To think getting nails done all the time is a waste of money

[Unsurefriend1983]

Had my nails done 4 times in my life all for special occasions. Just had them done for my wedding. I always have to have them taken off though after 2 weeks as I can't stand my nails being long. I think for a special occasion its ok getting gel nails but at 25 quid a pop isn't it a waste of money to have them done all the time? The nail people in the shop seemed to think I was bonkers for wanting them taken off and nothing new done. I was so happy to get home chop them file them and put a clear polish on. Most women would be sad to not have posh nails but I was happy to have my short nails back. Only had them done for my wedding so I wouldn't have to worry about chipping. With the cost of living is it justified to spend this amount of money every 2 weeks. I know we have to treat ourselves but I think there's better things to spend money on.

I get mine done regularly. I can afford it without having to scrimp on food or heating. Why is it any of your businesd what other people choose to spend their money on?

Honestly these threads really piss me off, it's just an excuse to act superior because you like looking "natural" or whatever. And the faux naivety "I just don't understand why people do it" you just sound like a twat to be honest, it's not hard to understand that different people get pleasure out of different things. I don't like wine, shall I make a post about how it's a waste of money and why do people drink it or shall I use my noggin and realise that we're not all the same?

I have my nails done once a month. I love having long, brightly coloured nails.

I don’t really understand it either. It doesn’t seem like a good use of money to me unless you have no money worries at all. But grooming has never been high up on my priority list. I waste my money on eating out, theatre and holidays mostly!

Why does it bother you what other people spend their money on? I expect you buy things that other people think are utterly bonkers but don’t go on the internet to slag you off.

Most women would be sad to not have posh nails but I was happy to have my short nails back.
Really? I don’t do anything to my nails apart from cut / file them. I don’t feel unusual. I didn’t see the king acrylic nails nearly so much in real life as social media would have you believe.

And I agree with everyone really. It’s a waste but so are so many things. I couldn’t spend money on something I don’t care about (nails) but I spend money on things I do care about other people don’t think twice about.

They're wasted on me, my nails lose all condition after being varnished and they never last on me. I can usually lift gels off intact after a few days and practical things seem to wreck polish anyway. I'd love them though if it wasn't a waste of money for me.

On other people, they often have amazing nails. Their hands are lovely and elegant and never wrecked but perhaps they don't spend what I do on skincare or scent or good shampoo. It's all relative. But anything more than a manicure with no polish is a waste on me!

I fell down this rabbit hole a few years ago now.
Most of the time the false ones flaked off or it was back n forth getting them sorted out. After a few times I decided enough was enough.
I let my natural ones grow back with a bottle of OPI and saved a fortune. Took ages and they will never look as good, but I doubt anyone notices that much.

Good for you op 🙄

I love my gel nails. It's my one and only treat.
I have them short & neat and always pillar box red. I bloody love them.

I don't pay anyone to cut my hair but certainly wouldn't sneer or look down on anyone who spent money at the hairdressers every 6 weeks or so.

Thanks for your unwanted opinion on what I spend my money on op

This.

It’s up to each person what makes them feel good. Self-care isn’t selfish. If that £25 a pop is going to help someone’s mental health then fair play to them. Personally I’ve never had fake nails done, it’s not my thing, but I do like them painted so I bought a gel lamp and do my own rather than pay. But I have a steady hand so it’s easy enough for me, otherwise I probably would get them done.

I think they can look lovely if not horribly long talons like claws, they can make you look and feel very groomed. I don't get gels all the time but sometimes for holidays or in Dec when I have more Christmas parties and events, it just helps me feel less like a menopausal scarecrow to have some part of me that is put together and pretty. Having said this if money was very tight having my nails done would certainly would not be priority.

Drinking is a waste of money.
Getting highlights is a waste of money.
Buying designer gear is a waste of money.

I don’t actually think any of those statements are true by the way, but why is getting your nails done more (or less) of a waste of money than any of these things?

So do you have absolutely no money worries at all to be going to the theatre and eating out? Because many people might consider those things an absolute waste of money too. Or do you choose to do those things with your disposable income because you enjoy them? It's the same thing as getting nails done. I have absolute no interest in theatre, so I'd much rather use the spare money that I have to get my nails done rather than buy theatre tickets.

Same here. I had acrylics for my wedding 10 years ago but I only had gel polish for the first time this year. I liked it so much I bought a Mylee kit.

It's more the time for me - with a 4 year old and a job, I tend to prioritise haircuts or meeting a friend with a spare hour! I do my nails in the evening.

I have never had my nails done professionally as I'm just not into it at all. If others want to though that's their choice. A waste of money, well that's very relative, for some it would be a waste and for others it's their treat and there's nothing wrong with that!

So no not all women would be devastated if they could not get their nails done. Many are like me and aren't bothered about nails. Each to their own.

Who are these most women? I don't know anyone who gets their nails 'done'. I play stringed instruments and know a lot of women socially through that....no long nails here.

Probably judgemental of me but I don't the long fake nail look because it seems like a fashion that reduces women's capability in doing things, for the sake of appearance. Like high heels.

I've never had a facial or my nails done, but I'm having both as a birthday treat.
I'm curious as to what I think.
I consider myself low maintenance but in reality I do indulge in the occasional highlights, tattoo or piercing.
I do get the concept that if we all stopped this self indulgence and put the money to better use to help others, the world would be a better place.
So, in that sense, nails, tattoos, highlights etc are all a waste of money.
Its hard to break free of societal norms though.

I have short acrylics. I'm a lifelong nail biter and thr habit comes back whenever I've not got them on, so I have them done to make them look nicer. And it's generally £25 for a full set. If you had them infilled after two weeks, it would cost less.

What do you like to spend your money on? Perhaps we can all tell you that there's 'better things to spend money on' since we're exchanging opinions...

I don’t know anyone who has their nails done. I never have had them done. So I don’t think most women would be devastated if they couldn’t have them done. But people can spend their money as they want.

I put nothing at all on my nails.

How has society done such a number on women? Most men don't so much as bother to shave, yet women think they are incomplete without makeup, complicated hair treatments, finger & toe nail polish, hair removal, microbladed eyebrows etc.

£25 for a full set, £17 for in-fill and £30 for full set plus removal of old set where I am. South West England.

I have my nails done every 3 weeks. They look fabulous and I love them. I don't drink or smoke so like spending a bit of money on myself. I don't see it as a waste of time or money. Drinking or smoking is more of a waste IMO but I don't criticise those that do.

yet women think they are incomplete without makeup, complicated hair treatments, finger & toe nail polish, hair removal, microbladed eyebrows etc.

I know literally zero women who think this.

The only money wasted on this thread as far as I can tell is the op paying someone to take her nail polish off!