Does anyone else genuinely not care about their nails? At all?

[TheYearOfSmallThings]

I'm pondering this after reading another thread about nails, which made me realise how much I just don't care about my nails.

It's not that I have more important things to think about - I waste oceans of time on trivia. And it's not that I am above caring about appearance - I would kill for great hair, and an often consumed with envy of someone's slender ankles (I have cankles).

But nails? Why do people care about those?

I have perfectly bog standard nails. I might paint them once in a while. But when I see "done" nails all I ever think is "eh." And yet it is a MASSIVE industry, with shops everywhere, and they are well used. But who is it for? Who loves these big nails?

Is this an age thing? It probably is. I'm in my 40s.

I don’t bother with my nails either. It’s the last thing I consider and I’d only ever just put nail varnish on. Never gel (?) nails or acrylics.

::Waves at my people with ordinary hand::

Also in my 40s but I don’t think I ever cared. Even when I worked in fashion! Back then I might tidy them and put on a couple of coats of Rimmel or something, but the world of gel/Shellac/acrylic/regular upkeep for HOW MUCH?! just gives me a blank nothing feeling.

They’re hands. I type with them, bake and garden with them. Never going to care about them.

Also cut my own hair and don’t have a skincare routine. But! That’s cos my hair is shit anyway. If I had princess pony hair I would treat it like gold. And I don’t not-care about appearance; my wardrobe is filled with silliness and I adore interiors and the trivia around them. But nails? They’re things on my fingers.

I don't care about mine either. The most I'll do is nail varnish on a night out but not always. I've never had them done professionally. I know people can do what they want but I don't see the appeal. No one really notices nails. I wear make up every day and have a cut and blow now and again, that's as high maintenence as I get.

Yeah, I’m with you. Can’t be arsed at all. They’re not practical and basically anything fashion related. (hair, skin, nails, clothes, shoes, bags) if it’s not practical I cannot be arsed.

Me too! I am blessed with great nails so just leave them. Bit of shaping and that’s it.

I do have gel pedicures in the summer. Lasts for months and makes me feel groomed.

It’s a bit like Ford Prefect’s towel. If I see painted toenails then everything else looks ‘put together’

The furthest I go with mine is seeing which one I can grow the longest before it chips.

I do nothing about my fingernails but I love a pedicure.

They get into any nascent Ingrowing toenails and fix them. Get rid of all the hard skin that otherwise ends up cracking. Generally reach the bits I can't reach.

I also get half an hour of peace while soaking my feet.

All of the above! 👋

Me! See also: my hair.
I once had a pedicure when I was staying at a fancy hotel with my mum. It felt so awkward. Never again!

I’m mid forties and I like my nails to look neat and elegant. However I’m also quite lazy so most of the time they’re not done. They’re always well taken care of though so they still look nice.

I’m very aesthetically driven in general - the way things looks really makes a difference to how I feel, so I think it’s just part of that.

Me too 🙋🏻‍♀️ I keep mine short & smooth, that's it. Had them painted for my wedding 12 years ago & gels once for a Disney world holiday.

I spend quite a lot on waxing my legs though which some people would probably think is a waste of money 🤷🏻‍♀️

*look

I have bitten my nails my entire life and have sometimes been embarrassed by how horrible they looked. Mainly I haven’t given them a second thought.
Recently I’ve stopped biting and occasionally apply varnish, which gives me a nice little jolt of surprise/pleasure when I notice it.
But generally hands are just practical things. I would never spend a lot on ‘nail art’.

With other beauty stuff I can kind of see what people are aiming at. Long lashes are pretty, so when people use false lashes, even though they don't look great, I get it.

But nails? Who is the intended audience? Is it a way of signalling to other Nail Ladies that you are one of them?

My nails are hideous now, short, weak, messy cuticles, sore bits. They are really a mess.

I did have lovely acrylic nails for a year which I absolutely loved, although they were expensive and a commitment. I had lovely bright colors and my skin around my nails was so much healthier. Then COVID hit and I haven’t had them since.

I am a RMN and I could just about get away with it pre COVID but not now. I miss them but not the cost. Got a cat now, have no more money for nails😜🤣

I love a mani and pedi but only started getting them in my 30s as that's when I could afford them. Even now though, they're only done for special occasions!

Its okay to not be interested though. Its not for everyone.

I like having my nails done but it’s probably because I have temperamental hair, crap skin and struggle to maintain a healthy weight/dress elegantly - it’s the only thing I am proud of!

I’ve read these threads recently too and there’s a lot of people who think done nails = long pointy talons. Not true. I have short square nails, just nicely buffed and polished and painted.

Never been bothered.

I’m not into any sort of beauty stuff. Probably why I’m such a boring frump 😂 oh well I just can’t be arsed even though I have literally nothing better to do.

I think short, natural and healthy look best on nails. I have tried nail polish purely to fit in/perform woman when I was a teen but I could “feel” it on and it irritated me such that I’d be scratching and picking it off within a few minutes.

Long nails give me the shudders. Because usually when I see long nails, I also see accumulated gunk under said nails and it just seems very unhygienic to me.

41. Never had my nails done by anyone other than myself and I just wear a nude shade of bog standard nail varnish. In Winter I may buy a burgundy or a dark green. In summer I may buy a blue or coral. That's it.

I have lovely, long, immaculate nails.
Totally natural and take v little time and upkeep.
Good genes!
(Only in the case of my nails though, the rest is a bit of a mess and I don't care)

I’m not signalling anything to anyone.

When I have my nails done it’s purely because the mood is right for that type of nail - usually for me it’s just the finishing touch, it’s what makes me feel properly put together.

Mine aren’t long either. They’re just squarish, and my favourite colour is a classic red or a burgundy. Glittery at Christmas time, if I feel like being a bit more OTT.

In the summer I wear coral or peach.

But I only have them done maybe 25% of the time,

I like to see a well manicured hand with beautiful polish on the nails. I hate those awful acrylics.

I’