How To Type With Long Nails

If you love having long, acrylic nails, you know the struggle of typing, whether it’s on the phone or the laptop. It’s difficult to press the right alphabet on the first try, and wrong inputs and typos can definitely annoy you. Plus, they can slow you down so much that you might think of just getting rid of them!

But lucky for you, you don’t need to do that just yet. There’s no need for you to sacrifice your love for long nails just to type faster. Instead, you just need to learn how to type with long nails correctly.

And this is where we can help! This article talks about how you can type with long nails on both the laptop and the phone.

Typing on a Keyboard With Long Nails

You need to consider a number of things when typing on a laptop with long nails. To make things easier, here are some tips you should keep in mind:

Tip #1: Choose the right nail shape

You can find long nails in different sizes and shapes. Of course, you shouldn’t opt for extremely long nails since they can make everything a struggle. Apart from typing, you can have a hard time eating or even getting dressed. So to be able to type quickly and accurately, you need to pick the right shape and size. Some common options are:

• Round: These are the best option if you’re not an expert at typing. They closely resemble our natural shape, making it easier to get used to wearing them.
• Oval: These nails are wider and relatively tougher to manage when typing on the keyboard, so you’ll have to change the way you type. But they are a good option if you want to switch to big, bold shapes eventually.
• Stiletto: These are the long, pointed nails you most commonly see. Since they aren’t too wide, you can easily type without accidentally hitting the wrong key.
• Square: If you’re looking to type quickly and accurately, you need to stay away from these nails. In addition to being long, these nails are wide, so you will most likely hit the wrong inputs, ultimately making you slow down.
• Coffin: These nails are not usually typing-friendly because of their tapered shape. They have wide sides, so it’s better to opt for them only when you become a professional at typing with long nails.

Tip #2: Use your fingers and not the nails  

Most people with long nails tend to use their fingernails instead of their fingers for typing. However, this is ineffective because fingernails have a very narrow point of contact, making it difficult to hit the right button in the first go. Meanwhile, fingers have a wide point of contact, so it’s best to keep your fingers horizontally on the keyboard instead of using your fingertips. This way, you’ll be able to easily and smoothly glide across the keyboard.

In addition, typing with long nails is very uncomfortable, and there’s a high chance that you’ll break them. If you’re used to typing with your nails, it might take some time for you to become comfortable typing using your fingers. You can further ease the process by adjusting your posture. Placing your elbow at a 90-degree angle will encourage natural finger placement, making typing easy.

Tip #3: Don’t rush

When you type with long nails, you have to focus more on precision rather than speed. In fact, when you concentrate on typing accurately, your speed automatically increases.

Focusing on speed means you will make more mistakes, which will waste more time. This is because every time you misspell a word, you have to go back, erase it, and then retype it. But as you focus on accuracy, speed will follow naturally.

Tip #4: Practice, practice, practice!

Take a few days and learn to type properly on a keyboard with long nails. With enough practice, you will become proficient and won’t struggle with it. 

Typing on a Smartphone With Long Nails

Typing on your phone is completely different from typing on a laptop. To be able to tap letters on the screen, you need to use your thumbs and not your keyboards. And to type quickly and accurately on a phone with long nails, here are some tips you should keep in mind:

Tip #1: Use a stylus

Using a stylus pen for typing takes away the hassle of tapping the right letter with your long nails. Plus, you can use it anywhere and anytime. And not to mention, you won’t have to worry about typos or broken nails!

Tip #2: Use the side of the fingernails

Use your less dominant hand to hold the phone and the other hand’s index finger to type. Doing so will significantly decrease your speed, but you won’t make typos when texting. You can also put your phone on a hard surface and use both your index fingers, but make sure you only do so if you have a short text to type. 

Summary

Typing with long nails is not easy, whether on your phone or your laptop. It is inconvenient and takes time to master. And while you might find yourself thinking about sacrificing your long nails, the good news is you don’t need to do so.

With our tips in mind, you can make the task a little easier and quicker. And once you get the hang of typing with long nails, you can quickly become a pro at it!

Frequently Asked Questions