For me, the nail trouble is on the right (strumming) hand. My downstrokes often have a lot of nail contacting the strings...
I used to suffer with that too. I retrained myself to strum with pick only. I like the sound that the extra precision brings to my strumming. Took a while to 'fix' that.
I also do quite a bit of hybrid picking, but I like the sound of meat over than nails, so nail wear isn't a problem on my right hand.
I have played using a flat pick and my second and third fingers, with a lot of finger tip and finger nail combined, for years and years. My second and third finger nails have been broken and worn down so many times, they are not strong enough to support picking any longer.
I use these: http://guitarplayernails.com/
Took a while to get used to applying and using them, and care is required to keep them from looking weird, but they work for me. I snap the strings a lot and they will take the heat.
As a previous poster said, the glue used is medical quality. It's the fumes that can be irritating. The glue itself is not harmful.
I never have been able to figure out the hybrid picking thing. It sure would open up some new horizons for me though.
I go through phases where I spend all my free time building and tinkering on amps, and then other phases where I spend all my free time playing through my amps. I am about ready to do another build, I think.
The bottom line is, there is just not enough free time. Ugh.
