As a guy, I have never really had to worry about my fingernails getting ruined while climbing. To be honest, it never really crossed my mind until a few of my climbing friends started talking about it. All of them said that they have kept pretty short nails over the years to stay climbing hard. This got me wondering, just how much does climbing ruin nails and are there any ways to prevent it?
As a general rule, rock climbing will ruin climber’s nails by scuffing, chipping, and breaking them. Keeping your nails short and filed will help prevent any significant damage from occurring to them. Applying gel fingernail polish can help strengthen your nails against chipping or breaking.
If you are worried about going climbing for the first time and have long nails, there are certain strategies to still climb and prevent your nails from being ruined. Do not fret, this article has an entire section explaining how to do this. If you are a frequent climber, this article has a few very handy and practical ways to help keep your nails looking good.
Check out the current price of the most popular gel nail polishes for rock climbing on Amazon here!
How Rock Climbing Damages Fingernails
Climbing has traditionally been a sport for the rough and rugged. As it has gained popularity, more and more people have started climbing.
As such, the bloody, scarred, grotesque hands that climbers so proudly used to brag about are no longer every climber’s dream. Some just want to have nice hands and nails. Unfortunately for most climbers, this is not a reality.
Climbing naturally involves grabbing small holds and having your fingers rub against the wall/holds at times. This will cause your nails to chip and get scuffed if they are too long. Not to mention the pain and terrible sound of your nails scraping against the wall as this happens. Not fun for anyone.
Dynamic moves have the highest potential to damage your nails significantly. Your hand placement and precision dramatically drops when jumping and swinging from hold to hold. This bad placement coupled with the extra speed that your hand will be running into the wall/hold is a recipe for disaster with long nails.
Dynamic moves have even been known to rip off acrylic nails. Talk about some pain. Jeez.
How to Keep Your Long Nails Safe (For New or One-Time Climbers)
If you are a frequent climber and are looking for some practical advice that you can use every session, skip to the next session.
If you are going climbing for the first time with long nails and are not a frequent climber, then this section is for you.
One climbing session will not ruin your nails if you play it right. You will not be able to climb to your full ability but you will keep those nails looking good!
Use The Larger Climbing Holds
Do not feel obligated to only use the holds for only one route. You are free to use any holds you want one the wall.
While you may not climb a specific route, you will be able to pick and choose the larger (more nail friendly) holds to use as you make your way up.
If you are a complete newbie and don’t have a good grasp on what I am talking about, please check out my article that explains what to expect you first time at a climbing gym and come back.
Be Careful With Your Hand Placement
Carefully placing your hands will allow you to keep your fingernails from rubbing and scraping against the wall and holds. To do this effectively, you will need to perform static movements. (See the next subsection)
Perform Static Moves
The term “static moves” basically just refers to slow and controlled movements up the wall. The term “dynamic moves” refers to fast paced and way less controlled movements. Using static moves allows you to grab the holds exactly where and how you want which in turn will protect your nails.
If you have a really good time climbing (like I think you will) you may want to make climbing into a hobby. If this is the case, read the next section to know what to expect moving forward regarding your nails.
How Frequent Climbers Can Help Protect Their Fingernails
In this section we will discuss a few different ways to keep your nails looking great while still being able to climb at your full ability.
Keep Your Nails Short
Unfortunately, this is the brutal truth. It’s typically one or the other: climbing or nice long nails.
By keeping your nails short, you will help protect them from scraping against the wall and causing you pain. While some scuffing may happen, major breaks or chips will be prevented by keeping them short.
Not to mention, it will be way less painful in the long run.
Wear Press On Nails
If you really want long nails, you can still keep them short for climbing and wear press on nails. I know this is not ideal but you will be able to remove them before your session and reapply them afterwards.
Wearing press on nails will let you have long nails and still be able to climb at full force.
Apply Gel Nail Polish
Using a gel nail polish will help strengthen your nails. This will help protect them against chipping and breaking. Applying a gel nail polish is not foolproof though.
There’s no way around it, your nails will eventually be chipped when climbing (even with the gel polish). A user on Reddit had a fantastic idea to minimize how much these chips are noticeable. They suggested applying a clear gel polish with sparkles in it to distract from the chipping and make them less obvious.
Paint Your Nails
Painting your nails will help strengthen them just like the gel nail polish. That said, painting them will not be as effective as the gel nail polish.
If you paint your nails, still expect them to get chipped. It is what it is. Just paint them yourself and don’t waste the money getting a manicure right before your climbing session. If you want to get a manicure, wait until after your session.
Climb Without Using Your Hands
If you have made it this far, then you may not have found the answer you have been looking for quite yet. If that is the case, then I present you with the ultimate solution: no hands climbing.
I cannot do this type of climbing any justice by mere words so let me just show you with the video below:
If this does not keep your nails from being damaged, then nothing will.
