Conference quark::mennotes-v1

I am of the school that says any kind of adornment that draws undue 
attention to itself is unattractive.  If fingernail polish is subtle, something
that coordinates well with what the woman is wearing or her overall coloring,
then it adds to her attractiveness.  Red is fine, if it isn't so bright that
ones eyes are drawn to it instantly.  Other colors can be interesting, if not
overdone.

I do tend to find myself thinking that very long, sculpted nails are
not attractive.  But overall good grooming can only make you look better.
Obvious poor grooming habits (more common in men than in women) can only
hurt. 

If you approach a particular item (fingernails, hair style, makeup,
clothing, etc.) with the notion that this one thing is going to make
the difference for you, you may find that it harms more than it helps.
That is, unless, you want to attract men who are interested in you as
an ornament.

But clearly men's tastes differ, and I've noticed that mine don't quite seem
to be in the mainstream.

				Steve

    Hi, Lee!
    
    It's interesting to hear of you experimenting with that.  I had
    similar (though second-hand) reasons to ask myself the same questions
    when I started dating someone who has her nails done professionally
    and keeps them pretty long.  From the stereotypical "feminist"
    perspective I taught myself to reject any immediate preference
    or rejection to 'standard American beauty practices' to try to be
    sure *I* don't add to any of my friend's burdens by expecting them
    to spend time on makeup or nails the way the culture in general adds
    to their burdens.  I figure I spend X amount of time per day on
    personal grooming, and expecting more from women is being a hypocrite.
    I don't want someone to feel pressure from my opinion either way they
    decide to go.  So a real feminist perspective is pro-choice; my women
    friends can and do decide on their nails without my input ;-).
    
    So; now I'm seeing someone who does do makeup every day, and has her
    nails done.  As I've gotten to know her I'm pretty sure it has to do
    with her perceptions of being as successful as possible at her career,
    and I've tried to give that motivation support, while not being *too*
    appreciative.  Frankly, I can't imagine working at a keyboard for long
    stretches (she does) with long nails.  I can't imagine dealing with all
    the hefting and lifting of a two-year old toddler (she does) with long
    nails; in and out of the car seat, on and off the bicycle infant seat,
    into and out of the booster chair, into and out of the crib and on and
    off the changing table, etc.  She does break them and go to get them
    repaired; she does go for hour-long appointments every 3-4 weeks to 
    have them redone.  Me, I couldn't put up with it for myself, and I keep
    wondering if some day she'll shake her head, rip them off with pliers
    and scream, "I"M NOT GONNA DO IT ANYMORE!"  But until then...well, I've
    gotten used to them.  
    
    There are times when I actively dislike them; for example, I like her
    fingertips lightly brushing my face, but her fingernails in the same
    activity drive me batty.  Other dangers (she has a firm grip) are
    better left undescribed in this forum, but you get the idea.  And at
    times, they look really nice; the nails are a nice accent to certain
    formal wear (though they look incongruous when we're brewing beer ;-).
    
    So its a mixed review.  Those are some of my feelings about long nails.
    
    Oh, as far as ornaments and mixed colors go; tastes vary.  Its nice to
    see something different once in awhile; a stripe or two across one
    nail, or one or two with glitter, or non-standard colors.  I personally
    have a garishness threshhold thats a little low; I think it would be
    real easy to have too much ornamentation on the nails, making them look
    tacky.  But that's just my idiosyncrasy, I think.
    
    >    What sort of lengths are most attractive to you?
    
    Well...I kinda wish Stacey's were shorter, maybe one quarter to
    three-eights of an inch past the fingertip.  Right now they're over
    five-eigths, maybe more.  But...I don't plan to tell her that, 
    'cause she wears them for her own reasons, not for me.
    
    DougO

I don't have any strong feeling about nail polish, I've seen both subtle colors
and bright colors and found them attractive when appropriately used.  I don't
find a mix of colors attractive though.  While polished nails may enhance a
woman's attractiveness, I don't consider them necessary for the woman to be
attractive.

As for length, short stubs that look like the person bites their nails are ugly.
I also don't like nails overly long because the first thing that comes to mind
is how impractical they must be.  I prefer that the nails be of a somewhat
uniform length too.

Rich

I don't find painted nails attractive, and the shorter the better.

Longer/painted nails can look pretty but I'm not a looks-orientated 
person, so such decoration implies a personality clash and turns me off.

Do painted nails work on subliminal level, the same way that lipstick (another
thing I'm not keen on) suggests displaced sexual organs (supposedly) ?

Mark.

    Lee, I've gone from not ever doing anything with my nails, to liking a
    soft pink color, to now usually wearing blood red on them :-)...
    Usually a pearl undertone to the blood red though...

    I've noticed that *most* men I date comment on how much they like
    them...

    With formal type wear, I usually have a "French" manicure done, which is
    very subtle but nice...

    As for adornments on my nails, I have been known to have three zircon
    diamond chips put on my left pinky nail...  usually only when I'm
    going out dancing though... and normally only when I was in Quebec...

    Now, I feel undressed if I don't have some sort of red shade of polish
    on my nails...

    As for length, I usually keep mine 1.5 inches from base to tip - and
    no, I've never had any complaints in the department that Doug Olson
    could not mention in a previous reply either :-)... Mike Z...1 inch would
    be below the nail quick on some of my nails...

    As for looks, etc..  I find that when I have my hair done, my nails
    done, and my face looking perfect to me, *I* feel better about myself,
    and I think that comes through to other people... When I'm out in
    public without the above done, I don't think I look good, and I don't
    have the confidence in myself that I should have...

   > As for length, I usually keep mine 1.5 inches from base to tip - and
   > no, I've never had any complaints in the department that Doug Olson
   > could not mention in a previous reply either :-)... Mike Z...1 inch would
   > be below the nail quick on some of my nails...

    1 inch would be below the nail quick!!
    1.5 inches from base to tip!!
    
    I'm used to centimetres so I checked it out on my trusty ruler.
    1.5 inches is a mighty long nail (if I measure if against my nails).
    As for 1 inch would be below the nail quick, do you mean that from your
    cuticle to the tip of your finger is one inch or am I misunderstanding.
    From my cuticle to the tip of my finger is only just over half an inch
    and I have fairly large hands and long fingers.
    
    		Holly

    oops make that .5 inches and 1 inch :-)...  thanks Holly....

    	I know that many women feel that their nails are part of their
    femininity. The nails give a positive highlight to nice/pretty hands.
    I imagine that having someone do your nails professionally must
    give one a pampered feeling. 
    
    	I like them at moderate lengths. I like polishes that range from
    a nice soft red to a peach. I don't like black or dark colors. Some
    of the striping is nice. I met a woman who had miniture potraits
    that were appealing in a strange way. 
                      
    	If nails are kept clean and neat, they're appealing. If not,
    they should be cut.
    
    	I think long nails on men are disgusting. As much time as most
    of us take to groom, we tend to ignore our nails until it's almost
    too late. 
    
    Ken
    	

     I dislike extremely long nails. I prefer them to be about 1/4 to 3/8"
    past the tip of the finger and tapered. I don't care for really funky
    nails (stripes or other designs); I like a single nice color and shine.
    One of the girls that came by to see my brother yesterday had blue
    nails. Yecch.
    
    The Doctah

    Long painted fingernails usually grab my attention, and
    they are often accompanied by other attempts to be what
    I would call "exotic", so I my attention gets
    diverted, and my "grunt-center" gets aroused.
    
    But they also probably mean that the woman is putting more
    emphasis on how her hands look than on what she wants to do
    with them (in a "work with my hands" sense).
    
    And a woman who is doing interesting work with her hands 
    (and her head and her heart) is much more interesting than
    a woman who is putting lots of energy into how her nails
    look, or her hair, makeup, etc.
    
    It's a matter of balance, of course.  How much energy is going
    into keeping those nails "perfect" and where would that energy
    go if some of it went elsewhere?
          ----
    
    Bill

    RE: .11

    Bill, there are some women that happen to just like "to look nice",
    who know how to work with their hands, who do in fact work with their
    hands (I have to redo my nail polish most every night due to that - or
    is it because of racquetball? :-)..)...

    Just because my nail are blood red doesn't mean my heart isn't in the
    right place, just because I pay my hairdresser a fortune, doesn't mean
    I don't have brains underneath that hair, and because I took the time
    to learn how to apply makeup correctly, and to make it accent my facial
    features, doesn't mean there isn't a personality underneath it.
    
    
    And o'course, diverting attention is nice at times too :-)...  (well,
    so much for being honest too huh?)
    
    G

    
    
    My fingernails are really brittle and don't grow unless I put 8 layers
    of polish on them so they're strong enough.  And the "clicky clicky"
    sound of fingernails on the computer  keyboard drives me nuts 
    (as does keyclick, so I always disable it).  They get stuck in between 
    the piano keys too.  
    
    I admit there's something racy and wanton and wild about long, brightly
    colored fingernails - probably the same attraction-thing with red
    lipstick....it seems like a signal of some sort, drawing the eye and
    the fancy of many....
    
    -Jody

    
    	Virtually every pornographic photo or movie I've ever seen features
    	a woman with bright red nail polish and lipstick, so when I see
    	this color on a woman walking down the street I wonder if she's on
    	the way to a photo session :-).
    
    	My favorite color nail polish on a woman is lavender.
    
    	Some of my male friends tried nailpolish after Steve Tyler of	
    	Aerosmith did, but I never thought it looked good.
    
    	Guy
    

    Most of the time my nails will chip and break if I wear polish, unless
    I go thru the whole routine of basecoat, polish, top coat, etc.
    Which I basically don't have time for.

    And if I ever get them long, I can guarentee that they will break the
    first softball game I play in or the first slope I cruise down skiing.

    So, I try to keep them well-groomed, and MAYBE a clear polish on them.

    My hands aren't something I really like to call attention to, considering
    the bloating problem I constantly have, my ring-finger is actually a
    size 8� - 9 (without the bloating, I would probably have a size 7
    ring finger, then they might be worth accenting).

	kathy

    	Boy, all these precise length measurements - I'd never thought
    to take out a ruler and measure my nail length before! ;^)

    	Seriously though, up until a couple years ago, I was a nail
    biter/picker.  I finally broke the habit, and managed to grow out
    my nails.  Though I'd love long, well-groomed nails (the kind
    where people ask if they're really yours! :^) ), I find it's just
    too much work, too much of a hassle to keep them that way.  And
    they definitely get in the way of typing, and other day-to-day
    tasks.  So I keep them just long enough to look good to me, and
    not too long to interfere.  And if I break one, oh well, it'll
    grow back.  

    	I polish them when I feel like it, or if I'm getting dressed
    up for some occasion.  But I've never liked bright red nail polish
    on me...I've always preferred subtle pinks or light purple/lavender.
    Unfortunately, the polish never lasts too long before it starts
    chipping...and I don't like how it looks then.

	My brother used to call my mother's nails her "stillettos" and
    tell her she should register them as dangerous weapons! :^)

    	amy

    Long nails/makeup/etc is not my thing.  Makes me wonder why the
    person is trying to hide behind a layer of artificiality.
    

    Since .0 asked for opinion:
    
    Painted nails stikes me as a frivolous endeavor.  I usually
    associate frivolous endeavors with frivolous people.
    
    ed

    re:  .17
    
    What makes you think "the person is trying to hide" something just
    because she/he has long nails or wears makeup?  
    
    Do you feel the same way about the person wearing clothes, too?  Maybe
    their clothes are hiding some artificiality, too!!
    
    
    -Dotti.

    GESH GUYS!  it was just HIS opinion.....
    
    aren't we allowed to have an opinion?  a PREFERENCE if you will?
    
    what is this, jump on people who don't agree week?
    
    
    FWIW, I find makeup etal artificial also.....

    I was in a relationship with a woman who used a lot of makeup.
    She was very artful about it, so that you had to be on pretty
    intimate terms with her to understand how much effort went into
    it.  She was very pretty with it and without it.  I got to see 
    her without it and told her that I was attracted to her just as
    much (with or without).   So I never quite understood why she 
    worked so much at it.  She looked *different* - more glamorous -
    with the makeup, and when we went "out" she liked to look her
    best, and I liked to look my best, so I understood that part.
    
    But I didn't understand why she worked so hard at it when going 
    to work.  I tried to figure out who she was dressing for, men?
    women? herself?  (This same woman would bike all day in the rain
    in Vermont, without any "beauty aids," and be happy doing it.) 
    One day when I thought she might be open to the question I asked her.
    
    She said she used the makeup as "something to hide behind."
    
    I believed her and it made me sad.  It fit with where she was
    in her life.  In her 30s, she was still struggling to realize any
    of her potential (and she had lots of potential).
    
    Bill

I like the long nails if they are real not some plastic/fiberglass/bondo
jobs. The plastic nails make an obnoxious clicking noise when typing
which leads me to ask why do women with plastic nails use them as finger
extensions -vs- typing the nornal way?

-j

    I think real nails make the same clicky noise.  At least they do when I
    have them.  False nails are the same thickness, and the same length, as
    the real nails some women have.  
    
    I think since you can't often tell the difference, false and real nails
    hold the same allure - I mean, what is the difference if she had them
    glued on or waited breathlessly for 4 months growing them out?  Isn't
    the end result with the polishing and filing and mending the same? 
    Whether they're bought or coaxed, the upkeep takes just as long, and
    the end-result looks just as good.....
    
    -Jody
    

re 472.22  Bill,

I wasn't going to reply to this topic, but when you said the woman you used 
to go out with used makeup "to hide behind" it really bothered me.

In all my twenty-odd years of wearing makeup and knowing people who wear 
makeup, I've never heard that one.

Some women wear whatever is 'in' whether it's becoming or not (like thick 
black eyeliner or blood-red lipstick - yuk).  Some women use face makeup to 
cover up freckles, zits, scars, wrinkles, or uneven skin tone.  (In high 
school and college I did that for reasons #2 and #3, before I realized it 
was a waste of time.)  Most women I know who use makeup (including me) use it 
just to subtly highlight features, mostly eyes.  Some women honestly think 
they look better with gobs of stuff on their face.  I like the 'natural look,' 
when you can't really tell if a woman is wearing makeup until you get up close.

I have mixed feelings about lipstick.  I don't like the dark or bright colored
ones on light-skinned women; I don't like the way they melt in your pocket 
when it gets hot; I don't like how expensive they are, or how they often break
off after you use them a couple of times.  But I do like the fact that they 
help me curb my habit of biting my lip, and the fact that some new ones 
contain a sunscreen.  So I usually wear a clear or slightly tinted lip gloss 
with sunscreen.

I tried having long fingernails once.  They were a pain - for me and for 
people I came in contact with.  (8-o)  Ever try putting in tiny pierced 
earring studs with long claws?  Or putting in contact lenses?  Or typing?
Or pushing those itty-bitty car radio buttons?  Or using hand tools?  Eeek.  
I don't understand what the big deal is with long fingernails - the only 
advantage I can see is that they make good weapons.

Last Halloween (as part of my costume) I tried those press-on nails.  I 
couldn't even start the ignition in the car without losing one.  Then at 
the party I lost another in the potato chips!!  (I retrieved it.)  |-)  Nail 
polish in soft neutral tones is okay for the first day or so until the polish 
starts chipping off - then it looks gross.  Sometimes I just buff my nails so 
they look polished. 

Anyway, it is my highly *un*professional, totally personal opinion that your 
friend who's "hiding behind" makeup might want to look *inside* to see what 
might be the reason for her feelings.  I personally see nothing wrong with 
giving nature a little help in trying to look nice, if it's what you want 
to do.  But it bothered me to hear of someone painting on a facade for the 
purpose of hiding behind it.

Cheers,
deb  :-}

    RE: .25 

    ...long artificial nails and Halloween...

    Deb.. hahaha.. that reminded me of the ones I put on for my witch'es
    costume last Halloween..  I couldn't open the car door, NOR put on my
    seatbelt..  The guy I was with had to do EVERYTHING for me...  I
    finally took them off with acetone halfway through the evening...  I
    just can't figure out how people wear them EVERYday!..

    Re: hiding behind...

    Well, not all women who take the time to "look nice" (that's not saying
    that females who don't wear makeup don't look nice either), are
    trying to hide behind something. If I have a suit on at work, I take
    the time to put on makeup, its sorta like a guy putting on his tie with
    a suit, it finishes off the "total" look  *IN MY MIND* ... if I wear
    jeans to work (I just left a job where that's all I wore 98% of the
    time) I didn't bother...

    RE: AL Martin...  

    Sure, you can have your opinion, even if it is wrong :-)
    							 ^^^
    							 |||
    							 Just wanted to
    							 make sure you saw 
    							 this!

    I alsways wish my nails would stay long and look great, but they split
    or break when just past the top of my fingers.  I guess coz I spend so
    much time in the pool.
    
    So, instead of polish I just buff them with powder and a cloth.  Makes
    them a bit stronger, gives them a shine and just hope for the best.  I
    guess it also doesn't help that I'm a bit of a clutz too (^'
    
    ...dale

     Re .19
    
    That's interesting ed.......
    
    I always feel that long nails look, and are, impractical.
    In my job I want, above all, to look capable and practical to my
    clients - not frivolous.
    So I deliberately keep my nails short, wear only clear polish (if
    that), and give a strong handshake ;-)
    
    I always felt that long nails could be perceived as "frivolous"
    - it's interesting to see that your view backs up my gut feel.
    
    'gail
    

    Well, I can't help it.  I am one of those folks with acryllic nails,
    and I love them.  They enabled me to stop 22 years of nail biting.  But
    I keep them short, about one-half to three-quarters inch long from
    cuticle out.  I do them myself (to expensive to pay a manicurist for
    fills every 3 weeks  :-)), and I get compliments on them quite often.
    I don't use them to type with, I have always typed with the pads of my
    fingers, not the nail part.  So I don't make that obnoxious noise.
    
    And I chase a toddler, open doors, fasten buttons, put in earrings, all
    those little things.  Never really thought about it!
    Sue

    I am a licensed nail technician, and I put acrylic nails on women of
    all ages, and life styles...the beauty of acrylic nails other than what
    MCIS2::WALTON pointed out (stopping nail biting) is that anyone can
    have great looking hands that fit their life style.  Nail extensions do
    not have to be long claws, they can be as short or long as you want
    them to be.
    
    Many DEC women come into the nail salon where I work, and some are s/w
    techies, some are in top management, some are old and some are young. 
    I think it's a matter of grooming.  I don't think it's any more
    frivolous than getting one's hair styled.
    
    I also think that hands with badly bitten nails look absolutely
    horrible, whether man or woman.
    
    And, yes, men, too, come in for a manicure!!
    
    If you want more info, send me Mail.
    
    -Dotti.

       
       I've always been attracted to women whose nail length is short
       and rounded. Clear colors or near skin color like light peach
       or creamy white are pretty.
    
                                              Russ

    i started this note mostly because of that (apparently odd) image my
    brother used of red fingernails reminding him of predators after the
    kill.  the way he told me this, i thought "all boys" thought that way
    (yes it was several years ago).  it seems that predatory images are not
    common with you all though.  thanks!
    
    re: frivolity
    
    well, if polishing my fingernails indicates that i am not 100% serious,
    and therefore not interesting, than WHEW!  <==ie. "good")  i get pretty
    sick of being serious all the time, and would certainly not want to
    attract someone who did not understand frivolous pleasures... (i should
    add, "well, pooh!") 
    
    
    re: all the bother
    
    i dunno.  if you feel obligated to spend time and $$, then yes, i guess
    it would be a drag.  but i agree with the person who said it's like
    having your hair done - it can be done, with whatever frequency you
    enjoy, just for the fun of it.  i would feel oppressed if i had to wear
    curlers to bed every night because straight hair was out, and i would
    (and do) get angry that my legs �au natur�l� are not acceptable to
    society at large, but i spend two hours silly amounts of money every 6
    weeks to bleach my hair white and that doesn't make me feel oppressed
    at all...  and who with long hair has NOT sit still to have it French
    braided at least once, JUST to see how it looked or JUST because they
    thought it looked nice?
    
    lt

    Lee, um, I've never had my hair french braided.  yet.
    
    DougO

    I like the French manicure look - average length nails, well-shaped
    and buffed or polished with a transparent pink or pearly pink tone.  
    But for me, I'm one of those people who are tough on hands and feet.  
    New shoes look new for about a day, (even very expensive ones), and 
    nailpolish lasts about an hour.   Plus I play guitar and if I want to 
    play, even if I've just done a manicure, I don't care, I'll cut 'em.  
    I've even grabbed scissors and cut them off when the strings start 
    buzzing.  I don't know *how* Dolly Parton does it and I've watched her 
    left hand.  The nails on my right hand stay somewhat longer.  I use them 
    instead of guitar picks.  Although I always wear eye makeup, (because my 
    brows and lashes are merely a few wisps of white hair), I can't be 
    bothered getting decorated on a regular basis.  It seems pointless unless 
    I'm going to go all out and go for the showpiece look, (and forget about 
    actually *doing* anything).
    
    I don't sit still for hairdressers either.  Every 2-3 months I blow
    into Great Cuts, (no appointment necessary), for a quick $8 trim, (oops - 
    it's up to $9 now!), and leave with my hair still wet.

    re .33
    
    well, it's been a while, but next time you're around, i'll give it a
    shot...

    re .35, ok!  Week after next.  p'raps at Steve Mallett's going away?
    
    DougO

    I perfer nails the way nature intended.  Thank you very much.
    

> I perfer nails the way nature intended.  Thank you very much.

Well La-dee-dah! I *prefer* my nails trimmed, Thank *you* very much. When you
say "the way nature intended" do you mean so long that they curl over, bitten
off, or broken off?

In case my point is missed under all that sarcasm, the way you stated your point
seemed not so much to express a preference as to pronounce a universal truth.
If that was what you intended, please accept the full amount of scorn expressed
above. If you were simply trying to state your preference it seems to me that
it would have been better to do so in such a way that didn't imply that anyone
disagreeing with you was somehow defective.

I also prefer nails "the way nature intended" - ragged with dirt under them.

	-- Charles

    
    
    Charles:
    
    
    
    
    	Take a midol!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    

    I don't think a Midol would help. To avoid replying to smugly self
    satisfied bigots I would need at least a Valium and probably a
    Thorazine.
    
    Now toddle along back to your T.V.
    
    	-- Charles

    Seeing this is `lite'.
    
    Depression city at the moment.  We are moving to new SPR Headquarters
    and packing (for three days), then unpacking.  My normal short neat
    buffed nails are now ragged, and fingers dry from the cardboard.  I
    need more than my usual handlotion.  HELP!! (^'
    
    Charles, I'd probably fit into your catagory at the moment (^'
    
    ...dale

    Now Charles,
    
    go have a nice bottle of home brew and give Kai a late night
    swig of milk and get mellow
    
    hugs
    
    BJ

    Re: .41
    
    What would *you* know about bigots and overreacting... oops, nevermind,
    I just realized who I was replying to.
    
    The word I was thinking of wasn't "bigot" but bigot is allowed in this
    conference. A more appropriate phrase would have been pusillanimous
    puerile puling punks, but given the audience I didn't want to cause any
    undue stress on underused organs.
    
    	"Forgive him Caesar, for he is a barbarian and thinks the customs
    	of his tribe are laws of nature."
    
    	-- Charles
    
    P.S. Bonnie, the homebrew was great, Kai is sweet, and I still don't
    suffer fools gladly, I guess I'm just not wise. (The problem with
    arguing with a fool...) I would have called him a little shike-poke,
    but I don't think he would have understood, and if the moderators knew
    what a shike-poke was, it 'ud get me set hidden. :-)
    
    P.P.S I must be crazy for 1) flaming about this and 2) replying to
    *this* sort of provocation.

>>>P.S. Bonnie, the homebrew was great, Kai is sweet, and I still don't suffer
fools gladly, I guess I'm just not wise. 

You're getting warmer...

>>>(The problem with arguing with a fool...) I would have called him a little
shike-poke, but I don't think he would have understood, and if the moderators
knew what a shike-poke was, it 'ud get me set hidden. :-)

.... warmer...
    
>>>P.P.S I must be crazy ...

C O W A B U N G A, MAN!  Now you're cooking!

    
    
    God, this is fun.
    
    As has been said in "another conference" -- where's the popcorn?
    
    	GJD
    
    

    Certainly one "lite" topic in men or woman's notes can remain light
    without flames, can't it?  
    
    Geez, this isn't the WORLD we're talking about here.  It's only
    fingernails....
    
    ---kim

    
    
    re:  .last	==> thank you!
    
    *********************************************
    
    Personally, I have the "softest" nails on the planet.  I've tried
    all sorts of stuff to harden them up, but they're still constantly
    breaking or tearing.  Anybody have any suggestions?
    
    	GJD

    Maybe you have a vitamin deficeincy?  (guessing)  Perhaps a visit to
    your doctor might provide some tips, or even a manicurist.  There are
    tons of "nail hardeners" on the market, but not having brittle nails, I
    am no professional at advise on them.
    
    kim

    Nah, some people have weak nails.  I have "gumby" nails, very pliable
    and bendy (and brittle).  I've tried vitamins and yogurt and hardeners
    and gelatin, and it just doesn't work.
    
    I'm trying not to lose sleep over it thought ;)....
    
    -Jody
    

	Well.........no one is saying anything about toenails.

	Doncha just hate it when you get scratched in the
	leg by a toenail?

    	I would like to see more men spend some time trimming
	their toenails.....even having a pedicure periodically.


	kits

Re: .47

Mike,

Think about it. I realize that self-referential statements can be confusing
but I'm sure you can work it out. Go back, re-read .41 and your reply to it,
and then re-read .45. If you STILL don't understand it, give me a call.


	-- Charles

    
    You mean you don't make the guys take off their socks and do a toenail
    check first Kits???
    

    RE: .53 getting scratched by a toenail
    
    Getting scratched in the leg by a long toenail is still  better
    than getting scratched in a lot of other places by a long
    fingernail!  Yipes.  Reminds me of picking raspberries.
    One does it very slowly and carefully --- no sudden movements.
    
    Bill

	re .55 ::BORDA

	Well Grizz, you know it's not so bad in the summertime.
	You can always suggest a trip to the lake or to the
	beach and check out the feet. But in the winter, you
	can't very well turn to a guy and say...Oh by the way,
	would you please remove your shows and socks so I can
	see if you trim your toenails.

	And you know what else is disgusting.......(and I've
	seen this on women too)....is looking at the big toe
	and there are five or six long hairs sticking up out
	of it. 


	kits    

    
    The winter time problem is an easy one to rectify...you post a sign
    in your front hall that says...ALL VISITORS PLEASE REMOVE SHOES AND
    SOCKS AND PLEASE WEAR THE SLIPPERS PROVIDED...which of course are
    transparent...:-)
    The second problem is tougher..I can see it now.."'scuse me ma'am
    but may I pluck those gross long black hairs from your big toe"...
    

    Yeah, I've known people who like to suck on big toes.
    Don't know what they do about those big hairs, though.
    Floss their teeth in the process?
    
    Bill

    
    A big toe job eh???..and here I thought that faded into time like
    sands throught the hour glass...:-)
    

	Cut it out you guys..........this is a serious problem
	you know.

	Guys that have hairy legs usually have a nice soft
	fuzz on their toes.........and that's okay..it's
	those long straggly thingies that look like pine
	trees in a desert that are ugly.

	
	kits

    
    Pine trees eh...it seems the pocket chain saw market was designed
    especially for those tough big toe hairs that just won't cut with
    a razor...
    

    Well I suppose that if I start shaving my legs (I'm a cyclist), then
    I'll have to include the tops of my feet and my big toes because I have
    some hairs there.  (I'd say that the hair density on my legs is
    moderate.)

><<< Note 472.64 by STARCH::WHALEN "Personal Choice is more important than Political Correctness" >>>
 


>    Well I suppose that if I start shaving my legs (I'm a cyclist), then
 
	Don't the cyclists only shave their legs up to a little higher
	than the bottom of their spandies ?    

		

	
  	kits

    
    Who cares.....just as long they don't leave long gross big toe hairs...
    
    Too much wind resistance ya know...;-)
    

<--------::BORDA

	I care .....you big oaf !   :-)

	I've nevah seen a nekkid hairy cyclist you know.........and
	just wondering about how high they shave their legs is an
	intersting thought....err fantasy......

	So there !!


	kits

    RE: last three...
    
    Gezz.. Rich.. that certainly sounds almost like an "Please send me mail,
    and invite me to see your legs" cry if I ever heard one...  you're
    slipping Rich... :-)...
    
    Gale

    Gee..this is strange...Kits usually has men sending her mail
    offering to show their legs...:-)
    I'm not into guy biker legs...honest and for true..now if it was
    a lady biker....but the toe shaving is a must...no pine trees for
    me thanks...
    

Well, I haven't shaved my legs (yet), so she may not be interested in seeing my
legs.

Rich

P.S.  It's cyclist, not biker.

    
    Sorry about that Rich...
    

	You gotta excuse Grizz...........he has bare bear brains.



	:-)

    For real. .....   having hair on your toes...other than the normal 3-4
    hairs is a direct sign of a circulatory problem....no one having to shave
    their toes should do so without checking with a doctor and please remember
    that I'm talking about an exhorbitant amount of hair
    
    My SO is a doctor......I've got this stuff down pat!
    
    JayCee
    

    Gee, is not having hair on my head a sign of 
    circulatory problems to my brain?  That might
    explain a number of things (to others --- I
    probably wouldn't be able to understand it).
    
    Honest, is excess hair on the toes from too
    much or too little blood?   Need more facts
    here before I go to the Wellness Center's
    locker room and bare my toes...  Is this one
    more thing I have to "measure up" on in the
    locker room?  "Let's see fella, how many hairs
    you got on that big toe?  What!!!  Look at that,
    guys, he's got ___ hairs on his big toe!"
    (Guffaws, catcalls, finger pointing...)
    
    Cheez, it's tough being male...
    
    bill

    
    Nahhh...only if they snap and make the same noise as twigs when
    they do is there anything to worry about Mike...

    re: .73
    
>    For real. .....   having hair on your toes...other than the normal 3-4
>    hairs is a direct sign of a circulatory problem.
    
    Circulatory deficiencies in the lower extremeties may cause a LOSS
    of hair on the legs, feet, or toes.  Excessive hair growth is usually
    a sign of an endocrine disorder.

    So, probably a yearly close-up photograph is recommended.
    
    "Is that a new yoga position, Bill?"
    
    "No, I'm just getting my yearly big-toe close-up 
     photograph.  Wanna see my album?"
    
    Bill

>    So, probably a yearly close-up photograph is recommended.
 
	Yer darned tootin !  Right along with the piccies
	of the nose (to check for nose hairs) and the
	ears (have you plucked your ear hairs today?)   

	:-)  :-)  :-)  :-)  :-)  :-)

   

	

    
    Nose haarrs...ear haars and (YUCK)big toe hair pictures are already
    in the mail heading your way Kits...
    
    I hope US Customs doesn't open the envelope and peek...they'll be
    grossed out of their minds...;-)
    

    
    The Customs won't open it unless the Customs doggie smells
    strange weed aromas...
    

    DRAGGING this LITE topic (kicking and screaming) back to the
    original discussion.....
    
    my thoughts on nail polish etc......
    
    i don't do it anymore.  used to wear black when going to
    certain shows....and also would do different colors......
    but it was all just part of the basic dressing up to freak
    the mundanes.  
    
    i shouldn't say that i DON'T do it anymore....halloween is
    just around the corner, and i don't have any plans yet this
    year....well, i do have an idea, but it doesn't involve
    finger nail polish, and it probably would not be permitted
    into a clean room.....