Detailed Tiptonic Finger Pick FAQs

What are the basic sizing components on the nail?

Over the last few years as we photographed and measured hundreds of people’s fingernails we began to notice the similarities between all nails. Although everyone’s nails are unique, they share enough common traits that we were eventually able to recognize the patterns. In the same way that shoes went from being hand made to being mass produced in standard sizes, we wanted to create a vocabulary and a template for making Fingernail Picks that would fit everyone. We discovered that we can describe all nails with the following measurements; Width, Tip Length, Cuticle Length, and Height. The following is a brief explanation of each measurement.

Width

The most basic common measurement is Width. We measure Width at the widest part of the nail. This is usually right where the nail separates from the nail bed on each side and begins the overhanging part of your nail.
To measure your fingernail width, use the Sizing Chart, that comes with the Starter Kit.
Most people’s nails fall between 8 mm wide and 18 mm wide. If your nails do not fall within our Standard Sizing please email britt@tiptonic.com about custom sizing.

Center Line (Playing Length, Cuticle Length, Total Nail Length)

Imagine a dot one each side of your nail right where the overhanging free edge of your nail begins. Then picture a line across your nail from side to side between these two dots. This line divides the nail into a front half and a back half; Playing Length, the length from the line to the tip of the nail, and Cuticle Length, the length from the line to the cuticle.
- It should be noted that the Center Line does not necessarily divide the nail into two equal halves. On many people, either the Playing Length or the Cuticle Length is longer.
It is very important that the Cuticle Length of the Fingernail Pick is slightly longer or equal to your measured Cuticle Length. If it’s a little long you can file the pick to fit the exact shape of your cuticle. If it’s too short, then you have a gap on top of your nail with no pick.
Choose a Pick with a Cuticle Length that is slightly longer than your measured Cuticle Length.
The Playing Length is the length of your nail from the Center Line to the end of your nail. This is the inside length of the pick, or the length of the nail cavity inside of the pick.
The outside of the pick will be 1.5 mm (1/16″) longer than this inside measurement since the pick extends out beyond your nail.
Additionally, the Total Nail Length is the total length of your nail from the tip of the overhang to the nail right in front of the cuticle. While using the Size Calculator you will measure the Tip Length and Total Nail Length.
We can subtract the Tip Length from the Total Nail Length to get the Cuticle Length so there is no need to measure this dimension.

Height

Nail Height and Nail Profile or Curve are the last variables that we measure.
Height is measured from the bottom of the nail just where it leaves the nail bed on each side, to the top of the nail. Check out the gauge on the Sizing Chart to measure your nail height. Our picks have different Inside Profiles to fit different nail heights.
Our 3 Standard Inside Profiles are for 1. Flat Nails, 2. Regular Nails – more half round than flat nails when viewed from the front (pointing at your eye), and 3. Curved Nails – curved nails have a lot of curve along the top of the nail from cuticle to tip when viewed from the side.
We also make Extra Tall, XX Tall, Extra Curved, and XX Curved picks upon request.
The last number of the Pick Size refers to the Inside Profile. For example pick size 12E1 is a pick with Width: 12 mm, Shape: E, Inside Profile: Flat. Finger Pick Size 12E2 is a pick with Width:12 mm, Shape: E, Inside Profile: Regular which is slightly taller inside than the picks for flat nails.

How Many Inside Profiles, do Tiptonic Fingernail Picks come in?

First, look at your index nail from the side. Notice the curve of your nail from your cuticle to the tip of your nail. This is your Nail Profile which is offered in the following two choices, Flat or Regular Height (Type 1 & 2) or Curved (Type 3)
Second, while still looking at your nail from the side, notice the distance between the top of your nail and the underside of your nail on the side just where it leaves the nail bed. This is the Height. To measure it, place a ruler at the bottom of your nail right where is first leaves the sides of your nail bed. Then, look straight across at the top of your nail. If the top of your nail looks like it is below 2.5 mm, then Type 1 will fit. Conversely, if it’s above 2.5 mm then Type 2 or Type 3 will work.
Tiptonic offers 3 different Type Height Profiles; Type 1: below 2.5 mm, Type 2: above 2.5 mm, and Type 3: Curved top with Height above 2.5 mm.
Heights 1 and 2 have the same longitudinal, or lengthwise curve from cuticle to tip, and are for nails with negative curve, nails that are flat or nails with a little bit of curve along the top.
Height 3 is for nails with a Longitudinal Curve that is slightly rounder when viewed from the side.

Will my Total Nail Length be equal to the total outside length of the pick?

No, the pick will extend about 1.5 mm (1/16″) beyond the end of your nail. The pick should sit on your nail and just come up to the skin of your cuticle. The nail fits inside of a nail pocket in the pick. This pocket should be at least as long as your Total Nail Length.

How much wider is the pick than my nail?

The pick will also add about 1.5 mm (1/16″) of material on each side of your nail.. The pick should sit on your nail stopping just short of the skin of your cuticle. However, on the thumb side, it will go outside of your nail bed a bit as it comes around to make the playing surface. File the pick to match the exact shape of your cuticle on the pinky side.

How much material does it add to the top of my nail?

The pick will add a minimum thickness of 0.75 mm (0.030″) to the top of your nail. The Picks are about 0.5 mm thick (twenty thousandths of an inch) and the adhesive adds a bit more height. The pick is designed to have a cavity full of adhesive. Our Activator Adhesive will flow into any gaps between the nail and the inside of the pick. This allows for the lowest possible profile. This adhesive will be thin in areas where your nail touches the inside of the pick and it will be thicker in areas that don’t match as well. Either adhesive, Activator or Finger Pick will fill gaps caused by nails that “hook” or curve down at the end, as well as other minor differences in shape. The adhesive also fills the gap if your nail height is not quite as tall as the pick cavity.