To not know how everyone has the money and time to have their nails done

[Beckywiththegoodnails]

Cost of living crisis - have you cut down on having nails done?
I was surprised on the engagement ring thread how many people had nails done. I’ve had to cut back on loads and I earn pretty well- nails are now a luxury
my small town has about 6 pop in salons in the town and they’re always full
aibu to not know how such a high proportion of people have nails done so regularly

It's not for me either but I think if they last well and you see them as part of your look, it makes sense as they are on show all the time and you actually look at your hands more than you look at your own face or hair.

I always have nail polish on and think they look nice, but it's just normal Essie nail polish. I have lots of colours and do them at least twice a week while I'm watching TV. I'm sure it's lovely having your nails done - I have my hair done every 3 months and I really enjoy that.

It is nice as you can't go on your phone either.

I have had two pedicures in my life and both were great fun but I mostly think 'done' fingernails are spectacularly ugly and the cost enormous in itself though given what the manicurist does its a fair price for the work. But this Friday I will spend an absolute fortune on my hair (probably around 5 manicures' worth) which I fondly imagine makes me look younger. So it's just choices isn't it.

Tbh I think we don't like to think about just how rich this country is. There is a lot of money sloshing about and a lot of inequality, meaning there's more spare money in some sectors. Look at what people spend on random hobbies like aquarium fish or dog owning.

You need to find a better salon / product! My £35 gels are currently on day 38 without a chip! You watch, I’ve jinxed them now 🤣

I get my nails done every 3 weeks and have done for goodness knows how long, a decade maybe?

It's £25 for BIAB and an eyebrow wax.

I love them and have only ever been without them for labour - my husband waited outside with both my babies in case they needed BFing during the newborn/baby stage.

They will be on me until I'm cold and in a coffin. Non negotiable.

I will add: we are a six figure income household so it's not a matter of finances (mine are on the cheaper side) - and if I cannot find 45 minutes per month for "me" then I've got bigger problems.

Oh and I also get my hair done every month at £140 a go.

Botox is about £300 every 4 months.

I am worth every single penny and amount of time.

I get mine done because they have become very brittle. I don’t worry about the money just the time. It’s so boring.

As a nail tech, many of my clients factor their nails into their monthly expenses. Each has different reasons for wanting their nails done but most of my clients have short, simple styles that make them look polished. One of my clients works in the NHS and had horrible nails before coming to me, she hated working on patients with her nails the mess they were and feels more confident and polished now - she wears gloves when carrying out any examinations but looks polished and professional for consultations. Another is retired and enjoys this treat to herself every 3 weeks. Another has no kids and a great salary so enjoys the pamper! Another just likes the look of them. I spend 1.5/2 hours with my clients every 3/4 weeks and we talk, share life events and have a pamper. I’ve had clients cry to me when their husband was diagnosed with cancer, clients share pregnancy news, clients get married or engaged, get promotions or new jobs, experience losses. The relationships built over doing nails is usually why people stay. It’s a bit like therapy and I allow people discuss whatever they want while I make their nails look pretty! It’s such a rewarding job and is much more than polishing nails.

I bought my own UV lamp and gels during lock down and also do my own now. I’m a bit lazy about it though and only bother for special occasions. They do look nice when they are done, but I’ve not mastered taking them off again. So I end up peeling them off and destroying my nails. I’m not really very good at beauty stuff to be honest, but completely understand why some people make it a priority.

Has anyone on here said it’s a need and not a want?

I always think it’s interesting that beauty and fashion or interior design are often looked down on when they are creative industries that are often dominated by talented women.

This sounds gorgeous! Where is it, if you don’t mind me asking?

That’s interesting @manysausages because I feel the same especially with gel. I thought that I’m unique in my weirdness. It makes doing nails
professionally worthless. Why pay £45-50 for something you want to remove after 3 days and plus pay £10 for the removal.

I see getting my nails done fortnightly as a necessity. Just like my monthly waxing and threading. And my 3 monthly hair appt. It makes me feel put together. I would find it incredibly depressing to have to cut back on any of those things.

I have cut back in other areas since the COL crisis though. I don’t go out for dinner half as much as I used to. Ditto takeaways. Shop more in Sainsburys or Tescos than Waitrose now.

I do mine at home using dip powder. They last about 3 weeks and takes an hour. Works out at less than £3 per manicure. No UV lamp either which is much better for my skin.
I am a keen gardener and don’t worry about them chipping. They protect my nails and has allowed me to grow them long (when gardening would inevitably break them previously).
They make my hands look nicer and make me feel good.

Never had my nails done and haven't been to a hairdresser since I was a teenager, but I buy the best of make up and go on holiday/short breaks a lot 🤷‍♀️
People have different priorities.

30-40 nail shops in a 5 mile radius? Wow! The OP must be right the whole country must be getting manicures twice a week if there’s that many shops around.

Or maybe your racism is clouding your judgment….

I love having mine done, both how they look and just having the time out, time for myself, a chat & coffee with the nail tech etc.

However, I can't really afford it at £30 a pop now! So I do mostly do it myself.

Hmm, I think a lot of predominantly women’s roles, creative or not, are looked down on. Nowt to do with creative roles specifically. Traditional Men’s work has always been regarded as more valuable

and I do suspect that the designers of black shower screens are men who never had to bloody clean one! or the CEOs of paint companies trying to grow their companies and share prices are the men on the board, telling the creative teams to come up with marketing strategies. Nor do I think that the rise in nail bars was driven by the poor women doing the job for peanuts, they’d be a bloody sight richer if they were.

I am all for creativity; but following fashion, which most customer do, is different than actually being creative. I greatly admire women who have their own fashion senses for themselves, their homes etc and don’t merely follow what everyone else is doing on social media etc. I wish I had that creative flair. I do textile art, I’m good technically but am still trying to find my inner artist and creativity. But textile art, unlike male dominated art forms, is not valued highly either.

Probably some of the ring photos are from initial announcements so not all done all the time. I know a lot of people who get their nails done regularly and match colours to the seasons. I think it's nice to do something just for you.
I like my nails natural but they're very white so look french manicured.
I had them done once as a gift years ago and hated the experience. Didn't like being messed around with and it made my own nails horrible for ages after. Probably if I went now it's completely different and they'd be fine but it's not a priority for me.
But I'll happily spend money on cake or buying books.

I like to be able to use my hands so no idea why the nail thing is a thing.

I've never seen gel nails that I think look prettier than a set of natural, neatly filed nails, so I don't bother. Had them done once, for my wedding, and they looked nice enough, but definitely not worth spending any money on on a regular basis. I do enjoy getting my hair done though.

It's the lipstick economy, at least in part. Can't avoid big treats so have little ones.

I have only once had nails done professionally but now bought a nail lamp and plan to use gel wraps. Tips appreciated!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipstick_effect

Majority on that thread pictures were not done in a salon but diy jobs, some pretty bad ones

£15 a week on food she must be eating shit. It will show in her health sooner or later.

In the abstract I understand the appeal as self care. Practically though, do painted nails not just chip pretty much right away? Is shellac or gel a lot more durable than the standard drugstore stuff? I used to enjoy painting my nails as a teenager in the 00s but I don't see how they would last 5 minutes as an adult.