About the author: Sarah Michelle Lahti (also known as SM) is the Global Product Marketing Manager for Console Gaming at Logitech. Based at the heart of our gaming division, she manages product lifecycles and marketing strategies that bring the best console gear to players worldwide. When she isn’t shaping the future of Logitech G, she’s an avid gamer and a devotee of high-concept nail art. She has a background in photography filmmaking prior to working in video games. She filmed an Academy Award Short-Listed Documentary and has worked at many well-known companies in the video game industry including Twitch and Riot Games.
When it comes to typing with long nails, at Logitech we hear you loud and clear. We know the feeling. The struggle is real. At Logitech, we listen closely to our users, their challenges and needs. Our users feed back so many frustrations: long nails can cause increased typos, the risk of chipping the new nail design, or the bothersome click-clack noise that can distract others. As our research shared in our first post showed, there is no single, one-size-fits-all solution. Finding the right fit means discovering your unique typing style—one that is tailored to both you and your nails. That’s why we’re handing the keyboard over to our own employees to share their stories and help you find your personal “typing zen.”
Meet SM: Global Marketer for Logitech G and Gel-X Enthusiast
Our guest today is SM. As a Global Product Marketing Manager for Logitech G, SM bridges the gap between technical gaming specs and the player experience. Her long nails are as much a part of her identity as her gaming setup. Here is her story:
I am currently loving mid-length almond nails, though I’ll switch to a coffin shape when I want to mix things up. I always go for Gel-X with intricate art patterns, glitter, or even animals. For me, my biggest typing struggles are:
- As my nails grow between appointments, the length changes. What feels perfect in week one feels completely different by week four. My typing technique has to constantly adapt as my nails get longer.
- If I type purely with my nails, my accuracy drops. Finding that sweet spot where I can use my hands effectively without my nails getting in the way is a weekly challenge.
Sometimes it is just about having the right mix
My technique is a bit of a mix, you can call it a hybrid typing style: For daily work and typing, I use a combination of both my fingerpad and my nails at the same time. I’ve found that this ‘dual-contact’ style gives me the most stability and reduces the slipping that happens when you use nails alone.
However, when it’s time to game, my technique changes. I shift almost entirely to my fingerpads. In gaming, reaction time is everything, and I feel I have better control and quicker inputs when I’m using the fleshy part of my finger. Because of this, I actually prefer raised keys (high-profile) over low-profile ones. The extra height gives my nails more ‘room to breathe’ without hitting the backplate of the keyboard.
SM’s perfect match: A high-profile keyboard
To support both my marketing work and my gaming, I need a keyboard with a specific feel. My preferred match is the Logitech G715 with Linear switches.
The reasons are simple:
- I love the Linear switches of mechanical keyboards, because they are smooth and consistent. Since I use a hybrid pad-and-nail strike, I don’t want a ‘bump’ in the keypress to catch my nail on.
- Unlike a flat office keyboard, mechanical keyboards like the G715 have the height I need. The keys are raised, which prevents my almond-shaped tips from feeling ‘cramped’ against the board.
- I’m always trying new Logitech keyboards to see how the textures feel against my Gel-X sets. For me, the ‘feel’ of the plastic is just as important as the tech inside.
Q&A with SM
What are your all-time favorite games?
I’m a big RPG fan! Persona 5 and the Final Fantasy series are essentials for me. I’m also currently diving into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Do you have a ‘pro-tip’ for gaming with a significant other?
Actually, I have a warning: Do not play Overcooked with your significant other or anyone you truly love. That game is a relationship-breaker! It’s too much pressure for one kitchen.
What is your favorite manicure design to date?
I love nails that are striking and unique. My absolute favorite was a set of orange monarch butterfly wing nails I got for our Logitech G Play event last year. They were a total showstopper.
If you had one wish to make typing with long nails easier, what would it be?
It’s tough because everyone’s hands and nail shapes are so different. Sometimes I think wider key spacing would help, but since I have small hands, that might actually slow me down! My best advice is to try out different types of keyboards and see what works best for you. Often you have 30-day return offers so you can try out.
Visit www.logitech.com to find the best keyboard for you and check out the other blogs in our series by Agnes Lisowska Masson and Maude Emery.
