• the nail matrix or the root of the nail - this is the growing part of the nail still under the skin at the nail's proximal end.
• eponychium or cuticle which is the fold of skin at the proximal end of the nail.
• paronychium which is the fold of skin on the sides of the nail.
• hyponychium which is the attachment between the skin of the finger or toe and the distal end of the nail.
• nail plate which is what we think of when we say nail, the hard and translucent portion, composed of keratin.
• nail bed which is the adherent connective tissue that underlies the nail.
• lunula which is the crescent shaped whitish area of the nail bed.

Fingernails require 3 to 6 months to regrow completely. Toenails require 12 to 18 months. Any major illness will cause a groove to form in the nails, marking in time the past medical history of its owner. These are called Beau's lines.

Nails grow at an average rate of 0.1 mm/day (1 cm every 100 days) [1]. The average is not constant, though, and actual growth rate is dependent upon age, season, exercise level, and hereditary factors.

Nails can have small white spots (leukonychia), become thickened (onychogryphosis), loosened (onycholysis), infected with fungus (onychomycosis) or degenerative (onychodystrophy).

from young, i don have the habit of keeping long fingernails. this is because when i was still a child, my dad always help to trim my fingernails. he's v conscious abt it. he don like long and dirty nails for children, esp his.

when i just pop out into the world, first reaction of my dad was checking my fingers, toes, fingernails and toenails. this was what i heard from my mum. and so.. till now, i still don have the habit of having long fingernails till lately when i just started work.

i love piano.

i want to continue learning.

but to play with long fingernails is a damn thing to do. i cant accept it. i cant play with it. an idea of chopping the nails just flash thru. i cut it short, v v short indeed. i was being damnit irritated i swear. some people just love keeping long nails, they're used to it. they thought they're some kinda princess or whatsoever. i was being cocky and tried that kinda thing too. but sad to say, hell no. you ll just look like freaking monsters. most importantly is to keep it clean, thats what i think..

ok. so much abt nails.

assholes