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Original poster

10 year old getting nails done

151 replies

Monkey987 · 21/01/2022 21:01

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?

OP posts:
Original poster
Monkey987 · 21/01/2022 22:13

@SD1978

You seem really fixated on it has to be getting her nails done. As people have said- it Chios easy, and also probably needs to be washed off for school. I understand that you want to see her too, but it's an activity that has sod all involvement , for about an hour, with her dad- who she is supposed to be seeing. Give up the nail idea, and maybe get activities/ time that he spends with her, given he hasn't because of his health for over a month.
Definetely not. This is just an idea we've discussed that would be indoors and warm that she would enjoy. It needs to be something sitting down as he still can't walk. Can just about get in and out the car. They usually play tennis at a tennis club 2 mins from her house but obviously can't do that this time.
OP posts:
Isthisprivate · 21/01/2022 22:14

Definitely toes instead! My DSDs (9 and 11) are obsessed with playing cards and dominos in the pub. Could you do something like that after? We did it on holiday and they always want to do it on a weekend now.

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 21/01/2022 22:16

@Santahasjoinedww

I would assume school would require any colour removed.
Not DS 10's primary school. That's more secondary school.
steff13 · 21/01/2022 22:17

My daughter is 11 and she's been getting Mani/pedis with me since she was about 6. Not regularly, just when she feels like she wants to, and of course she never gets acrylics or anything like that. She just gets the hand massage and the lotion and the nail polish. I get it done and she sees me and wants to be like me and I don't think there's anything wrong with that in particular. I painted my boys' nails when they were little, if they asked me to (less money for the salon back then). I think it's fine.

TheOccupier · 21/01/2022 22:18

@underthecedartree you do have to be relatively quiet at a nail salon, assuming it's one geared to adults.

It's just a depressing idea. Nobody would take a little boy to the barbershop and expect him to see it as a wonderful treat. The whole thing of beautifying being sold to women as "pampering" or an indulgence is bullshit and pushing it onto young girls is grim.

If I was going to plan an indoor treat for a 10yo girl at this time of year I'd be thinking about these ideas - some of which could be combined with others:
Theatre (maybe a musical, or the Harry Potter play if you can get to London)
Cinema (VIP seating, pick n mix, popcorn)
Pop concert
Trampoline park
Fancy afternoon tea in a posh hotel
Indoor roller/ice skating
A fun diner style place for burgers, waffles, freakshakes
Climbing wall
Make/paint your own pottery
Laser tag
Cooking/baking class

Not a beauty treatment.

ChiaraRimini · 21/01/2022 22:18

My DD age 10 would love this. In fact last year I got my friend a nail tech to do all her friends for a birthday party., they all felt so grown up! Do it on Friday afternoon, not gel but ordinary lacquer so she can enjoy but take off before school.

RosiePosieDozy · 21/01/2022 22:21

I think it's a lovely idea. Just a shape and nail varnish I think though. Not gel. When I was a child, there was a local nail salon who used to host children's parties where the children could have their hair styled (plaited etc) and their nails painted. We must have been about this age and loved it. It's a bit of harmless fun.

Some other ideas for things to do: bowling, laser quest, cinema, museums, eating out.

Original poster
Monkey987 · 21/01/2022 22:22

The only reason I will be there is because he has a broken knee and can barely limp 10 metres so needs driving there.
Normally he would get a 20+ min bus then a 30min train and then a 20+ min bus.

I've been with him since she was 4 and I'm pretty sure she would be offended/question why I hadn't come to see her after 3 weeks when I've always been involved in her life and shes been sleeping at my house since she was 5.

OP posts:
Adatwistscientist · 21/01/2022 22:25

Escape room!

Mario kart tournament?

Scrabble in the corner of a pub?

sampan · 21/01/2022 22:27

Some very judgmental comments! Yes to the gel nails if that's what she fancies. One treat to the salon to get gel nails will not harm her at all. My 11 year old daughter went with me once and we had the nicest time together. After we went for some lunch and then a bit of shopping. Oh and the school didn't mind the colours either Smile

Original poster
Monkey987 · 21/01/2022 22:27

@RosiePosieDozy

I think it's a lovely idea. Just a shape and nail varnish I think though. Not gel. When I was a child, there was a local nail salon who used to host children's parties where the children could have their hair styled (plaited etc) and their nails painted. We must have been about this age and loved it. It's a bit of harmless fun.

Some other ideas for things to do: bowling, laser quest, cinema, museums, eating out.

Thanks for your reply. I think we will go with the shape and varnish. I didn't realise the gel was so extreme. My partner has a broken knee so need sitting down activities for now. Shes been dragged round every cinema, bowling, museum and pizza express within 20miles! Poor kid!
OP posts:
justasking111 · 21/01/2022 22:30

Simple manicure and polish sounds fine.

Tuliprain · 21/01/2022 22:32

@Ponoka7 we had our 9 year olds done for the Xmas holidays too. She loved it. Gels too.

Original poster
Monkey987 · 21/01/2022 22:33

@Isthisprivate

Definitely toes instead! My DSDs (9 and 11) are obsessed with playing cards and dominos in the pub. Could you do something like that after? We did it on holiday and they always want to do it on a weekend now.
I'm thinking toes too but I'll talk to her mum and see if she thinks the school will mind nails. I'm sure DSD will prefer nails as she's a bit of a show off! We were planning on going to harvester after to drag it out. Just wanted something else to make it more of a day out. Just seems they go out for lunch every weekend and it's not very memorable.
OP posts:
Paramummy3 · 21/01/2022 22:35

I think she would love getting her nails done…..but it’s not exactly quality time with Dad is it? Particularly since with covid etc if he’s not getting his nails done he may well be asked to wait outside?

whynotwhatknot · 21/01/2022 22:38

I would have like a clear polish done i doubt they would do gels on kids

just something simple but like shes being pampered

Original poster
Monkey987 · 21/01/2022 22:39

@Paramummy3

I think she would love getting her nails done…..but it’s not exactly quality time with Dad is it? Particularly since with covid etc if he’s not getting his nails done he may well be asked to wait outside?
That's a good point. I'll make sure I ask when I book tomorrow. I just assumed as a child he would be able to sit with her. They're very close and could sit and talk for hours and she loves 1 on 1 time. He broke his knee 3 weeks ago so that's why we're thinking a girly sitting down activity might be best.
OP posts:
Glugglejug · 21/01/2022 22:41

@TheOccupier you seem to be pushing a massive agenda here and it seems to be affecting your reading comprehension. Let me help you out:

OP: my partner has a broken knee what is a nice activity we can do as a treat. She likes nail art.
@theoccupier: how sad to do something within her interests. Why doesn’t your partner with the broken knee take her to a climbing wall or trampolining?

OP nails seems like a nice treat if that’s what she likes. For what it’s worth; occasionally having pretty nails won’t condemn her to a shallow life of self obsession and vanity, whatever nonsense you might read on here!

fallfallfall · 21/01/2022 22:41

oh my heavens, a bit of glitter and some 1-1 time my 7 year old grand daughter loves it.
cuticle tx, shape and a hint of polish or buff. never occured to me about school but there are some lovely clear polishes with tiny glitter in them :).

Original poster
Monkey987 · 21/01/2022 22:44

[quote Tuliprain]@Ponoka7 we had our 9 year olds done for the Xmas holidays too. She loved it. Gels too.[/quote]
What did the gels consist of? Someone said earlier that they are hard to get off and need to be filed off?
Is this true? Ideally I want something that comes off naturally over time.
How long does it last?

OP posts:
Innocenta · 21/01/2022 22:48

@Monkey987 Gels don't come off naturally - I definitely wouldn't get them for a child.

Tuliprain · 21/01/2022 22:53

Her gels are just growing out. She got them done on 18th dec and we’ve just left them alone. Some have lifted a bit but nothing too bad. She loved having them done and them looking all Christmassy.

Spicez · 21/01/2022 22:55

I wouldn't get gels. They have to be soaked off in acetone. When they do grow out and start to lift there is a temptation to pick at them, which can be harmful to the natural nail beds. A little bit of normal polish is fine though.

Original poster
Monkey987 · 21/01/2022 22:57

[quote Glugglejug]@TheOccupier you seem to be pushing a massive agenda here and it seems to be affecting your reading comprehension. Let me help you out:

OP: my partner has a broken knee what is a nice activity we can do as a treat. She likes nail art.
@theoccupier: how sad to do something within her interests. Why doesn’t your partner with the broken knee take her to a climbing wall or trampolining?

OP nails seems like a nice treat if that’s what she likes. For what it’s worth; occasionally having pretty nails won’t condemn her to a shallow life of self obsession and vanity, whatever nonsense you might read on here![/quote]
Thank you.
We have done all of those suggested activities multiple times over the last year. Apart from the theatre cos thats crazy expensive!
I'm amazed how a simple question about a loving fathers day out can turn into a dad bashing opportunity.
Questioning why she isn't staying the entire weekend at our house and why we aren't taking her to a museum/ theatre every weekend.

OP posts:
TheOccupier · 21/01/2022 22:58

Yeah, have to admit I was so disgusted at the thought of dragging a little girl to a beauty salon I missed the broken knee. Still, plenty of the suggestions on my list would work. Not sure why a nail salon is being considered if the idea is something nice to do with her dad anyway!