This is what I do to strengthen my nails for picking. Take some tissue paper (I find the softer sort is better, surprisingly - such as soft toilet paper, but not the quilted sort). Cut it to approximately the shape of your nail, but only long enough to come about a third or half-way down from the tip - do about three for each nail. If you find a way of tracing the shape of your nails precisely, let me know! Put a coat of clear nail varnish on the nail and let it dry, then put another coat on and put the first layer of paper on, just overlapping the tip. Put another coat of varnish on and let that dry. Do the same with the other pieces. When the whole lot is nicely hardened off - which could be half an hour or more - trim off any bits at the side with scissors, then file the tip to a suitable profile. Incidentally, I find that an off-centre shape works best, with the longest point a little over towards my little finger. With some practise, you should be able to do this without getting paper and nail varnish all over the carpet, your trousers, the cat, etc.

This should be okay for two or three weeks, although you may have to re-stick the edges occasionally; at least they don't take the surface of the nail when they do drop off.

I'm told that nail hardeners are helpful as well, but you can't use that until the paper comes off again.

If anyone can tell me how to fasten my left shirt cuff with long nails, I'd love to know!