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.

@ISpyCobraKai both of my daughters got that gene! I, sadly, didn’t.

My nails are weak and break very low down in the bed, which makes them painful.

Having a regular manicure and polish keeps them stronger and manages to keep them from breaking.

They're the opposite of talons!

But they make me look pulled together and like an adult!

I don’t do anything to my nails other than cut them when necessary. Very occasionally I use clear polish. I like them to look natural. I’m 36.

I also really don’t the look of fake nails, particularly the long pointy ones that lots of people seem to have now.

@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.

I wish I had nice nails! They’re one of my worst features, small and square. I am envious of those who have lovely large oval nails. I used to shape them and paint them a bit as a teenager but they never looked good. I just ignore them and keep them short and clean now. I’d love to be able to have one of those fancy polishes, but mine just look like toddlers fingernails!

I used to be a hand model in my 20s I’m now mid 40s and couldn’t care less about them. My hands are wrinkly and ruined by years of housework. I don’t really ever think about my nails anymore! When I was hand modelling I’d paint them 2/3 times a day…! The amount of time I spent sitting about waiting for polish to dry / stuff to sink in etc. I mainly used to hold mobile phones in photos …!

I've never bothered much and didn't even have a manicure until I was 30 and that was only because I was on a spa day with a group of friends. Had natural nails on my wedding day.

Did go through a phase for a few years of having gelish polish done for a special occasion or for a holiday.

Since the pandemic started I've not bothered at all other than to occasionally apply some varnish if I can be bothered.

I have a good friend who has the extra-long pointy ones, usually fluorescent or a very loud colour, but they absolutely go with her look – she’s got lash extensions, amazing hair, dresses, in her own words, “like a disco traffic cone”. Undone nails on her would look utterly out of place.

But done nails on me would look equally bizarre – I think I suit natural hair, untethered eyebrows (though they’re now getting a touch Denis Healey), not much adornment (hate wearing most jewellery). But I’m usually doing something practical like the garden or sewing or DIY, so perhaps my aesthetic grew out of that.

I can see why people get them done if it fits with the overall aesthetic. And totally agree about the toes! Mine are always painted; they look naked without.

I've never had a manicure or pedicure. I paint my toenails in sandal weather but that's it. I dislike the look of my fingernails when painted any colour other than very natural.
The idea of a pedicure is actually upsetting to me. I hate anyone touching my feet or looking closely at them.
I find the idea of someone sitting at my feet, grooming them quite disturbing.
I accept that other people enjoy it, it's just not for me.

I have rheumatoid arthritis which has given me misshapen knuckles and wonky fingers - the last thing I want to do is draw attention to my hands. Havinng said that my feet are pretty grim too but I do treat myself to the occasional pedicure and polish.

I’m not. I have good strong nails that I cut short and keep clean.

I’m not high maintenance.

Nope never cared on a daily basis, I've always done a job where it's hard to work with long nails. I very rarely may paint them for a wedding or something

I also dislike over long nails especially those filed to points or squares

I couldn’t give a fuck about my nails and I live on a tiny island where nail care is practically a religion.

Are they clean? Yes. Good enough. Don’t care if anyone else gets it done, but I just can’t dealt with the upkeep.

Nope I do nothing with mine, literally nothing. I’ve tried to grow them but they are weak and bend and break easily. My nails are very small and child like in shape, no elegance at all they don’t look like they belong to a 45 year old woman! Maybe there is something I could do but… can’t really be arsed. It’s never occurred to me that people judge me on it tbh, sounds like they do though! I am a fairly low maintenance person in general though and live in jeans and trainers most of the time.

But nails? Why do people care about those?

I do. Mine aren’t big, or long. Just a plain gel colour over natural and short nails. But I love them.

It’s all relative. I don’t particularly care about clothes, or shoes, or interiors beyond wanting them all to be clean, tidy and presentable, (although I do love a nice bag) or probably many of the appearance based things that some of you probably care about. I have absolutely no idea why you’d care about having cankles. I don’t judge you for it though, because I understand that everyone likes different things and has different priorities.

I think there is a massive snobbery about nails that lots of you wouldn’t necessarily admit to. Do you question why anyone has a skincare routine? Or covers their grey hair? Or shaves their armpits? Or wears perfume or make up?

Meeee! For some reason using a nail file turns my stomach and I hate the feeling of nail varnish on my nails - it feels as though my nails can't breathe.

My nails won't naturally grow very long without breaking, so my nail care routine is just to cut them with a nail clipper once a week in the bath, keeping them at about 3 mm of 'white' so they don't break of their own accord.

I don't have any visible cuticle so that requires no attention.

Getting your nails done is not only about the end result, it’s about going and having some time to yourself and thinking about nothing much.

The snootiness about nails on this thread is terrible. Wind your necks in.

@userwhatever01

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’

Months?! Do your toenails just never grow?

I use gel polish but taught myself to apply it and bought a little LED lamp so the cost isn’t a factor. I love to have my nails painted and it makes me feel more “done” but I hate those ugly long boxy things with gems on that seem to be popular at the moment. I only have 3 colours - nude, red and dark purple - and when I paint them carefully with the gel polish, they stay chip-free for 10-14 days. As soon as the first chip appears, I remove or redo them.

@Sn0tnose

I think there is a massive snobbery about nails that lots of you wouldn’t necessarily admit to.

Absolutely. Some of these comments are bordering on snidey.

Do you question why anyone has a skincare routine? Or covers their grey hair? Or shaves their armpits? Or wears perfume or make up?

No doubt they will. There are plenty on MN that are scathing towards any kind of self care/treats, whilst telling you that they've only used fairy liquid to wash their face their whole life, and only look 35 even though they're actually 62. 🙄

I keep my nails clean and short, and I paint them with clear nail varnish when I want to be fancy 😄.

I don't like long painted nails on other people, and I wouldn't want to have my nails like that.

@ISpyCobraKai

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)

Huzzah, my nail twin!

I often have people comment on my lovely nails when I pay in shops*. They're always surprised that I don't do anything too them. They are long, strong and very clean, as I use a nail brush to scrub off the gardening filth and it brings them up a treat. They are so strong that I can often use them to screw in a... screw.

• yes it's a non stealth boast. It is my only compliment apart from about my good veins when I get blood tests!

@Chargreen

Getting your nails done is not only about the end result, it’s about going and having some time to yourself and thinking about nothing much.

The snootiness about nails on this thread is terrible. Wind your necks in.

You see that’s where it all goes wrong for me… having to make chit chat with someone for 30-45 mins is my idea of torture. But then I’m extremely introverted and avoid the hairdressers or anything like that for the same reason. I love wearing make up and buying clothes etc but I really don’t like the whole “experience” of nails / hair / beauty. But I totally appreciate we are all different. No snobbery about it here.

I can’t abide a nail file/Emery board either my mum used to do her nails urgh even the thought turns my stomach, I’m a nurse so nails are short and in polished they are boring I’d love to have nice nails but mine are quite soft and just break and I’m crap at putting on nail varnish I always make such a mess. I don’t like big long fancy nails small and pretty is different but the talons look bad to me. But each to their own, if someone likes them then that’s their choice.

I couldn’t care less about my nails. Had a French polish on my wedding day.

But I’m not judgey about what others do. I don’t understand how people manage day to day with really long nails, but then I need mine short for my job.

One of my best friend’s nails always look lovely. Each to their own.

Long nails make me feel sick, I’ve kept them short ever since I worked in a hospital. Also can’t stand the feel of an emery board, makes my tongue go all funny at the thought of it.