The glaze on our fingers and toes

M0nica

What seems to be talked about is what I would describe as 'gloss', glossy hair and a slight gloss on nails.

Yes. That was apparently what Infoman meant.

He came back later and said
Its the natural glaze on our toe nails and finger nails.

I did wonder, until he clarified.
At first I thought he was talking about a phenomenon I'd never seen - shiny hands and feet.

Maybe the glaze is so that dampness is less likely to hang around?
Nobody wants soggy toes.

Elegran

Birds' wings have the same bone structure as our hands. How many of the same bones did pterodactyls and birds have in their wings? If so, the reason we have five fingers may go back a very long way.

Oh Elegran you have taken me back to being 16 and the first essay I had to write when I began A level Biology. I can’t remember the exact question but it was something along the lines ‘how is the pentadactyl limb evidence of evolution?’ . I’ve probably got that completely wrong but remember spending hours in the local library looking at different variations of the aforesaid pentadactyl limb and how it related back to a basic blueprint and a common ancestor for mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.

I particularly enjoyed looking at how horses evolved (horses being my passion) and discovering that they still have the remnants of those toes though they now walk on the very tip of only one. It’s fascinating. Perhaps someone with a better knowledge of the subject would be able to explain it better.

What seems to be talked about is what I would describe as 'gloss', glossy hair and a slight gloss on nails.

I thought the question referred to skin having a glaze...
not nails.

It definitely isn't a "glaze" if we ard talking about shine on nails!

I think, M0nica it's really just the natural shine of "healthy" nails.

Mine are never like this irrespective of hand creams and moisturises ...but one of my daughters has pretty smooth nails and they do have a sort of sheen.

Never come across this on nails or hair.

I think it's not a "glaze" at all. Just keratin glued together with lipids (and water). It's the way we perceive light rays bouncing off them that makes them seem shiny.

If the fats and water perfectly fills the gaps they will be shiny nails. If they aren't shiny they may lack water or fats.
(OR they may have been very busy of course and have tiny nicks and scratches.)

I think the density/balance of nails is partly hereditary. Like skin.
Must also be affected by diet. I know they suffer if dehydrated.

MartavTaurus

Baggs

Elegran

Nails are made of the same material as claws, which are used by animals for holding and killing prey and digging in earth. For that they need to have a hard smooth surface - a soft and/or rough surface would soon get clogged or worn down and then it would not achieve its purposes of sliding into flesh or earth and/or protecting the ends of the paws.

Same material as hair too. Healthy hair has a glaze of sorts.

My fingernails have a natural glaze. I never buff them or put polish on them.

Phew, I thought I was a weirdo for a minute!

😂 😂

Baggs

Elegran

Nails are made of the same material as claws, which are used by animals for holding and killing prey and digging in earth. For that they need to have a hard smooth surface - a soft and/or rough surface would soon get clogged or worn down and then it would not achieve its purposes of sliding into flesh or earth and/or protecting the ends of the paws.

Same material as hair too. Healthy hair has a glaze of sorts.

My fingernails have a natural glaze. I never buff them or put polish on them.

Phew, I thought I was a weirdo for a minute!

Elegran

Nails are made of the same material as claws, which are used by animals for holding and killing prey and digging in earth. For that they need to have a hard smooth surface - a soft and/or rough surface would soon get clogged or worn down and then it would not achieve its purposes of sliding into flesh or earth and/or protecting the ends of the paws.

Same material as hair too. Healthy hair has a glaze of sorts.

My fingernails have a natural glaze. I never buff them or put polish on them.

That for MawsRosie

Birds' wings have the same bone structure as our hands. How many of the same bones did pterodactyls and birds have in their wings? If so, the reason we have five fingers may go back a very long way.

Mine only look shiny because of the clear polish I use.

Mine are quite dull actually but I have been digging on the allotment all morning defo no glaze on mine ( ever I don’t think)

Nails can tell a lot about a person's health. Mine are dull with the occasional vertical line (ridge) from tip to cuticle.

My nails are strong and grow long, despite having working hands. They scrub up well but are now becoming gnarly.

I only wear polish for holidays 💅 because it wouldn't last long without getting ruined.

Elegran

Nails are made of the same material as claws, which are used by animals for holding and killing prey and digging in earth. For that they need to have a hard smooth surface - a soft and/or rough surface would soon get clogged or worn down and then it would not achieve its purposes of sliding into flesh or earth and/or protecting the ends of the paws.

That seems to cover it - a simple enough explanation.

Now, more puzzling - why FIVE fingers and toes?

My dog has obliged by showing you his shiny claws = nails.
He wears no varnish or nail polish!

Elegran

Nails are made of the same material as claws, which are used by animals for holding and killing prey and digging in earth. For that they need to have a hard smooth surface - a soft and/or rough surface would soon get clogged or worn down and then it would not achieve its purposes of sliding into flesh or earth and/or protecting the ends of the paws.

Yes.

infoman your post made me look at my fingers (toes are currently in their socks). Yes, you're correct. There is a glaze. I've no idea what purpose, if any, it serves.
Perhaps someone with the knowledge will come along to explain. Food for thought.

You are blessed to have a natural glaze to your finger nails and toe nails, infoman, lucky you 😄.

In case that doesn't explain enough, hard smooth surfaces reflect more light, and so look shinier.

Nails are made of the same material as claws, which are used by animals for holding and killing prey and digging in earth. For that they need to have a hard smooth surface - a soft and/or rough surface would soon get clogged or worn down and then it would not achieve its purposes of sliding into flesh or earth and/or protecting the ends of the paws.

?? Like many others I am not sure what you mean !