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.

[quote TuftyMarmoset]@Iamanunsafebuilding nail polishes commonly contain toluene and pthalates, and nail strengthening ones can also contain formaldehyde[/quote]
Good quality, reputable brands contain none of those. Please don't scaremonger, I'm a former Nail Tech and toluene, DBT and formaldehyde haven't been ingredients in many nail polishes for a while now.

Also all nail products should only ever be used on the nail plate which is very poor at absorbing anything!

My nails look long even when I cut them short, because they are very long from cuticle to fingertip. I used to paint them when I was younger, but haven't done anything but cut them for about 25 years. I have never had a manicure or - shudder - a pedicure.

My nails are very weak, one thumb nail grows to a certain point then splits down the middle. Both thumb nails also split low down on the side. I was very aware of it and constantly noticed other people's nails. Gel nail polish is an absolute revelation to me at the age of 61! I don't have talons or nail art. Once a month I have them done, costs me £20 and then I can enjoy them. I'm low maintenance other than this. I think sometimes people take for granted good nails, good skin, straight teeth etc etc

Clean and short nails.I have no idea what is attractive about painted nails and dont get me going about what I would describe talons.absolutely awful!

I wouldn't be arsed with my nails if I didn't bite them. Sometimes they just look shit but the solution to making them look better short term makes them look more shit longer term.

Me too. Can have them for work. So doing them for the weekend feels like a waste of time and a chip them within minutes anyway.
I am pretty high maintenance in terms of skincare and do my makeup, care about clothes etc. But just not that bothered about them. I have childlike hands ( slightly chubby) so they look a bit odd when done anyway.
Do t think it’s my age. Never stepped into a na salon to I was working in a full time job in my twenties.

Late 30s here- I hate the look of a "professional" manicure. Short short, naked nails for me.

I hate the sensation of having fingernails at all, let alone long ones or painted ones, so I keep them as short as humanly possible at all times. Wish I could do away with them altogether, but I suppose that wouldn't be practical. Or attractive. Though they're hardly enchanting as they are. Funny-looking things when you think about it. A little plasticky plate of dead protein plonked on the end of every finger. Weird. Some people look nice with done ones, though.

Each to their own. In 40s too and just started having gel applied again to my short nails. Don't like actylic, overlong nails though.
It's given me a real boost to have some colour, your nails are constantly in front of your face. No good at applying neat neil varnish but usually just shape, do cuticles and apply clear polish myself.
Like the new nails but 20 pounds per three weeks is a bit of an extravagance. Want to keep having it done though. My work is public facing so makes me feel a bit more pulied together for that.

My nails are clean and trimmed. That’s it. They actually stay a nice shape all by themselves. I’ve had my nails ‘done’ roughly 5 times in my entire life. I’m 57.

I lost most of my nails earlier this year (due to illness) and was surprised no one noticed! They are still not perfect - still no comments (I’ve had to point out the issues to close friends and family - even at medical appointments!). I am never spending money on my nails again!

@ClumpingBambooIsALie if it helps I can say life is easier with nails (and I!) even if no one else notices!

Have never bothered but I’ve always had young children or worked in care roles where it’s not practical to grow nails or have varnish on them.

@ElaineMarieBenes

I lost most of my nails earlier this year (due to illness) and was surprised no one noticed! They are still not perfect - still no comments (I’ve had to point out the issues to close friends and family - even at medical appointments!). I am never spending money on my nails again!

I hope you’re better now

That made me 😂 and I agree
Mega false lashes, bad fake tan and neon nails, I only notice if they’re bad

Nope on your side
I think I'd be laughed out of town if I turned up to try and play my musical instrument with long talons 😂

My version of making a big effort with my nails would be putting clear varnish on. They're always very short - they have to be and I like them short so I can forget about them

I couldn’t care less

I hate the sensation of having fingernails at all

Now that is surely unusual!

I use to go get mine done every two weeks but I couldn't give a crap anymore. I have to be way to hands on in everyday life to worry about nails anymore.

@Iamanunsafebuilding do you consider Essie to be a good quality, reputable brand? Because they score badly in the EWG database www.ewg.org/skindeep/products/924179-Essie_Nail_Lacquer_Vernis/
I wouldn’t put anything on my body that had an overall score in the red

I'm a nail biter with extremely weak nails so have had acrylics for the last 10 years or so. I don't have them long due to work but do like to have occasional fun designs. They are done for me and my own happiness, for me they help with my mental health as I personally feel better about myself with them. I don't smoke or rarely drink and work full time so I can afford it with without causing any issues financially for my family. So I chose to have them done regularly every 2 weeks as I'm very heavy handed and can damage pretty much as type of nail varnish etc so have coloured acrylic powder instead. None of my close friends have them done but do enjoy seeing what I've had each time. Each to their own

Each to their own. I don't really bother with mine, I've never paid to have anything done to them (I'm in my 30's). I've painted them myself on the odd occasion over the years but it isn't really for me, always gets removed very quickly.

I think it's easy to say you don't feel a need to enhance something when you're already happy with it though. I like my nails, naturally they look nice and are (by chance) in good condition and a nice shape with no effort from me. That's all it really boils down to as I'm sure I'd feel differently if they werent and I felt I needed to 'cover' or 'improve' them.

I used to get my nails done (gel mostly) but then I became allergic to the products and it means that I also can't have certain medical procedures as they use some of the same chemicals that I'm now allergic to.

I wish there were some health warnings about the dangers of these gel and acrylic nail products but very little is taught about it on nail technology courses.

My nails are now kept fairly neatly trimmed but that's it. No Polish or sparkly stuff for me.

I'm not a huge fan of false or very long nails natural or fake. Even one of the pictures above of the long unpainted natural nails gives me the creeps. We all have different preferences though.
I actually have to have manicured nails for one of my jobs!! Colour isn't necessary for my job and nail colour choice is very strict.
It's in our guidelines for work. I keep my nails short - for practical reasons and personal preference. I do have someone else paint them for me and I really enjoy that hour appointment. I really enjoy the time out and I like chatting to the lady who paints them. For me I like having neat clean looking hands. It helps me feel more put together even when I'm having a bad day.

Never painted my nails others than teenage experiments and then I cleaned it off straightaway. I think my nails are a weird shape, they aren't uniform at all, the way sone people's are. When I painted them they look awful and I don't want to draw attention to my hands.

[quote ElaineMarieBenes]@ClumpingBambooIsALie if it helps I can say life is easier with nails (and I!) even if no one else notices![/quote]
Yes, I should think I'd miss them if they disappeared, from a utility POV if nothing else!