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Original poster

5 year old gel nails - is just once ok?

524 replies

ChronicallyOnLime · 20/03/2025 12:44

God I don’t want to sound like an awful mother because I know gels can weaken nails.. but will one time be ok?

We’re off to Disneyland next week as a surprise for DD and she is utterly obsessed with having her nails done, we always use regular polish for her but they never last more than a day or two. I do my own gels at home for special occasions and I’m wondering whether I could do it on DD just for our trip?

I can avoid filing her nails surface as it’s not necessarily being done for that much longevity as you would an adult. But I’m just wondering if it’s still a terrible idea?

OP posts:
Lyannaa · 20/03/2025 13:18

I’m a beauty therapist and honestly, don’t do it. It will weaken her nail bed and she’s only 5 - it could cause years of damage to her natural nails. Just paint them with nail polish.

Lyannaa · 20/03/2025 13:18

ColourBlueColourPurple · 20/03/2025 13:18

As a one off I'd think it would be fine. I'd take her to a reputable salon though where they'll know about safe application. Enjoy disney!

A reputable salon won’t do it! Their insurance wouldn’t cover them for a child this young.

RedToothBrush · 20/03/2025 13:19

'No' isn't a difficult word.

Why does she NEED them?

To 'spoil' her? How is it spoiling her? She doesn't understand at 5 the difference between nail polish and fakes nails.

Treat her like she's 5 instead of pretending she's much older. Leave things like this for her to have as a 'treat' when she's older otherwise what is the 'exciting' thing for her when she's older?

TY78910 · 20/03/2025 13:19

MoreDangerousThanAWomanScorned · 20/03/2025 13:17

I absolutely wouldn't do gel nails, but think some of the absolute pile-on on OP is very much uncalled for. I have a 6 year old who absolutely loves having their nails done, and I happily paint them. It's a nice, sweet activity that brings us both some joy. He's a boy, if that makes any difference!

Be careful now! You wouldn’t want the MN gender discussion brigade to come out the woodworks 😂

Original poster
ChronicallyOnLime · 20/03/2025 13:19

tinyshoulders · 20/03/2025 13:10

I knew exactly what you meant OP but I’m unsurprised you’ve been jumped on. I wouldn’t do it because of the allergy risk and the fact it might hurt/damage her nails if they peel off. Could you take some kiddie nail varnish with you (the type that’s like PVA glue and peels off easily) so you can just quickly redo it each evening when you’re away? My 5yo DD loves that stuff, shame she’ll never be a pilot because of it but you can’t have everything.

I did try and get her an early admission to Oxford university but they saw her pink nails and basically gagged. We were shown out the back door incase any other pristine students saw us at the front. Poor mite.

OP posts:
ByPearlSnail · 20/03/2025 13:19

I don’t think I know any 5 year old girls that are into hair and make up. This is bonkers.

Bolscassis · 20/03/2025 13:19

Why on earth would you!!!

Growlybear83 · 20/03/2025 13:19

How can you even consider letting a five year old have something like this done? Any type of make up on a child that young is absolutely unnecessary.

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 20/03/2025 13:20

Absolutely not. They're very harsh on even adult nails. Not worth it.

whatkatydid2014 · 20/03/2025 13:20

SchoolDilemma17 · 20/03/2025 13:05

why do treat a 5 year old like a dress up doll or a teenager. Let her be a child

Show quote history

I really don’t get this argument. My kids 8/10. They still are very much into many things you associate strongly with childhood (dolls, make believe play, dress up, fort building, arts & crafts, sandcastles, skipping, play parks) but they also love make up, getting nails painted, having their hair done, theatre trips etc. Lots of their classmates have had mini spa parties with foot baths and cucumber eye masks and similar since starting school, had wash out hair dye and temp tattoos and had ears pierced. For me the kids who like to play at being grown ups (& that’s basically what a lot of the above is about) very much remain kids and it’s all pretty harmless.

lyricalwindmills · 20/03/2025 13:20

I probably wouldn’t just because gel nails do seem to ruin the nail bed and I wouldn’t want DD putting the chemicals in her mouth. What about some cute Disney nail stickers with a coat of clear varnish on top?

SpringIsSpringing25 · 20/03/2025 13:21

@ChronicallyOnLime I think you should be putting in the stocks and have rotten tomatoes thrown at you!!

I found 4/5 to be the height of nail polish make up face paint princess dresses, shoes, handbags, blah blah blah

Once they'd gone through that stage, they weren't interested in any of those things again till mid teens (who to my annoyance still didn't care about chipped nail polish!!)

They were allowed to play around with as much as they liked at home (all the face stuff) but their faces were cleaned properly afterwards and nothing more than a bit of shiny lipgloss getting ready for a party!!

However, I only allowed kiddy nail polish because for me the Adult nail polish contains too many chemicals for their soft absorbent nails. I wouldn't put gel on them.

If you are still going to allow Adult nail polish, then I would just take the bottle with me and go another coat of the chipping is going to bother you, or her though I find that unlikely!!

Have a wee look at the chemicals and though and think about getting her some kiddy polish.

I hope you have a fantastic time in Disney with all her cute Disney clothing ears & all!!
It's great fun and particularly if you don't have to be too many conscious when you're there!!

Puzzling25 · 20/03/2025 13:21

I would. I have been doing my own gel nails at home for the last 12 years, my youngest daughter is 10 and I’ve done them on her a few times for special occasions since she was about 5, can’t see the harm in it! I’ve done Christmas ones, Easter ones, holiday ones, she loves the little treat of it. Eldest daughter is 22 and used to paint her nails with just regular polish when she was little, they loved it and honestly can’t see the harm in it!

edited to add, I’m not trying to make her into a mini me etc, she’s just as likely to be up a tree with her brothers, or playing football, but she likes her nails done every now and again and her hair done nicely too

Blissfulsunnyday · 20/03/2025 13:21

She is 5, can’t believe you are thinking of this.

ConnieSlow · 20/03/2025 13:21

And MN thinks it’s men who puts these pressures on women! It’s women themselves. The most ridiculous thing I’ve heard today. I would absolutely judge you if I knew you were putting gel nails on your 5yo!

ChristmasFairy2024 · 20/03/2025 13:23

My dd is now 10 and is desperate to get hers done. My answer is no purely because it would be one time. She would want them the next holiday or disco etc. I’ve had my nails done since my late teens and they are terrible, thin, break easily. Hoping I can discourage her for a good while yet.

JudgeJ · 20/03/2025 13:23

Divebar2021 · 20/03/2025 12:49

How do you even come to be in a place where this is even an option? I wouldn’t even be using regular polish on a 5 year old I’d be using a kids peel off version. Dont be in a big hurry for your child to grow up… she doesn’t need adornment other than a bit of twinkle on a dress and Micky Mouse ears.

If my memory is correct I think you'll be able to buy peel off Disney nails in Disneyland (for an excessive price of course) featuring various characters.

MoreDangerousThanAWomanScorned · 20/03/2025 13:23

I also sometimes buy these for my 6 year old - he loves them, and although they don't last brilliantly they are fab for novelty and feel very 'special'. They have

Kids Wraps - Mini Me!

HOLY GRAIL NAIL

https://holygrailnail.com/collections/kids-wraps-mini-me?page=1

nomoremsniceperson · 20/03/2025 13:24

"are people genuinely that surprised that a 5 year old girl is into hair, makeup and nails?"

Frankly, yes. She's 5 years old! I think that's nuts. Don't get me wrong, wanting a french braid or a little sparkly child-safe nail polish is fine... but gel nails and makeup?

Some things just aren't for kids. She hasn't even asked for them, so don't do it. If you do it once she will ask for it over and over again. It's ok to set boundaries with kids and to let them know that some stuff is only for grown-ups.

Ophy83 · 20/03/2025 13:24

I'd be concerned the risk of a reaction may be higher in a child whose nails are naturally more delicate.

How about some disney nail stickers instead? Or just take a polish with you along with some polish remover pads so you can paint her nails again when it comes off, that would only take 5 mins

Cosyblankets · 20/03/2025 13:24

But mummy you let me do it last time. This is for a party. Pleeeeaaasssse!

scoobysnaxx · 20/03/2025 13:25

This thread is mad. Nails (when she hasn’t even mentioned it) and a whole new suitcase of clothes to go to Disney? Way too much it’s insane. Girls already have to grow up having their appearance and what they have being picked apart. Starting early here I see. Tone it down it actually makes me sad for these little girls. Yes I have 3 daughters. No I’m not old, I’m early 30s

Jade520 · 20/03/2025 13:26

'Utterly obsessed with getting her nails done' - I don't think she'd have got that from anyone but you OP. I'd be really sad if my kid was 'into' hair, makeup and nails at just 5 years old, she's barely out of nursery. I really think you should look at your behaviour and what you value and are 'into' and think about how that influences her tbh.

Dogsintheyard · 20/03/2025 13:26

She still plays with dolls and so by the sound of it do you……

another 95% unreasonable, and yet you keep coming up with all your reasons for doing it. Not sure what you want from this thread if your mind is made up.