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AIBU?

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AIBU to not ask the nail technician to redo these nails?

140 replies

Hellyk1985 · 12/09/2026 21:08

Attached are some photos I had of my nails done professionally yesterday.

Im not a fussy person but I think these are bad? I was pretty upset because I don't treat myself very often. I'm getting them fixed by another nail tech tomorrow (at full.price). DH thinks I should go back and complain for a redo but i don't have it in me, she was so lovely and worked really hard.

He thinks I'm a sap!

AIBU to not ask the nail technician to redo these nails?
AIBU to not ask the nail technician to redo these nails?
OP posts:
GreyBeeplus3 · 12/09/2026 21:54

@Hellyk1985
Was you going for a French manicure with contrast colour stripe against the white strip?
And what did you pay?

DailyPlanner · 12/09/2026 21:44

You could complain and ask for a refund

but I wouldn't let that technician near my nails ever again!

Calliopespa · 12/09/2026 21:44

Hellyk1985 · 12/09/2026 21:13

This what the inspo was...

Ah that explains a lot.

It looks ok in that photo, but I think the dark line is a really bad concept. I thought it was a line of dirt like you had been digging with your hands in the garden!

LuckyHazelFox · 12/09/2026 21:44

Willowskyblue · 12/09/2026 21:43

I had a gel pedicure recently as a treat at an upmarket salon (first ever) and ended up with five bleeding toes, which have only just healed. The actual gel was uneven (thick by cuticle and raised) and looked awful so I sent photos once I got home and could have a good look to say I wasn’t happy. The owner, who had been away at the time, offered me an immediate refund. Look after your cuticles as mine were very sore and red for ages, which meant I couldn’t wear sandals.

I can feel the pain as you wrote that. Ouch.

Willowskyblue · 12/09/2026 21:43

I had a gel pedicure recently as a treat at an upmarket salon (first ever) and ended up with five bleeding toes, which have only just healed. The actual gel was uneven (thick by cuticle and raised) and looked awful so I sent photos once I got home and could have a good look to say I wasn’t happy. The owner, who had been away at the time, offered me an immediate refund. Look after your cuticles as mine were very sore and red for ages, which meant I couldn’t wear sandals.

euff · 12/09/2026 21:43

You would be right to complain but I know I would probably wimp out too.

LuckyHazelFox · 12/09/2026 21:38

I really think you should get your money back. You sound like you don't like confrontation but if you're having to get them done again, why should you be paying twice over?

Lemonfrost · 12/09/2026 21:37

Hellyk1985 · 12/09/2026 21:23

For DH to say there were bad, I thought they must be BAD. Can't bring myself to complain but lesson learnt! Definitely a proper nail tech working in a well established salon

Why can't you bring yourself to complain?

ItsAlwaysTwins · 12/09/2026 21:37

Ewww. They are hideous in every way, including the shape. They look like you’ve been scrabbling around in the dirt.

Hellyk1985 · 12/09/2026 21:36

holiday22 · 12/09/2026 21:31

OP your own nails need some love care. Use a cuticle oil daily. They look sore, or sorry to say, dirty. . Were they like this before?

the colour and shape are wrong.

Thank you. No nails are clean. I think it was pretty aggressive filing and cutting around the outside. Then the gold making it look like dirt underneath

OP posts:
holiday22 · 12/09/2026 21:31

OP your own nails need some love care. Use a cuticle oil daily. They look sore, or sorry to say, dirty. . Were they like this before?

the colour and shape are wrong.

LuckyHazelFox · 12/09/2026 21:30

Hellyk1985 · 12/09/2026 21:28

Yeh. I also have SEN twins so find it difficult to find a couple of hours to myself. But it's fine. We live and learn!

Oh no love 💕

bryceQ · 12/09/2026 21:29

Ahh so sorry 😔 don’t know why she would do it like this. Sorry you’re so disappointed when you wanted a nice treat.

Hellyk1985 · 12/09/2026 21:28

LuckyHazelFox · 12/09/2026 21:27

Awww I feel for you. Getting our nails done isn't cheap x

Yeh. I also have SEN twins so find it difficult to find a couple of hours to myself. But it's fine. We live and learn!

OP posts:
LuckyHazelFox · 12/09/2026 21:27

Hellyk1985 · 12/09/2026 21:26

No going for something much simpler. Lost my confidence now. First nail appointment I've managed to treat myself to in a couple of years

Awww I feel for you. Getting our nails done isn't cheap x

Hellyk1985 · 12/09/2026 21:26

LuckyHazelFox · 12/09/2026 21:24

If you're not going to get your money back, just don't use her again. Are you going for the same design again with the other tech?

No going for something much simpler. Lost my confidence now. First nail appointment I've managed to treat myself to in a couple of years

OP posts:
LuckyHazelFox · 12/09/2026 21:24

Hellyk1985 · 12/09/2026 21:23

For DH to say there were bad, I thought they must be BAD. Can't bring myself to complain but lesson learnt! Definitely a proper nail tech working in a well established salon

If you're not going to get your money back, just don't use her again. Are you going for the same design again with the other tech?

Error404FucksNotFound · 12/09/2026 21:24

Yikes. They are awful.
Edited cos somehow I missed thst you're going to a different person for a redo.
Wise decision.

Hellyk1985 · 12/09/2026 21:23

For DH to say there were bad, I thought they must be BAD. Can't bring myself to complain but lesson learnt! Definitely a proper nail tech working in a well established salon

OP posts:
Buttercup211 · 12/09/2026 21:23

Is she newly qualified? These look more like someone who is training and needing to practise

Hadenough32 · 12/09/2026 21:23

Just to add I often had this design but with a silver line and oval nails and looks lovely and I'm am often complimented on them.

Hadenough32 · 12/09/2026 21:21

Oooh sorry op these are really bad. They're too short and the gold line looks like a muddy bronze. Very very bad work. The lines aren't even uniformed, they don't match. This is shoddy amateur work.
I wouldn't want her redoing them. I'd be asking for a full refund in a message with the photos. Explain you're having to pay to have them re done. If she refuses a refund leave her a review with these photos on every platform possible

LuckyHazelFox · 12/09/2026 21:20

I can see what you were trying to achieve from your inspiration pic and they look nice. She can't be a professional nail tech with what she has produced.

Mummy2mybear · 12/09/2026 21:19

The line looks more green not gold.

Overthebow · 12/09/2026 21:18

They are really bad. Oval shaped nail with a dirt line then squared off tips? Why would the nail tech do that?