2 year old having shellac

[Glitterspy]

I’m in the nail bar. It’s a hot humid afternoon. This place of stinks to high heaven of nail glue. Among the various women and nine year olds having their holiday nails done, is a 2 year old, sucking a dummy, having shellac nails done. They’re using the plug-in file on her tiny nails. The mum is here and argued with the salon owner who said she was too young, got really shitty and in her face to have it done, so it’s happening but the poor nail tech doesn’t look happy about it.

AIBU for hoicking my judgy pants and saying toddlers shouldn’t have shellac (damage to tiny nail beds, toxic chemicals, sexualisation of children as reasons off the top of my head)

YABU - it’s fine to shellac babies
YANBU - children should be seen and not shellac’ed

The nail bar I use is no under 12's (under 16's must have parent with them) but they will put regular polish on younger as long as the child is willing, I've never seen anyone under around 8

Now she’s done it once, she will continue to do it

I feel for the salon but they should have chucked the woman out and banned her from the site.

Bad reviews be damned.

👏

I have a two year old and the there is not a chance in hell she would sit and have that done, even if I was bonkers enough to want her to. I guess if she wanted normal nail varnish I can't see the harm, I painted my sons toenails at about that age because he wanted to be like me, and obviously that just comes off with remover so no harm done. But shellac will be red removed properly and really, what's the point?!

I’d have told the salon manager loudly, from across the store, that if she allowed any under 18s a UV treatment I’d be reporting to environmental health.

No you wouldn't, not with a shouty, aggressive and intimidating woman in the shop who would 100% turn on you as the next victim for her nastiness.

@AnotherDelphinium just checked - no minimum age for nails. Most insurance companies say 12 or 14 as a minimum but that doesn't make it illegal younger. environmental health wouldn't care social services have bigger issues to deal with. Nightmare family but nothing will be done

I would report the nail salon tbh. They should have said NO.

Disgusting mother.

FMD

Idiotic fucking woman.

that poor toddler.

I would report it the nail salon to Modern Slavery Helpline is 08000 121 700. & say the technician said no, but was made to do it but looked scared.

the 'owner/manager' NEEDS to get in trouble, she knew it was wrong, but agreed to it. She's either scared of getting in serious bother with someone or too fucking stupid to be in charge, either way, it needs reporting.

you have time this afternoon to sort this before you go away tomorrow. Don't let this child or the poor staff there down.

Are you still in the salon OP?
I understand your predicament but honestly, if you were overseas you would be among a sea of very vocal local women who would not be shy in their disapproval.
Could you at least mention how uncomfortable it made you feel on your way out?
It may encourage the other customers to also voice their disquiet.
I would be telling them that I wouldn't be returning after what I just witnessed.

OMG! What the fuck?? Yes trading standards, that’s appalling. Poor little girl.

Report to the Health & Safety Executive:

www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/industry/beauty.htm

Is the owner insane???? Those lights actually burn quite often on thick adult nails, on papery baby nails they must be really painful.
I'd have chucked her out and if she had a go the police would have been called.

100% I’d avoid any place that uses dremals to your nails too! They’re awful and disgustingly unsanitary. Hand files only 🤮

At least have the decency to report the salon to trading standards. They should get in trouble. They have a responsibility too. Don't be lazy.

This reminds me of a thread from a short while ago where a small child was being restrained by a parent and staff while her ears were being pierced, all while she was screaming "no, no!".

Awful to think of the poor child exposed to all that, plus the removal and finger-sucking/nail-biting in between.

Some people shouldn't be allowed pets, let alone children.

I'd probably report it to Trading Standards (find them via your county council's website). And at least to the salon manager, with possibly also a comment on their website or social media depending on their response.

I would be walking out. No reputable nail salon would treat a 2 year old with a drill or shellac. The salon attend don't offer shellac to under 13 and never use a drill.

I'm a qualified manicurist. Do it part time mainly for friends and family as my side hustle.

My insurance doesn't even cover applying gel to under 18's. I use only TGB products.

That mother is disgusting. Even with the most gentle prep that poor child could experience a heat spike which bloody hurts under those lights

I don't agree with the shellac at all but the sexualisation bit YABU.

I’m sorry I couldn’t just sit there I’d be telling the manager they either kick the woman out or I’d be phoning the police, surely that’s completely illegal and that little baby’s finger nails will be so painful from the whole process, especially the filing and UV curing!

But if the salon gets in trouble they will make double sure they stand up to her and refuse point blank if she returns, so it's worth getting them in a bit of trouble so they just don't give in to bullying again.

That’s absolutely outrageous, YANBU and please report to someone as this shouldn’t happen. That poor baby when it has to come off

That’s insane! I would def report the salon.

shellac kills my nails so I only have it done maybe once a year for a ‘do’ and getting it off is a performance.

Please report the salon. The UV part alone stings, I don't mind it much as an adult who regularly has gels done but my toddler would find it sore, I'd imagine.
Awful of the mother to even consider it let alone insist on it being done, and ridiculous and stupid of the manager to agree to it.

You don’t want to get the salon in trouble??

but they deserve to be

it’s not about YOU

Sorry but yes this is it, she’d already shown herself to be quick to anger and almost certainly of the “my bubz my rulez” brigade. I have no willingness to have a fistfight this afternoon.

As far as trafficking goes, I’m not apt to judge a business for people trafficking just because its staff are Vietnamese. However this is clearly a breach of safety rules. Before I report it I will email to the owner and see what response I get.