10 year old getting nails done

[Monkey987]

Are we being unreasonable to take 10 year old DSD to get nails done.
Dad has had some health problems so hasn't been able to see her since Christmas so he would like to spoil her a little bit.
DSD lives quite far away and we're running out of fun contact ideas for the winter. Usually we would go to the park/walks etc but it's too cold.
So my question is are we being unreasonable to go and get our nails done. Obviously she would have something discrete and school friendly.
What is acceptable for a 10 year old (year 6) to have done?
I was thinking simple nail varnish/ maybe gel so it lasts longer? Is that too much for a 10 year old?
I'm not really a nail person so don't really know what to ask for.
How much roughly would you expect to spend?

@ShadowPuppets

I wouldn’t do gels for a 10 year old because they require a bit of maintenance and I wouldn’t assume she won’t pick them off and ruin the nail.

Getting them shaped and polished is a lovely treat, my sister takes my nieces occasionally and they are y5/y6. But as PP says school is an issue - I would only do it in half term or school holidays etc.

Thanks for your help. As I said Im not a nail person so had no idea they required maintenance. What maintenance would she need to do? I'm thinking maybe we'll go for a shape and polish in a natural light pink colour?

ShadowPuppets

MrsSkylerWhite
Painted our son’s and daughter’s nails occasionally over the weekend. Wiped it off before school. Really wouldn’t waste money on a professional, do it yourself.
I don’t know, I think it’s the experience that’s quite nice for a kid of that age. Feeling grown up, going to the salon etc.”

Yes, I do see what you mean.
I suppose the miser in me Baylis at the idea of salon fees

Yes, though, as a one off treat to make someone happy, I see your point,

Baulks, not Baylis, auto correct!

Why not take her:
swimming
bowling
to the cinema
afternoon tea
an indoor climbing place
indoor trampolining place
ice-skating
on a bike ride.

Are you in England? It's not too cold for the park if you're wearing coats, gloves and hats.

Not something I would have wanted to do at that age.

@thaegumathteth

Dd and her friend had theirs done at about 9. It was just polish. I don't see the harm if it's something she'd enjoy. School have no issue with nail colour and imo nor should they.

This is what I thought. I don't really see the harm when she paints her own at home. The gel idea was more to make it last longer. Don't really fancy paying £20ish for her to chip it off within 12 hours!

10 isn't too young if the girl is into personal grooming. She's very unlikely to be allowed it for school though. I like the previous suggestion of a pedicure.
I would ask her mum though. People have strong opinions on make up, nails etc for various reasons. Just make sure you're all aligned.

No to gel they have to buff the nail down a bit and it’s not recommended for under 16s. A reputable salon probably won’t do it.

Yes to a manicure - not just a file and polish if you can, a full manicure is loveky. They will put on hand cream and cuticle oil, and do her nails and a little hand massage.

My youngest used to love a pedicure when she was about 7 or 8.

If that’s what she really wants to do then I think you should go for it, obviously make sure it’s a salon that will do children’s nails though as some won’t, especially for gel.

Both my DDs have worn polish to school and very rarely subtle, it’s never been an issue so I guess it really depends on the school

That sounds like a difficult way to keep in contact with a parent. I’m not surprised that you’re running out of ideas.

I took my daughter in the holidays. She picked them all off within about three days. £15 I wasn't best pleased but you live and learn. You will only be in there for about 30 mins tops though.

@PermanentTemporary

Im sure it would be fine but its not something I would think of for a 10 year old, especially if you wouldn't normally go. Agree something active would be more fun, skating sounds ideal, or just the cinema? The spoiling would be showing how pleased you are to see her tbh.

She's a girly girl and an only child so is getting to that stage where she is too cool for active stuff. Its a shame cos it was really cheap!

@unicornsarereal72

I took my daughter in the holidays. She picked them all off within about three days. £15 I wasn't best pleased but you live and learn. You will only be in there for about 30 mins tops though.

That's what I feared.

Too cool for active stuff? That's really depressing. Whatever you have to do.

@WhatScratch

That sounds like a difficult way to keep in contact with a parent. I’m not surprised that you’re running out of ideas.

This. How awful for the child.

Did the mum move far away?

Personally I'd let her dad spend time with her on their own as it sounds like they don't get a lot of it. I'm a child of divorced parents and it used to upset me that my dad always had his wife or her kids there when I saw him.

@RJnomore1

No to gel they have to buff the nail down a bit and it’s not recommended for under 16s. A reputable salon probably won’t do it.

Yes to a manicure - not just a file and polish if you can, a full manicure is loveky. They will put on hand cream and cuticle oil, and do her nails and a little hand massage.

My youngest used to love a pedicure when she was about 7 or 8.

I didn't know this. Definetely won't consider gel now. I was more thinking the hand massage, hand cream scenario.

We have a 'kid's spa' local to us. They do little manicures where they shape the nails and paint them, they can have a face mask with cucumber on their eyes, hair plaited or face gems etc. My DD wants to have her 10th birthday there. They do a package including painting (a picture), a manicure and a glitter tattoo and then pizza and juice. I think the children will enjoy it.

First ask her mum if it's ok. I think it's a nice treat though, maybe a bit of a hand massage, manicure and a pale polish. Not gels, I'd expect a reputable salon not to do gels for young children anyway. Lots of salons do a kids manicure too. I like others suggestion of a pedicure too if she likes funky colours. I would have loved it at this age! I actually started having my nails done at 11 to encourage me to stop biting them. It didn't work but I loved going to the salon every few weeks and picking out some nail art!

Mum's moved 45 mins car journey away. There's no train station and my partner doesn't drive so that's why I'm driving.
They usually spend time alone but because of the health issues mentioned in the original post I am now driving.
I agree ideally they should be spending quality time alone.
FYI we've been together since she was 4 and she used to stay at our house so I've been pretty involved in her life and she would probably take it personally if I didnt come and see her after not seeing her for a month.

45 minutes in a car??? That’s nothing!

If it's only 45 minutes away then why is she not just coming to stay for the weekend. It seems quite odd and a bit tricky to have contact out and about all day in the winter - as you're finding.

@UndertheCedartree

We have a 'kid's spa' local to us. They do little manicures where they shape the nails and paint them, they can have a face mask with cucumber on their eyes, hair plaited or face gems etc. My DD wants to have her 10th birthday there. They do a package including painting (a picture), a manicure and a glitter tattoo and then pizza and juice. I think the children will enjoy it.

This was exactly what I was imagining. No crazy adult stuff. Some of these replies sound like I'm suggesting she gets a boob job!

Yes the kid's spa particularly says it does not do gel for the kids. I find it odd so many schools would have a problem with nail varnish. I sometimes paint my DD's nails - would never have thought to remove it before school. Her school is very inclusive, though.

Some kids like outdoorsy stuff. Some kids like having their nails done. Some kids like doing both. It's ok if they don't like one or the other. Some kids like neither. It's ok for kids to be 'girly' if they want to be.

@shouldistop

If it's only 45 minutes away then why is she not just coming to stay for the weekend. It seems quite odd and a bit tricky to have contact out and about all day in the winter - as you're finding.

Its a long story. Mum's just recently had a baby and DSD is feeling pushed out and doesn't want to be away for the night. This is part of the issue. It's complicated.