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.

@TheYearOfSmallThings

I hate the sensation of having fingernails at all

Now that is surely unusual!

Possibly…? It's when I become aware of the fact they're there, probably a couple of times a day on average. I can feel the way they pull/compress against the skin with the movement of my fingers. It's a bit like if you had a sticker stuck to your face — mostly you would be able to put it out of your mind, but with some facial expressions, you'd notice the way the sticker felt as the movement of your skin pulled against the surface of the sticker. I think maybe it's because I'm autistic with tactile oversensitivity and my brain doesn't filter out continuous stimuli the way it should, so am basically physically uncomfortable pretty much all the time.

That sounds awful - it makes me very gateful to be oblivious to my nails.

Me too. If men don't have to faff around buffing and painting their nails, why should I feel like I should have to?

[quote Amdone123]@TheChip 🤣🤣
I have found my tribe thank god. I thought it was just me. My sisters are always going on about their nails ; appointments, colour, breakage, even the pain they cause ( this one I do not get!)
I like mine short and a clear or pale colour. Understated.
I file them regularly. I like doing this when I'm on a plane going on my holidays.[/quote]
Please don't file your nails on a plane! Who wants to breathe in your discarded nail cells? Likewise don't file you nails on any form of public transport, or when out in public at all. It's disgusting.

Mid 40's and have never done the whole nail thing... until this summer. I have always had extremely brittle nails which break really low down and couldn't be arsed to paint etc at home. I had a gel manicure and am now hooked. I love the fact that my nails are not constantly breaking, I have a nude colour which goes with everything and they are filed short each time and I have been staggered by how much they actually grow. I have them redone every 4 weeks or more and have found someone who doesn't charge the earth but goes to great pains to use non toxic products and gives the care and attention required to try and avoid as much damage to the nail as possible. I don't do long or pointy, nail art or mad colours but I do like the way my hands look now and wouldn't have said that before.

@TheYearOfSmallThings

That sounds awful - it makes me very gateful to be oblivious to my nails.

I've possibly made it sound worse than it is… it's just one of myriad annoyances sadly 😁 But it does mean people are unlikely to look at my fingernails and feel embarrassed about theirs in comparison, which I look on as a win.

I used to have mine done every 3 weeks, acrylic extensions, but I had a set done by a nail tech who made a mess of them & I haven't had them done since, I have got all the stuff to do them myself, the acrygel & lamp but haven't got round to it yet.

Mine are always short, never painted. I work in healthcare and play an instrument so they’ve always been short. I’m so used to it that I don’t like the idea of painting them now and so don’t even for special events etc.

I like the look of short nails with bright red nail varnish. But I’m too set in my ways I think.

Long nails I can’t stand, they give me the creeps.

I've never had my nails done, but I'm fortunate that they naturally grow strong, long and in a pleasing shape. Nature's compensation for stubby hands

I used to paint them a lot when I was younger, but since being a mother the varnish chipped too quickly and I don't have occassions to go to often.

They grow long despite an active life but I adapt to the length as they grow. Having long ones put on would be tricky. I just trim with clippers when they get snaggy or the lengths need evening up. I'll often just trim them in half, especially the little fingers which take less impact.

I'm generally low maintainence for beauty. I've got strong enough features not to "need" a lot of enhancing and would rather use the time and money for more active things.

I file and buff mine every fortnight and paint with a clear protector. I also regularly use hand cream which I massage into the nails and nail bed. But other than that I leave them alone, they are practical and clean. I hate nails that I can see over the tops of fingers….

I cut mine a lot as I can't stand having nails at all long. I never do anything with them, I'd only chip it after 5 minutes.

Not the only one. I have rubbish nails, play instruments and have outdoorsy hobbies that wouldn't play well with either natural long nails or acrylics.

I like the look of a pop of colour, so I do often paint my toenails, but that usually lasts between 1-2 weeks. If I was to try to maintain my fingernails in the same way I'd be spending 30 mins ever couple of days and for me it's just not worth it. Even Shellac on the fingernails doesn't really last on me. Fingers are special occasions & holidays.