Can I do fingerpicking without nails?

[geo3217]

So I've had nails for 8 years playing guitar, but recently, I've had more people tell me that long nails are a major turnoff to girls, so I'm considering clipping them short. Do you have to have nails to fingerpick well? I seem to recall hearing that if you have calluses, you can still play fingerstyle decently. I still want to get that forceful loud tone you get from playing with nails, and I'm wondering if calluses can be substituted for nails in getting that loud tone. Thanks.

[SimsUK]

I play pretty much exclusively with the flesh of my fingers--sometimes with a thumbpick. There's always the Alaska Pik option too.

Also, you really don't need super long Esteban nails to play. If your nails are freakishly long and you're that worried about it, trim them. If they aren't, then don't bother.

[taparoo]

Yeah, I fingerpick a lot and get really a really nice, bright tone with just a pretty normal nail-length, nothing coke-fiendishly long. You can still get great tone with shorter nails.

[skilly]

i use the flesh of my fingers as well and get a great tone.