11 year old has done her own nails with UV lamp

[Ponchodreams]

Im so shocked that she has done this AIBU? Surely this isn't normal for someone of this age to have access to this kit? Am I completely over-reacting? Please tell me i am as I'm very unpopular right now! This is in light of all the allergy stories I have read and damage to nails etc.

Is it your child?

Is this your child? If so, how can you be shocked she has access to it? Was it at a friend’s house?

Friends house.

Yeah I'd be really cross if someone had let me daughter do that

I wouldn’t let my child at that age and I certainly wouldn’t allow a friend who came round to do it. YANBU.

Chop her hands off. Right now.

Forgive me for asking. I know nothing about nail fashion. What does the UV lamp do to them?

^ this.

It sets the ( specific type of) polish so it doesn’t chip but it’s also really hard to get off and can trash your nails.

As a one off at a friends house I don’t think I’d get worked up about this myself.
Has she had a reaction to them though?

I don't have my nails done, what is the particular concern?

I only ever do my nails short and rounded in a ballet slipper pink (or red about twice a year if I'm going to something posh). Honestly, I would say at 11 or 12 I would do my DD's nails in the nude pink for Christmas or something. I'm very good at them and they look very professional.

I wouldn't let her have them constantly. And categorically would not do them on another child who's parent had no idea.

@gamerchickthe nail polish that you need a UV lamp for contains chemicals that if you become allergic to them means you can’t have certain dental treatment or bone replacements.

I would be absolutely furious.

I have actually just finished doing my own set and this was the first post I saw.

At that age I was doing a lot worse (my mother wasn’t impressed when I pierced my own nose, for example) and if I were you I’d either offer to take her to get them done properly, that way you can have a say in length/colour and have a chat about school rules regarding nails.

If she wants to do them herself it’s a great creative outlet but she should probably start with fake hands and regular polish. Those big nail kits on Amazon (gems, nail art brushes, stamps etc) are very affordable.

Sometimes our reactions can push them the other way, I think supporting her to do them safely and sensibly would be better than making it into a big deal.

I was about to comment about how radiation from UV lamps is largely harmless, but PPs post about chemicals and developing allergies has thrown me. I've only used a UV lamp a small handful of times. I think I'll stick to regular nail polishes from now on. Thank you, PP.

Thankyou. I'd probably be a bit wary as well. At that age they're still not cooked properly yet.

I bought my dd a uv lamp and the gel kit when she was that age. Should I resign as a parent?
shes 13 now. I also allow her to order all manner of eyelash extensions which she wears to school.

I’ll get my coat….

Wait I’ve also paid for acrylic tips but school get really arsy so that just holidays now.

My dd came home with gel nails from a party at a similar age. Definitely primary school. I was pissed off.

I’d be a bit pissed off, with gel nails if they don’t cure them properly they can end up with allergies to the gel and/or contact dermatitis. I wouldn’t let my daughter loose with it on her own.

It is worrying because the gel nail varnish hardens under the uv lamp meaning to get that nail polish off you have to soak each nail in pure acetone for 10 minutes minimum. There are lots of videos on youtube about safe removal. The problem is most children just use their teeth to remove it and it damages the nail plate so badly. They also get "heat spikes" where the gel heats up unevenly and basically burns. Again, lots of videos by professional nail techs on this.

I would not allow an under 16 of mine to do this, I would let them get press on nails using stickers not nail glue or nail wraps which are better.

They don't understand the risks, the allergies, the exposure to uv to their hands repeatedly. I do my own nails but I am an adult and had them done professionally for years due to my job where my hands were a focus and it helped me stop biting them.

They can also get "greenies" where the nail lifts and water gets in between the nail plate and the gel nail on top too. It is a bacterial infection because 11 year olds cannot do nails well.

If she’s done it at a friends house then friends parent presumably sees it as a non issue. At 11 if you tell your daughter you don’t want her to do it again then she’s old enough to listen and that’s the end of it surely?

I’m surprised by the posters who think this is fine. I have daughters of a similar age and not any of their friends or even the older girls in the school visibly use gel nail varnish or wear fake eyelashes. I think they and their parents would be judged negatively for doing so.

I do nails for a living, and you're not overreacting, this is a terrible idea. Home kits are bad enough safety wise, and a child's nails aren't suitable for any sort of semi permanent enhancement.