#HTE

What If Fake Nails Were Soft?

Artist Nadja Buttendorf snagged my attention with an invention that is simultaneously intriguing and skin crawling: soft fingernails. Anyone who’s grown long nails can attest that they come with a host of structural and environmental issues. Typing, opening lids, and navigating anything with push buttons can be tricky or even painful as you avoid missing the target or stressing your delicate keratin extrusions. Add professional upkeep or DIY manicures, and damaging long nails can get costly. 

Eugh

So… here’s this idea that solves those issues but makes me break out in a cold sweat. What if instead of acrylic or gel, fake nails were made from a more malleable material like silicone? The thickness is similar, at rest your hands look dang near normal, and under load the nail crumples safely and rebounds. 

Silicone is body safe, easy to clean and would likely be about as damaging as traditional glued processes. Aside from lowering the quality of back scratches and making finger tapping less annoying for your coworkers, I’m not seeing many negatives. So why do I hate this with my entire being? 

Here are a few short clips of the eerie things in action:

Enjoy Nadja’s other quasi-creepy work (including realistic ear earrings) here.