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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To find unpainted toenails gross?

403 replies

blahblahblah1654 · 25/07/2023 14:39

I wouldn't dream of wearing sandals without unpainted toenails. I just think it looks horrible. Am I being weird? I don't care what anyone else's feet look like though tbh.

OP posts:
blahblahblah1654 · 25/07/2023 16:25

Tinysoxx · 25/07/2023 16:21

I am a bit jealous of the fact this is a problem for you.

It you ever have an operation or going to have a baby please remember to keep your toenails natural as their colour is a good way for the medics to assess how you are doing under anaesthetic.

I had a baby by c section 3 years ago, and a miscarriage at 20 weeks in June. I had to go under GA to remove the placenta and they never mentioned my nails. I started in A&E and didn't have time to remove anything but they never mentioned it. They checked my pulse countless times over 2 weeks with the finger monitor and they didn't have issues fortunately. I did ask them and they said it wasn't an issue.

OP posts:
ZenNudist · 25/07/2023 16:26

Tippingadvice · 25/07/2023 14:43

YABU why are clean, neatly kept natural toe nails not acceptable to you.

Do you require men to also have painted toe nails or just women?

I immediately thought this. It's a shame to have absorbed patriarchal unreasonable standards of 'beauty' without question. That makes me sad for you.

feelforyou2 · 25/07/2023 16:29

YABU. It depends, if the toe nails are healthy looking and well tended/cut, no fungal infections etc, that's absolutely fine. Of course!

I occasionally paint my toenails but always with either clear or French /natural type polish.

I find coloured nail varnish, whether on finger or toe nails, a bit naff tbh.

Roselilly36 · 25/07/2023 16:29

My toes nails were painted cerise pink when I gave birth to my summer born DS, I had to go to theatre after, nail polish wasn’t mentioned, until I did, said I had had a pedicure, midwife said, well I was wondering how you did that!

Atethehalloweenchocs · 25/07/2023 16:30

I think they look cleaner without.

Seeingadistance · 25/07/2023 16:31

MotherofGorgons · 25/07/2023 14:43

I love bare nails on hands and feet. In fact I am revolted by long gel nails.

I agree.

JudgeRudy · 25/07/2023 16:33

It seems odd to me but I know plenty of women who won't go out without their face on. I was recently discussing my upcoming wedding guest outfit and I was told I had 3 weeks to get a tan or I'd have to be sprayed. Er no. I'm white and I'm reasonably happy with the colour of my arms and legs ....also white!
Each to their own. Do men have these things too.

mayorofcasterbridge · 25/07/2023 16:33

CasperGutman · 25/07/2023 15:50

@mayorofcasterbridge wrote:
I don't ever want to have to look at a man's feet again!!! Men have such ugly feet!

That's a massive generalisation, and also quite rude. I don't think I'd be very popular on here if I said, I don't know, "I don't ever want to have to look at a woman's legs again!!! Women have such ugly legs!"

I suppose I could avoid generalising and be more specific. Would that be better? "I don't ever want to have to look at mayor's face again!!! Mayor has such an ugly face!" Hmm. Not sure that improved it.

Mayor has a lovely face. She also has beautiful feet (and legs). She also has a sense of proportion, and of humour.

PickleBreath · 25/07/2023 16:35

This is the second thread about painted toe nails I have seen recently, who would have thought it's such a hot topic!

NotQuiteHere · 25/07/2023 16:36

If you think that unpainted toenails are horrible, it is your problem. Are you asking for advice how to deal with this problem?

mayorofcasterbridge · 25/07/2023 16:37

blahblahblah1654 · 25/07/2023 16:25

I had a baby by c section 3 years ago, and a miscarriage at 20 weeks in June. I had to go under GA to remove the placenta and they never mentioned my nails. I started in A&E and didn't have time to remove anything but they never mentioned it. They checked my pulse countless times over 2 weeks with the finger monitor and they didn't have issues fortunately. I did ask them and they said it wasn't an issue.

Maybe they don't do that any more then? I had to dispatch DH for the nail varnish remover before my first c/section! I had done them specially too!! As soon as I could bend a tiny bit, I redid them! My GP saw them and was most impressed lol!

soberfabulous · 25/07/2023 16:38

OP I completely agree:

I am always flabbergasted that ANNA WINTOUR often goes toe polish free!!!

Surely it should be the law of you are editor of vogue 🤪

Isitautumnyet23 · 25/07/2023 16:39

Personally I wouldn’t wear sandals without my toenails painted as I dont like the look (on me) of them unpainted. However, I dont think i’d really notice on anyone else unless I was sat very close to them. Just my own personal preference.

Almondcakeismyfav · 25/07/2023 16:39

You would hate my feet - I run and my toe nails often look a bit battered - I don’t have time of inclination to faff about with make up let alone painted nails ..

Gingerboy22 · 25/07/2023 16:39

ZenNudist · 25/07/2023 16:26

I immediately thought this. It's a shame to have absorbed patriarchal unreasonable standards of 'beauty' without question. That makes me sad for you.

Oh for goodness sake - you are as much trapped in all of that thought process as much as anyone else you feel "sad" for.

Hillstreet · 25/07/2023 16:40

I’m the opposite, painted toenails make me feel a bit sick… super natural colours are ok but anything more than that grosses me out. No idea why though!

Gerrataere · 25/07/2023 16:40

I think having your toes out at all is gross, I’d sooner you kept them covered up painted or not.

Oh and you’re you know your being sexist, you’d not expect a man to have nail polish on would you or judge him for not doing so…

RockyRoady · 25/07/2023 16:40

It doesn’t gross me out but I don’t like bare toenails, I just don’t think they look very nice. I always paint mine & wouldn’t wear sandals without painting my toes. Each to their own.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 25/07/2023 16:40

They're just feet. No more or less repulsive than hands or heads. If they're clean, they're fine.

I do notice if somebody's biomechanics are out and they're over pronating or supinating their foot, if they're wearing sandals too big or too small for them and if they are in need of treatment for skin or nail conditions, but it's not that big a deal. DP has Psoriasis and I got him into the habit of looking after them properly for the first time because it was never done when he was a kid, so didn't learn. If anything, it's quite satisfying to get to healthy, pink skin with a file and CCS cream after seeing so much scratchy, dead stuff on them.

An arsehole ex, however, was absolutely enraged by women's feet. Feet that didn't look like Barbie's (minus polish, as that was the mark of a whore, apparently). Absolutely banned from wearing sandals at any time, informed that women always walked on tiptoe unless they were lesbians/trying to be men and because a relaxed foot means that your toes tilt upwards from the ball of the foot instead of always existing permanently flat (as they appear when they're pointed - and completely contradictory to the Barbie requirement whilst standing), that meant I was some some kind of swamp creature and if he ever saw my feet like that again, he'd smash them straight with a hammer. Yes, he was insane and I'm very well rid of him - but I've heard other men generously share their opinion of feet, particularly women's, being disgusting as well.

Why do feet make people so angry? Nobody demands that ears must be hidden at all ties (even if you get the usual hatred of piercings), there's nobody saying hands are disgusting (although nails being long/short/painted/not painted gets a lot of airtime), noses only get called revolting if they're pierced or profusely running - but feet, just by being at the end of legs, seem to experience a whole different level of revulsion.

blahblahblah1654 · 25/07/2023 16:40

@mayorofcasterbridge I have no idea if it's recent but I was worried as I'd seen a lot about having to remove it on MN. It was never mentioned during any of my hospital stays. I'm glad as removing gel myself at short notice is pretty difficult!

OP posts:
Gingerboy22 · 25/07/2023 16:41

blahblahblah1654 · 25/07/2023 16:25

I had a baby by c section 3 years ago, and a miscarriage at 20 weeks in June. I had to go under GA to remove the placenta and they never mentioned my nails. I started in A&E and didn't have time to remove anything but they never mentioned it. They checked my pulse countless times over 2 weeks with the finger monitor and they didn't have issues fortunately. I did ask them and they said it wasn't an issue.

I'm always a bit alarmed at the idea that they would have to see my toe nails to know if I was having a problem during a GA😂

ASGIRC · 25/07/2023 16:41

I find feet "offensive" at the best of times. I do not want to see anyones feet at any time. Summer is quite "traumatic"! 😂

But yes, I prefer painted toe nails to not, if I have to see any feet! And if I were to wear any sandals, my toe nails would have to be painted!

WestwardHo1 · 25/07/2023 16:41

You'd be revolted by me. Not only are my toenails unpainted but I'm also treating a fungal toenail infection in both my big toes. So half of them are hacked off and they're yellow looking too.

SHRUG.

WestwardHo1 · 25/07/2023 16:43

The advice is to actively avoid nail polish if you're thus afflicted!

Which is lucky because I could never be arsed anyway

merrymelodies · 25/07/2023 16:45

Unpainted toenails are only gross if they're yellow and horny. Urk.

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