
Barbra Streisand has rocked long nails for over five decades. The singer, director, and actress has addressed the public's curiosity about her nails, confirming that they are indeed real. Streisand's long nails have been a trademark of hers since the late '60s, and she has only cut them once for her role in the 1983 musical Yentl. The origin of her long nails dates back to her teenage years when she rebelled against her mother's wish for her to work as a typist.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Barbra Streisand's long nails are real | Yes |
| Reason for growing long nails | Rebellion against her mother's wish for her to be a typist |
| First noticed | When she won her first Grammy in 1964 |
| Became iconic | By the time she filmed 1970's "The Owl and the Pussycat" |
| Only time she cut her nails | For her starring role in the 1983 musical "Yentl" |
| Most famous manicures | Blood-red nails from "The Way We Were" and French tips from her "Emotion" album cover |
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What You'll Learn
- Barbra Streisand's long nails are natural and not acrylic
- Streisand's mother wanted her to be a typist, but she rebelled by growing her nails long
- Streisand's long nails have been a trademark of hers since the late '60s
- The only time Streisand cut her nails was for her starring role in the 1983 musical 'Yentl'
- Streisand's nails have been described as old-fashioned and narcissistic

Barbra Streisand's long nails are natural and not acrylic
Barbra Streisand has always favoured long nails. In an Instagram video, the singer revealed that her nails are "100 percent real" and always have been. She also divulged that her long nails started as an act of teenage rebellion: "When my mother wanted me to work in the school system and be a typist, I rebelled by growing my nails," she said. "To this day I wish I could type."
Streisand's long nails were already iconic by the time she filmed "The Owl and the Pussycat" in 1970. She has rocked dramatic, long nails over the five-plus decades of her career. The only time she cut them was for her starring role in the 1983 musical "Yentl", where she played a young Jewish woman who disguises herself as a man. Even when she had to learn the guitar for "A Star Is Born", she only cut her nails on one hand.
Streisand's nails have been a topic of conversation for decades. Her manicured claws have been a trademark since the late 1960s, when polished long nails were in fashion. Her nails have been described as old-fashioned, with some critics commenting that they upstaged her performance in "The Prince of Tides". However, skin-care specialist Ole Henrikson commented that Streisand "has beautiful hands and wants them to be noticed".
Streisand's nails have certainly made an impact on popular culture. Many people remember an interview Oprah did with Barbra Streisand, where they discussed her French manicure. This inspired young girls and influenced their beauty routines.
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Streisand's mother wanted her to be a typist, but she rebelled by growing her nails long
Barbra Streisand's long nails have been a trademark of hers for decades. In an Instagram video, the singer revealed that her mother wanted her to work in the school system as a typist, but she rebelled by growing her nails long. She said, "To this day I wish I could type."
Streisand's nails were already long when she won her first Grammy in 1964. By the time she filmed "The Owl and the Pussycat" in 1970, her long nails had become iconic. Streisand has kept her nails noticeably long throughout her career, except when she cut them for her starring role in the 1983 musical "Yentl," where she played a young Jewish woman who disguises herself as a man.
The singer's nails have sparked various interpretations from psychologists and commentators. Some believe that her long nails convey a message of power and control, while others view them as a form of narcissism. Despite the varying opinions, Streisand's nails have undoubtedly left a lasting impression, with some even recalling her ditzy "Oh, no, my nails!" exclamation in "The Prince of Tides."
Streisand's long nails have not been without challenges. When learning to play the guitar for "A Star Is Born," she only cut the nails on one hand. This act of rebellion against her mother's wishes has resulted in a hallmark feature that Streisand has proudly maintained, even if it has come at the cost of functionality.
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Streisand's long nails have been a trademark of hers since the late '60s
Barbra Streisand's long nails have been a trademark of hers since the late '60s. In an Instagram video, the singer shared that her nails are "100 percent real" and revealed the reason behind her signature long nails. Streisand explained that her mother wanted her to work in the school system and be a typist, to which she rebelled by growing out her nails. "To this day I wish I could type," Streisand added.
The singer's nail game was already prominent when she won her first Grammy in 1964. By the time she filmed "The Owl and the Pussycat" in 1970, her long nails had become iconic. Streisand's nails have been a topic of discussion over the years, with some considering them a fashion statement and others viewing them as a distraction in her acting roles.
Streisand's nails have been featured in various forms throughout her career. Her blood-red manicure in "The Way We Were" and the classic French tips on her "Emotion" album cover are some of her most famous nail looks. The only time Streisand fully cut her nails was for her starring role in the 1983 musical "Yentl," where she portrayed a young woman disguising herself as a man.
Despite the criticism and praise Streisand's long nails have received, they remain a distinctive feature of her public image. The length of her nails has become a form of self-expression and a symbol of her individuality, even influencing others to embrace their own nail preferences. Streisand's nails continue to spark conversations and interpretations, reflecting her lasting impact on popular culture.
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The only time Streisand cut her nails was for her starring role in the 1983 musical 'Yentl'
Barbra Streisand has always had long nails, and she intends to keep them that way. In an Instagram video, the singer revealed that her nails are "100 percent real". She also explained the origin of her long nails, saying, "When my mother wanted me to work in the school system and be a typist, I rebelled by growing my nails. To this day, I wish I could type."
Streisand's long nails have been a trademark of hers for over five decades. They were already long when she won her first Grammy in 1964, and by the time she filmed "The Owl and the Pussycat" in 1970, they had become iconic. Streisand has always favoured long nails, except for one occasion. The only time Streisand cut her nails was for her starring role in the 1983 musical "Yentl". In the film, Streisand played an Ashkenazi Jewish woman who disguises herself as a man so that she could study law. To portray this character convincingly, she had to cut her nails short.
Streisand's long nails have drawn attention over the years, with some seeing them as a symbol of power and control. While some may view her nails as a fashion statement, others have criticised them as old-fashioned or narcissistic. Despite the mixed reactions, Streisand has mostly kept her nails long throughout her career.
The singer has also shared that even when she had to learn the guitar for "A Star Is Born," she only cut her nails on one hand. This is a testament to her commitment to maintaining her signature long nails. Streisand's nails have become an iconic part of her image, and she continues to rock dramatic talons even as she wishes to type with shorter nails.
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Streisand's nails have been described as old-fashioned and narcissistic
Barbra Streisand's long nails have been a topic of fascination for many, with the singer herself setting the record straight that they are, indeed, real. Streisand's nails have been described as old-fashioned and narcissistic, with some critics believing they upstaged her performance in "The Prince of Tides." The singer's nails have been a trademark of hers since the late '60s, when polished claws were in fashion. Streisand has shared that her long nails began as an act of teenage rebellion against her mother's wishes for her to be a typist.
The attention that Streisand's nails attract is intentional, according to Beverly Hills manicurist Rando Celli, who says, "She wants us to understand her power and control. Those long, strong nails say, 'Keep your distance.'" Skin-care specialist Ole Henrikson agrees, stating, "She has beautiful hands and wants them to be noticed—and look, everyone's talking about them."
Streisand's nails have been described as "old-fashioned" by screenwriter Ellen Shepard, who found that they took away from the singer's performance in "The Prince of Tides." A press agent, who wished to remain anonymous, went so far as to call the focus on Streisand's hands in the film "narcissism, pure narcissism." This criticism is in reference to a scene where Streisand's character, a serious psychiatrist, exclaims "Oh, no, my nails!" when a football is thrown her way.
The singer's nails have been a point of fascination for many, with some even crediting her manicure as a source of inspiration and influence in their own lives. While Streisand's nails have been described as old-fashioned and narcissistic by some, they are also seen as a symbol of power and control by others. The long nails have become an iconic part of Streisand's look, with the singer only cutting them for her role in the 1983 musical "Yentl," where she played a character disguising herself as a man.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Streisand has confirmed that her nails are 100% real and always have been.
Streisand has explained that her long nails began as an act of rebellion. When her mother wanted her to work in the school system as a typist, she rebelled by growing her nails.
Yes, Streisand cut her nails for her starring role in the 1983 musical "Yentl", in which she played a young Jewish woman who disguises herself as a man.


























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