the sound of your nails scratching the rocks as you climb would drive everyone insane. Fake nails can also break, which can be painful and take away from the climbing experience.
