After a weekend of practice my left-hand fingertips always look like hell (see pic). Aside from just looking gross, the tough skin is catching on anything/everything. I can't be trusted near silk shirts or ties, it pulls the threads.
Any tips for preventing or mitigating that? What I don't want is to moisturize them to a point where the skin is soft, having built up hard fingertips is what prevents pain and gives ability to play long gigs for hours. I just wanted to avoid the splitting and snags on everything, or at least an easier way to cut them off cleanly (trying with nail clippers but not good or tidy results).
Comments
Maybe use 2nd skin or take a day break, that usually works. Often when I take a day break I'll start conceptualizing ideas away from the guitar...hell I do that talking to my wife (I don't advise that for helping your relationship).
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Try Music Nomad string cleaner.
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I wonder whether a super high tension/action might be the culprit here. The only time my fingers got chapped like that was after spending an afternoon with an archtop with a Freddie Green-style set up (action of at least 4mm, and 14 gauge strings).