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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you allow your 12 year old to have acrylic nails?

206 replies

Icantremembermyusername · 31/07/2023 22:22

Just that, really?
Am I being mean?
DD - Can I have my nails done?
Me -yes, we’ll have a manicure during the holidays.
DD - No, I meant can I go to X place and have acrylic nails FOR MY BIRTHDAY
Me - No. I’ve already organised your (very expensive) birthday present (and those from both sets of grandparents and your extended relatives) and agreed to pay for a movie night with your mates plus a pre agreed day out with your best mate. We can maybe have a manicure at a salon (no acrylics) later in the hols.
DD - massive sulk and went to bed.
i feel like she’s taking the absolute piss!
Aibu? Yes - she should have the nails. No - she’s being a brat.
Thank you!

OP posts:
Pollydarling · 01/08/2023 20:11

Oh nooo! Please don't. My 16yo dd has had a nail infection twice under acrylic nails about 12 months apart. Both times the nail fell off and took its time growing back. Her friend also caught an acrylic on clothing and ripped her thumb nail half off. Neither will ever have them again. Such an expensive risk.

TwinsPlusAnotherOne · 01/08/2023 20:16

Soontobe60 · 01/08/2023 07:00

BIAB ruined my nails!

Show quote history

Jesus Christ. I don't know what happened, but that's not normal.

Meowandthen · 01/08/2023 20:19

Please tell me there aren’t 12 year olds going around with acrylic nails.

Far too young IMO.

leccybill · 01/08/2023 20:31

Many of my Y8 and Y9 girls I teach get acrylics in the holidays so it is common.
I wouldn't let mine though, I think it looks really tacky. Luckily, she's not into make-up, tight clothing, tanning or anything like that.

I have BIAB myself a few times a year and my own nails are in great condition, no issues whatsoever. I prefer the look of short nails.

jackstini · 01/08/2023 20:51

Nope. We allowed gel polish around 13/14 and first acrylics at 16

Age 12 - no chance (& even my Dd laughed when I asked her!)

Cheshire71 · 01/08/2023 20:53

My daughter is trained nail technician and she wouldn't do acrylics on anyone under 16 as it can ruin their young nails, although there is no legal age limit. She has said as an alternative then BIAB gel. I do think though with everything you've organised she is the one being unreasonable.

Katey83 · 01/08/2023 22:13

I have acrylics done fairly regularly for ‘special’ nights out/occasions and fancy work dos. However, I am also aware they are terrible for your nail health, massively impede fine motor skills and the whole process of getting them done is highly likely to be toxic/carcinogenic (especially with gel application under uv lights) - so no way would I allow my child to have these done. I also agree that reputable salons wouldn’t do acrylics on a 12 year old. Fwiw I am into makeup/cosmetics in a big way - my mother limited any access to even hair dye until I earned my own money at 15/16 (she doesn’t wear any make up or spend at all on cosmetic treatments) and it did me no harm other than understanding these things are luxuries to be indulged in when you have your own disposable income and not from the family budget!

Tryingmuchharder · 01/08/2023 23:35

Facefortheradio · 31/07/2023 22:30

If you can find a nail salon who will do acrylics on a kid then you'd probably be best to avoid the place like the plague.

But no. I wouldn't allow my 12/13/14/15 yr old to have them.

This.

Reputable places will do a manicure but not acrylics.

clairea123 · 01/08/2023 23:56

Im going to let my 15 ( nearly 16) yo dd have her nails done for the holiday,
She has asked, I said no unless she paid for it herself, but she's helped me out loads with ds this holiday whilst I've worked so going to book it as a surprise.

Im surprised how many people have mentioned the look of it- tacky etc. surely as women we should be telling our young girls that they can look however they like? And we shouldn't be judging others on how they look? the comments re damage to nail are different but the ones about how they look. It would be boring if we all liked to look the same.

I've been having my nails done for over 25 years and am CEO of a charity- I'm yet to find a task I can't do with my nails on and it doesn't impede on any of my day to day life.
My dd will continue to compete in sport 8 times a week with her acrylic nails.

some of the stereotypes on this thread are very depressing and a real blast from the past. I thought we were better than this in 2023.

Gregging · 01/08/2023 23:59

No I would not allow my 12 yo to have acrylic nails.

Saggypickledtits · 02/08/2023 00:02

Polished and manicured maybe a bit of Nail art yes definitely…acrylics no way.

toomuchlaundry · 02/08/2023 00:10

So where are the posters getting their under 16yo nails done, if nail technicians on here are saying their insurance doesn’t allow it, are you going to reputable places?

Anna79ishere · 02/08/2023 05:06

Mummyoflittledragon · 31/07/2023 23:33

Almost all the girls had them at the end of year 7 at dd’s school. I let dd have them tbh. She wasn’t into nails and make up big time at that age but wanted to fit in. I do think it is a little young and her friend had issues with the nails. Dd is very careful and horse rides so wore gloves. She’s only had them done 2 more times and didn’t bother to get them done last year at age 14 nor this year at 15.

Omg it’s terrible! Which kind of school allows that? I would probably move my kid out of that school if all the girls had them in year 7. Let alone they are tacky, teens with them look unnecessarily grown up and sexualised. Would they Botox in 6th form?

Prescottdanni123 · 02/08/2023 05:33

Nope. Acrylic nails are dangerous weapons on adults, let alone a child.

Redglitter · 02/08/2023 05:52

There's no way the salon I go to would do acrylics for a child. I dont think any reputable one would

XelaM · 02/08/2023 05:59

toomuchlaundry · 02/08/2023 00:10

So where are the posters getting their under 16yo nails done, if nail technicians on here are saying their insurance doesn’t allow it, are you going to reputable places?

London high street - several nail salons near us do them.

XelaM · 02/08/2023 06:03

Even nail salons in Aviemore whilst we were on holiday there in February half term did them. No salon I've been to ever refused to do them to be honest. It's not like we were going to some backyard hack's bedroom. All were big salons on the high street.

XelaM · 02/08/2023 06:15

Anna79ishere · 02/08/2023 05:06

Omg it’s terrible! Which kind of school allows that? I would probably move my kid out of that school if all the girls had them in year 7. Let alone they are tacky, teens with them look unnecessarily grown up and sexualised. Would they Botox in 6th form?

Show quote history

🙄riiiight...

There's nothing wrong or sexualised with wanting to have nice nails 💅🏻 My daughter likes to have nice hair, skin, nails. There's nothing wrong with that. Most teen girls care about how they look/dress. Even at my school 20 years ago teens cared about their looks and the most academic girls also liked to look good. Wanting to have nice nails is pretty harmless and does not put them on the path to Botox (or street walking for that matter 😂).

Obi73 · 02/08/2023 06:21

No to acrylic, stick on fine they’re £1 from Primark. No to crop tops, leggings, slogan tops and furry sliders and I didn’t care who was allowed, my kid, my money my rules!!
No long lasting issues as a result - she’s 24 and well adjusted.

FrenchFancie · 02/08/2023 06:45

No way, acrylic nails absolutely buggered up my nails years ago. I tried again with gel polish and the same thing happened.

luckily for me dd bites her nails so no chance of that going on here.

i don’t like the pressure some young girls are under - a year 5 in my DDs year gets her hair dyed brown (she’s naturally a red head) her eyebrows done to match, eyelash extensions and wears a full face of make up to school. I watch her going in in the morning and worry massively. I’m amazed school allow it.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 02/08/2023 07:08

AlanJohnsonsBeamer · 31/07/2023 22:29

You can get press on nails that would last a few days or a week. Absolutely wouldn't let DD get acrylics personally.

Good idea

toomuchlaundry · 02/08/2023 07:27

@XelaM is that societal pressure/expectations though? Why would young girls think it is the norm to spend £40 a go having painted nails? Why do they think they have to have something unnatural stuck on to their natural nails, why are their own nails not good enough? If they are old enough to have acrylic nails maybe they are old enough to know about how many of the nail technicians in this country are trafficked. Not great for the environment either.

Imisssleep2 · 02/08/2023 07:42

Money aside I wouldn't want my daughter getting acrylics, I think that is what I had done once and it absolutely wrecked my nails, were so thin and soft when I had them taken off, my nails are so much better on their own, would rather grow and get an manicure/gel/paint.

Lamelie · 02/08/2023 07:47

@Soontobe60 what’s the issue with sliders (I hate them with a passion btw but can’t explain why)

Morestrangerthings1 · 02/08/2023 07:50

I’d also like to know why furry sliders are a problem?