Not cute. Do not adjust your screens. This is not a broken nail. Rather a really ugly curving to the nail. I wish I could beat it out of me, but that simply doesn't work. How is one supposed to deal??
<----- LOOK *barf*
What is worse than a wonky nail? ... Nothing comes to mind.
What the what?!?
How is this possible? How can we get the wonk to relax?
There are a couple of steps you can take to remedy the situation, but keep in mind the end result is not permanent. DARN IT!
The most effective solution is to use a combination of moisture (in the form of water) and oil/balm/waxy products together. I have mentioned previously, long and constant exposure to water is not good for the nail layers. I have several posts on "fat nails" and why it can weaken the nail plate layers and cause problems, i.e. splitting, peeling. However, since there are times you simply cannot avoid water ... unless you're dirty ... you might as well use it to your advantage! You can use unavoidable water exposure to help un-wonkify (<--O.O new word) your nail beds. After your nails have been submersed in water, one good thing you can do for them is moisturize them with your favorite cuticle oil/balm/cream/lotion or wax containing product directly after the exposure. Not only will this help seal in moisture, but it will also help keep the wonkiness at bay for a bit longer. If you continue to add oil/balm/waxy products every few hours it will keep the nail less wonky. I have found oil makes the results lasts longer than lotion. Like I said, it's not permanent and takes effort to put cuticle oil on every couple of hours, but hey, it's either that or the weird wonk.
In summary: Constant moisture is like a Valium for the wonk.
Of course there is always that nubbinizing option ... but that makes me cry.
Do you know about the wonk, have the wonk? How do you deal with the wonk?
Edit: Two other helpful posts on how to make a nail less wonky with filing can be found here and here.
Phew, I'm not the only weirdo out there! I've had a bit of a wonk before on one nail (luckily not on the hand I swatch on) and all I did was nubbinize. It seemed to work 'cause the wonk stayed away.
ReplyDeleteI know, not much help but at least we can be weirdos together.
No no there are plenty of us weirdos around these parts ... And thank goodness ;)
DeleteI love this post.
ReplyDeleteFirst, there's this:
"like a Valium for the wonk". Best. Sentence. Ever.
Second, the fact that I am not the only one. This is great news. My middle finger on my left hand has a wonky nail. It always has. I believe it's from a callus from the way I hold my pencil. Weird, right? I have been able to minimize it by keeping it hydrated and also pushing back the cuticle carefully on the wonky side. It helps. It also helps that I like my nails fairly short to start with.
xoxo
Speaking of holding a pencil, I have the nastiest bone bump from that ... Just ewww
DeleteI do as well. In fact, my middle nail grows out at an angle! It absolutely grows out pointing towards the index finger. I push back my cuticles and try to file the edge straight, but when I go to take a picture of that hand it just looks like I have a crooked nail and finger. Any tips? I'm thinking of starting my own nail blog, but hate this nail. Do I just take pics of the other hand and deal or is there any cure for my wonk nail?
DeleteYou are so funny! I deal with the wonk by filing the side slightly to narrow the wonky portion - it seems to release some of the curve. Beyond that I just have to keep that nail moderately short.
ReplyDeleteOh man what a coinky dink. I have been working on a post ... and by working I mean start writing, add pictures and then forget ... on a post discussing just what you described. There are some instances where I file the side to fix The Wonk, but with a lot of caution. Eventually it will be posted ... hopefully in my lifetime.
DeleteArgh, the wonk.. Especially during wintertime I notice some wonkiness. Luckily moisturizing like crazy does help!
ReplyDeleteSo true! Winter can be so dry.
DeleteAnother reason to love nubbins <3! Thanks for the info though, I love reading your posts!
ReplyDelete:) I like things the hard way perhaps?! Lol
DeleteI cannot thank you enough for this post! I will definately be trying this. I always feel like people are judging me when/if they see mine.
ReplyDeletePsshh they better not be judging you. I offer you my protection services, k?
DeleteI have the wonk too in one of my index finger nails. I just recently learned that moisturizing helps so I am constantly putting on hand cream and burts bees cuticle cream and I try to do an Olive Oil 'treatment' several times a week where I slather on olive oil on each finger and let it set for a 5 to 15 minutes or more if I have the time. There is a noticeable difference in my wonky nail.
ReplyDeleteWoot woot!
DeleteI started getting a wonky nail on one side of my middle finger. It only happened when my nail got pretty long, so I tried to file it back..didn't work. I was afraid to file the side of my nail too much but I did, and that worked pretty well. It still has a slight wonk, but hardly noticeable now. Whenever I take a shower though, my nails flatten out and that made the wonk go away, but of course only for a short while. I'll try the oil, Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteTry the oil after the shower for sure! It will hold off the wonk for a bit.
DeleteI have one or two that ocassionally develop a bad case of The Wonk. What I do is this: After I shower, I paint the underside of the nail with two coats of brush on nail glue. Viola! No more wonk, no need to drown in moisturizing products.
ReplyDeleteNice! When I've tried this I always get such an urge to peel it. I have a hard time standing things under the nail.
DeleteGreat tips! Does Shellac help de-wonk, or do you jut use it for nail repairs? Thanks Loodiex3!
ReplyDeleteYou could definitely do this. I've done this in the past with traditional gels. Shellac is a bit softer though. I personally would not use shellac for de-wonking only because I'm lazy. That's a lot of constant upkeep. I dread nail fixes for the same reason. I guess keeping them shorter and greased is easier.
DeleteIronically, I was going to ask you if you had a remedy for this! Both my index fingers curve drastically on both sides.
ReplyDeleteBut here is my other dilemma: When I point my fingers towards my face, I see that both my middle fingers have a half-moon curve that is leaning to the right! Does that make sense? Is there a way to fix that?
Ha! I have this too. Actually, i have been working on a post showing how to fix this ... with filing. It's like a year in the making, lol. Be patient with me, it's coming ...
DeleteHow do I deal with it? Clip it off, I can't stand it.
ReplyDeleteI imagine no tears follow. Your are strong. :P
DeleteAhhh... The wonk. It sucketh. Some of my nails curl, once they reach a certain length and I just can't stand to grow my nails past that point. I don't mind curled nails on others but it drives me batty on my own hands and I have to keep my nails forever filed just at or below that point. *sigh*
ReplyDelete*sigh in unison*
DeleteOh dear, you crack me up!
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm lucky my nails don't ever get long enought where I have to unwonkify them! lol!
You are good! Elude the wonk.
DeleteValium for the wonk. Where do you come up with this stuff!?! My nails curve down after a certain length so that's when I know I have to file them. However, my right hands nails grow in that way and very crooked due to an unfortunate bout of plantar warts under all my nails. They were lasered off and now I have perma wonk on my right hand. Hence I only show my left! You seriously crack me up. But I do love your blog and the info you give us. Truly unique. Xoxoxoxoxo
ReplyDelete:D yay for weirdness!? Okay! <3
DeleteOh yes the wonk, so no bueno definetly get it and hate it, thanks for the info I know what to do now.
ReplyDeleteMy index fingers do this somewhat. Not too badly, but it does do a number on my manicures. That inner spot is vulnerable to peeling, which leads to chipped manicures.
ReplyDeleteAs you say, moisture is key.
I know what you mean! It sort of creates a weak point. I have found lots of moisture critical to these points.
DeleteI do have a slight curve when they are longer, but nothing drastic like this. it's good that at least you found some solution to it I think I would just keep them short if that was happening to me
ReplyDeleteThis happened to me out of the blue just after Chrismas on 3 nails! I have one that was always had the wonk and we have learned to get along ok, but 2 new ones? I would love to know what the cause of the wonk is, seems like it may be contagious!!
ReplyDeleteI have to say I am sad others suffer from this horrible affliction and yet...relived it's not just me!
I too suffer from a few wonks. One on my left pointer finger and one on my right middle finger. The longer I grow out the nail the more they curve. So I try to keep them to a few mm above the VNL so the wonk is less noticeable. Otherwise I haven't found a permanent solution.
ReplyDeleteDamn the wonk. DAMN IT! :p
I , too, am a member of the Wonk club :( I just have to keep my nails at a shorter length.
ReplyDeleteBless you, Loodie. I've searched all over the net and have come up with almost no good information on the Wonk, and considered asking you about it; I knew you'd have an answer! You must have read my mind. I've been plagued by the Wonk on most of my nails all my life. I'm sad that the only remedy you've found is moisture; that's all I've found that helps too. I guess I'll maintain my pathetic nubs and moisturize the crap out of them to try to ward off the Wonk. If you discover anything else that helps fix it, please share!
ReplyDeleteOh Loodie, I love you so! Such gorgeous nails and yet you too, are not immune to the Wonk. ;) LOL. My middle fingernails are very wonky, and have been for a long time. The index fingernails have some wonk but to a lesser degree than the middle ones. Ever since I started taking better care of my nails the wonk has subsided to some degree but I just can't let them get very long--gets too obviously wonky for me. Now if I can only figure out how to get the damn peeling under control I'll be a happy girlie! :D
ReplyDeleteJust keep moisturizing! Once you've done that for a few months consistently and they are still peeling think about a treatment.
DeleteI totally have the wonk, though much less than I used to - it's the middle finger of my writing hand (I think I press too hard...). But now that we use computers pretty much 24/7, my wonk has lessened significantly. How do you know all these wild and wonderful answers to things!?!?!
ReplyDeleteBTW It won't let me leave my comment via my wordpress account, what gives? Wah :'(
:( something is wrong with blogger. I'm about to beat them down, want to help?
DeleteThe nails on my pointer and middle fingers grow like that, too. The others don't >_> Anyway, I just keep them quite short so I don't have to look at the ugly...
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog through glamonthecheap. WOW you have beautiful nails. I'm gonna have to sift through all your posts b/c I've got some gnarly cuticles that need help and I'm sure you've got some tips. ;)
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Oh yay! Frolic away!! :)
DeleteValium for the wonk LOL!
ReplyDeleteMy middle and index fingers (on right hand) tend to have a sort of more pronounced C curve on left side so the nail looks bent on tip. The longer they are the weirder they look :-/ so thanks for sharing!!
You know how I feel about the wonk and thanks for answering my question, BTW. I have wonk on my thumbs, pointer and middle fingers - both hands! I am primarily wonk; most unfortunate! :( I keep them shorter to stave off the wonk and have been starting to moisturize every night (yes, I know this isn't enough). I have trouble remembering to moisturize in the morning after I shower because a coworker and good friend has pretty severe allergies to strong scents and I'm apparently too lazy to go find a unscented moisturizer. Guess I'll add it to my CVS list. I just called and had them order DermaNail for me, as well. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd, for the record, every time I have to point something out on my computer screen with my wonked out pointer finger, I get SO embarrassed!!!
I love this post! Your wonk looks exactly like the wonk I have on my left index finger. And like you, I play with it daily -- straightening it out on hard surfaces and imagining what my nail would look like if it behaved itself. I mess with it so often that people think I have a nervous twitch when I mess with it LOL. Anyway, I always notice that it straightens itself out when I have my hands in water, so I'll give your tip a try.
ReplyDeleteBack when I was in my 20's (late 70's early 80's) I wore my nails uber long. My ring and little fingers on both hands had a slight wonkiness to them, and the index and middle fingers were straight as could be. Now, it's the exact opposite, the slight wonkiness is on the index and middle fingers. Can't 'splain that one! Glad it's only SLIGHT wonkiness!
ReplyDeleteOMG I thought I was the only one who had wonky nails! I couldnt find a damn thing about it online, until this post!
ReplyDeleteMy free edge tends to curl inwards on one side of my nails on my middle fingers and index fingers. I chalked it up to lack of moisture since they straighten out with cuticle oil or a good moisturizer, but after months of constant moisturizing, they haven't reverted to normal. They just started doing this a few months ago, and it really freaked me out! Nice to know I'm not the only one with the wonk!
Adding a wrap to your nail, especially if you attach a nail tip at the free edge before your natural nail has reached the edge, will add shape to the nail.
ReplyDeleteSo, what does it mean if my nails seems to want to curl upwards instead of downwards? Is that a wonk?
ReplyDeleteThis I don't know. If you are unsure ask a doctor just to be safe.
DeleteI had that exact problem with the same finger (mine, not yours obvs) I started using Supernails, Nail Food for strengthening reasons and found that the wonky went - It worked almost immediately and it hasn't come back. I don't know why and if it would work for anyone else but it meant I could stop having to file my nails pointy to conceal it and now have a lovely squoval.
ReplyDeletePS - just found your blog today and learning loads! I am also a nail obsessive and love all this info and the pics! x
I had this for the longest time. I just recently started a paleo diet since I'm sensitive to grains and it clear up within a week. Maybe try looking at your diet
ReplyDeletecleared*
DeleteHi my name is claudia I was wondering if there's anything out there surfing people with this what can I do there same things out to buy.
ReplyDeleteI literally iron the wonk out. Before I paint my nails I use a standard hair curling iron, push the nail up with my thumbnail to flatten it out, and tap-tap-tap the iron on the nail until it's flat on its own. It lasts about 3-4 days, which is about how long I keep a mani.
ReplyDeleteIs this just the thumb-side corner of the pointer? I see this exact same wonk all the time with friends and other nail bloggers. If it were dietary or health related, I assume all the nails would curve. It's just so common - I have a hunch that this is caused by repeated movement patterns. If you bunch your hand into a fist, that curve perfectly fits in the meat of your palm. It hits the inside of my thumb when I'm gripping a steering wheel, and I know I tend to bunch my hand into a fist when I sleep (I try not to but still wake up with a fist all the time). My wonk has relaxed a lot since I've started trying to be mindful of these habits but it's not totally gone.
Wonky nails might be a sign of deficiencies or other medical issues. You ladies might want to look into that.
ReplyDeleteI have a shitty C curve, meaning it's almost non existing. Flatest nails ever and pretty bendy/flexible too. I'm so turned off by the shape i can't even be bothered with nail polish any longer.
ReplyDeleteI too am a victim of "the wonky nail". Have had them for a very long time. Its like some of my nails just want to lay down and take a nap while the other side stay up. After a shower they straighten out but when they dry, back to sleep they go. A young lady on here commented that after she showers she brushes nail glue underneath her wonky nail. I think I'll try that 'cause the filing technique is not working....wonky nails with an attitude....really??!!! I'm trying to grow my nails out and just happened to find your blog. I really enjoy reading it with all the helpful hints. Your nails are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI am an unproud member of the Wonky Club. Earlier in the posts, someone mentioned putting wraps on their nails after the moisture treatment. Has any body else tried this? Success?
ReplyDeleteI am an unproud member of the Wonky Club. Earlier in the posts, someone mentioned putting wraps on their nails after the moisture treatment. Has any body else tried this? Success?
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