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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Not to manicure my nails?

64 replies

NotJustACigar · 27/03/2014 07:08

I'm in a professional job, wear makeup and decent clothes to work, but I find beauty stuff all a bit of a drag and tend to do the minimum I can get away with. Recently my DH commented that I should "treat myself to a manicure" and I realised that I am probably not getting away with my unevenly trimmed unvarnished nails as well as I thought I was. However, for me, "manicure" and "treat" do not belong in the same sentence.

AIBU to just trim my nails? Or if not, to file them myself into something that resembles a symmetrical shape and then varnish them with clear polish? Or do I need to do more in order to not look like a messy weirdo? If you hate spending time on beauty treatments, what do you do with your nails? Basically, what is the minimum I can do and get away with?

OP posts:

GreenLandsOfHome · 27/03/2014 08:08

Buy a nail whitener pencil. It's like a white eyeliner, you dip it in water and run it under your nails. It makes a huge difference to them looking more manicured and takes 2 minutes.

I do this every couple of days, and file and clear polish. It's a natural white tip without the horrible square sparkling white tip, which I think looks awful.

CrabbySpringyBottom · 27/03/2014 08:22

I can't bear the sensation of jagged nails (always carry an emery board for that reason) so your nails would drive me absolutely insane - does it not bother you when they scrape your skin or catch on clothes?

Long/short, varnished/unvarnished: totally up to you and doesn't matter either way. But clean and smooth is important, I think. Is it possible that your DH suggested a manicure because the sensation of being touched by jagged nails bothers him?

Emery boards (much better than metal nail files) are cheap as chips and it'll take you less than 5 mins to file them perfectly smooth.
fashion.telegraph.co.uk/beauty/news-features/TMG4795259/Back-to-basics-how-to-file-your-nails.html

almondcake · 27/03/2014 08:34

There is nothing wrong with your nails. Life is too short.

If you don't like the feel of the ends, trim them with nail clippers. Otherwise, leave them as they are.

I assume a lot of this is what people are brought up to think is 'normal.'

I don't even know what buffing your nails means, much less notice if somebody else has done it or not.

I've never had anybody suggest I looked unkempt etc, and my mum looks great at 70, having never gone in for this kind of stuff.

Original poster

NotJustACigar · 27/03/2014 08:47

Travail, no. My mother told me recently I have the hands of someone who does hard manual labour - however I work in an office. I think I need to take a bit more care over my hands in general. I will get one of those whitener pens I think. And yes it's the concern over looking unkempt that bothers me. I don't have to look pretty but I don't want to look half mad!

OP posts:

samandi · 27/03/2014 08:51

Of course you don't need to manicure them How odd that your DP would comment on that, I doubt mine even notices my nails! :-)

samandi · 27/03/2014 08:52

They would look better clean and neatly trimmed though - that applies to men and women!

samandi · 27/03/2014 08:54

I cut my nails neatly, probably about once a week. Nail varnish only comes out for VERY special occasions. I don't own an emery board either.

Trills · 27/03/2014 08:54

I wouldn't blame him for calling it a treat - we've all seen advertising or heard other women talk about "pampering".

Some people find this kind of thing enjoyable. Others don't.

TheBigBumTheory · 27/03/2014 09:00

I cut mine if they are getting long or if they break and have a sharp edge. I don't do anything with my cuticles, and not sure exactly what they are...nail varnish feels horrid to me, like a tightness on your fingers.

Bunbaker · 27/03/2014 09:06

A ragged nail would annoy the hell out of me. Why do you leave them ragged. Don't they snag on clothes?

Original poster

NotJustACigar · 27/03/2014 09:08

No obviously they don't bother me, bunbaker, otherwise I would notice them.

OP posts:

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 27/03/2014 09:14

I've never been for a manicure in my life and don't generally do pampering. However I do feel more groomed with short. neat nails and a pale nail varnish and it only takes 10 mins if you use a very natural colour and fast drying topcoat. I keep my basecoat, topcoat and neutral colour in the fridge (stops them going gloopy plus the kitchen table is the easiest place to do it). Get ready for bed, 10 mins of nail polishing, into bed, read for 10 mins while they dry, job done.

Contraryish · 27/03/2014 09:21

I had my nails done four weeks and two days ago with Biosculpture, but there are other similar products, I believe. It took less than an hour, including soaking off the old ones. Since then, I have had to do absolutely nothing to them and they still look great (light colour, so the regrowth doesn't show). I've decided this is the ultimate lazy option and takes much less time than any buffing, filing, clipping, polishing, etc. as they are literally no maintenance.

BumPotato · 27/03/2014 09:24

I wish I had your nails.

Buffing your own nails makes them shiny without the need for polish. I like that look. Buffers usually have a file bit too. That would sort out any rough edges. Only if you wanted to. Would take under a minute once or twice a week.

mrsjay · 27/03/2014 09:24

i dont get the whole beauty as a treat thing go for a facial no it is gloopy, what about a mani pedi urgh no they will be touching my feet, oh a spa day i can sit in my dressing gown at home ta very much it really isn't for me

mrsjay · 27/03/2014 09:26

I cant stand nailvarnish on my my nails and the filing gives me the creeps

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 27/03/2014 09:26

Buffing wrecked mine, I will never do it again. I think I probably overdid it, because the shiny effect never lasted more than a couple of handwashes.

mrsjay · 27/03/2014 09:29

MY dd buffs files and polishes every week i watch in awe and the patience she has for it

Ludways · 27/03/2014 09:33

I love my nice long varnished nails and even to me having a manicure isn't a treat, I do it myself quickly so I can go back to whatever I was doing!

Tidy and clean is enough.

A quick question: as I day I love my nails and usually have them fairly long and painted. However, I don't wear make up and I don't do my hair, would you think I look odd? I often wonder but obviously don't care enough to do anything about it, lol

mrsjay · 27/03/2014 09:35

do you brush your hair i assume you do i f you look like you fell out of a hedge but have nice nails id think you were bonkers

ArsePaste · 27/03/2014 09:36

Myabe he just genuinely thought that women think manicures ARE a treat, and was trying to be nice? Many women do think they are, after all. Manicured nails aren't compulsory, however, but having ragged ones is a bit bogging, especially as it's the work of seconds to fix!

Ludways · 27/03/2014 09:45

Mrsjay, I pride myself on bonkers! I do sort of brush it, it's curly but goes frizzy if I brush too much. Lol

mrsjay · 27/03/2014 09:47

I am sure your nails look fabulous ludways If i see somebody with nice nails i always admire them it distracts from the hair it is fine

Bunbaker · 27/03/2014 09:49

I don't "do" manicures either. My nails are my own - no gels/sticks on etc, but I always keep them neat and tidy.

I'm sorry, but ragged nails are not a good look. They look unkempt and send the wrong message.

RedFocus · 27/03/2014 09:55

Clean, trimmed, filed with the cuticles cut back is perfectly fine. Add a little clear polish to protect.
Lots of people enjoy getting their nails done and I am one of them, every week without fail.

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