the council made it mandatory for all lesser angels that werent foot soldiers to have their talons clipped to the bed to prevent them from being able to hurt anyone or fight back. this was a tactic to keep lesser angels more submissive and further push the hierarchy among angels. Lesser angels weren't allowed to clip or preen their nails themselves either, leaving them even more dependent and subservient to greater angels.

all that to say rapha has no idea how to care for their nails, or how to live with them once they get longer, and they dont want to ask for help clipping them because the entire ordeal of getting them clipped was VERY forceful and painful and traumatic.