The glaze on our fingers and toes

Personally, I don't have a glaze on my fingers or toes. Presumably you mean nails. I only achieve a glaze if I use a buffer or clear nail polish. What a random question!

Not sure what you mean.
Please come back Infoman

What’s a glaze on fingers and toes ? Did you mean glaze or is it a misprint ?

Can you explain further?

Do you mean 'growth' as in the slight webbing between our fingers and toes?

No idea.
Maybe it's protection, to stop them going brittle or drying out?
I sort of understand the sheen you mean, I've just tilted mine towards the light to see it.

MartavTaurus

No idea.
Maybe it's protection, to stop them going brittle or drying out?
I sort of understand the sheen you mean, I've just tilted mine towards the light to see it.

On the nails, that is.

Are you talking about nail polish?
I don’t use it, but I admire it on others, if subtle and neatly maintained. I can’t bear multi-coloured nails or those with extra glitter.

Not intending to confuse,nothing to do with apply anything to the nails.Its the natural glaze on our toe nails and finger nails.

I only have this visible if I buff.

No idea,infoman I ve never thought about it nails are just nails I can’t say I ve noticed a glaze unless I put nail varnish on which I never do

Must be a quiet day at the office

?? Like many others I am not sure what you mean !

Nails are made of the same material as claws, which are used by animals for holding and killing prey and digging in earth. For that they need to have a hard smooth surface - a soft and/or rough surface would soon get clogged or worn down and then it would not achieve its purposes of sliding into flesh or earth and/or protecting the ends of the paws.

In case that doesn't explain enough, hard smooth surfaces reflect more light, and so look shinier.

You are blessed to have a natural glaze to your finger nails and toe nails, infoman, lucky you 😄.

infoman your post made me look at my fingers (toes are currently in their socks). Yes, you're correct. There is a glaze. I've no idea what purpose, if any, it serves.
Perhaps someone with the knowledge will come along to explain. Food for thought.

Elegran

Nails are made of the same material as claws, which are used by animals for holding and killing prey and digging in earth. For that they need to have a hard smooth surface - a soft and/or rough surface would soon get clogged or worn down and then it would not achieve its purposes of sliding into flesh or earth and/or protecting the ends of the paws.

Yes.

My dog has obliged by showing you his shiny claws = nails.
He wears no varnish or nail polish!

Elegran

Nails are made of the same material as claws, which are used by animals for holding and killing prey and digging in earth. For that they need to have a hard smooth surface - a soft and/or rough surface would soon get clogged or worn down and then it would not achieve its purposes of sliding into flesh or earth and/or protecting the ends of the paws.

That seems to cover it - a simple enough explanation.

Now, more puzzling - why FIVE fingers and toes?

Nails can tell a lot about a person's health. Mine are dull with the occasional vertical line (ridge) from tip to cuticle.

My nails are strong and grow long, despite having working hands. They scrub up well but are now becoming gnarly.

I only wear polish for holidays 💅 because it wouldn't last long without getting ruined.

Mine are quite dull actually but I have been digging on the allotment all morning defo no glaze on mine ( ever I don’t think)

Mine only look shiny because of the clear polish I use.

Birds' wings have the same bone structure as our hands. How many of the same bones did pterodactyls and birds have in their wings? If so, the reason we have five fingers may go back a very long way.