AIBU to think nail extensions are inappropriate for a nine-year-old?

[Earpaloma]

I think I know the answer to this, but honestly interested in others' views on it...

I've changed my name as I'm pretty sure the Mum in question is on here, and posts under my usual username would make me easily identifiable.

A friend, not particularly close, but we are schoolgate Mums and have DCs of similar ages, has a just 9-year-old daughter, whose birthday was in the last couple of weeks. Apparently Mum had promised her that she could have her nails done for the first time during the school holidays, and booked a surprise appointment for her yesterday at a local nail place. When she told me, I assumed she would just have a file and polish or a kid's manicure....but no - she has just posted on social media a picture of her daughter's nails, complete with 'her first little extensions'. She has clearly had BIAB or at the very least gel, and tip extensions. The nail art consisted of pink flowers and leopard print tips. The length and style of the nails look totally out of place on such a young girl's hands.

Am I being totally unreasonable to be really bloody angry about this? I'm cross with the Mum for allowing it. and I'm even more angry with the shop for agreeing to do it. All those chemicals and weight on young fingers, and the girl in question isn't of the most delicate and gentle persona - she loves her scooter and skateboards, and plays rough and tumble with her older brother. I can see something really horrible happening here....

Surely this isn't right? And I know it's sod all to do with me, hence I am ready to be told I'm being v.v. UR and need to keep my opinions to myself!

I mean, I wouldn't do it, but if it was a birthday treat, in the holidays 🤪 School might have something to say in September, but that's a future problem...

No.

YABU for being "bloody angry" about something that has nothing to do with you and that has zero impact on your life.

Your not being unreasonable to think it’s stupid and unnecessary but you are being unreasonable to be ‘really bloody angry’ about what is essentially an acquaintance getting her daughters nails done.

I can’t imagine why this would even stay on your mind for more than a quick ‘what a stupid thing to do’ and then moving on with your day.

I think YABU for being so angry, it doesn't affect you. But YANBU to think it inappropriate for a 9 year old. I took DD14 to get hers done for the first time this summer holidays, she already had decent length to her nails so had BIAB with really little extensions on the 2 nails that had broken off the day before.

I won't let her have them long as we have 3 horses and frankly it would be dangerous (and painful) if they got hooked or stuck on something!

I don’t think it’s that big a deal really. Maybe it’s just a one-off holiday treat like getting funky colours in your hair. I certainly wouldn’t be angry or upset about something like that, and I’m not sure why you’ve got so upset about it really.

They probably won’t stay on for long anyway, gel doesn’t adhere that well to kid nails IME. But if they’re all happy with it then I don’t see the big deal.

My ten year old just got her nails done for holiday- gel polish on her normal nails. No tips at all. I think tips are quite dangerous for children as they can be ripped off. I don’t think I’d be bloody angry about someone’s else’s kids getting them though- that’s a waste of energy. But I agree 9 is too young

Would I do it, no, but I don’t get your anger about it. It’s a treat in the summer hols.

Is this even legal for a nail technician to do this with children's nails. I don't think it's very professional.

Yep you are very unreasonable to be ‘really bloody angry’, that’s totally over the top. This has no impact on your life and is non of your business

Which aspect of it do you actually think could be illegal?

I disagree with most posters. The child is nine and the parent is allowing her to put chemicals on her body. Ridiculous.

We haven’t done it but the compromise was that these 6 weeks the transition from primary to high school my dd and a lot of her friends have had them done. They will be off before the start of y7 she got biab extensions. Before this she used stick ons.

I think it’s inappropriate and really chavvy, but I couldn’t get worked up about another parent doing it.

Would i do it no, but i wouldn't be "really bloody angry" either. Sure it is impractical but not dangerous.

I mean kids are forever covering themselves in stuff of dubious origin like glitter gel, slime, those squishy things (which are always being recalled for stuff like benzene and asbestos) so I can’t get too exercised about the occasional set of gel nails on a 9yo 🤷‍♀️

I do think it’s a waste of money though as they’ll probably peel off before the week is up.

The strong chemicals, possible damage to young nails etc. Maybe I'm out of touch but false nails seem extreme on a child.

You think there’s a legal age for tips on a kids nails? What exactly are the chemicals? Why are they dangerous to be illegal? OP doesn’t even no what’s been done she’s just seen a photo

I get really angry about people who starve snd beat and rape their children. Not ones who trade them to get their nails done

Why has this made you feel “really bloody angry?”

How is at any different to face paint, or kids using temporary hair dye, or fake tattoos, or body glitter?

The mother is being ridiculous but it’s her problem pandering to her child. Take a note of the salon they went to and avoid it - any salon which does any treatment on a child is obviously low quality and not bothered about health issues.

We saw a couple of parents allowing their children to have nails done like this last year in Thailand. I’d have thought any decent nail salon in the UK wouldn’t do this, I’m not sure their insurance would cover children? I’ve seen a few children getting little mini manicures (just a file and light pink polish) but never full nail extensions. It’s not something I’d have allowed my children to get done.

I don't think she is being unreasonable to be angry with the salon for doing something that is damaging to a child's nails. I would expect a salon to be more ethical and I wouldn't use one willing to give a child nail extensions

Are they cured with UV light? that can't be good.

Also, isn't it well known that some of the gel nails / biab / acrylics can set off allergies that had medical implications (for dental work and future implants e.g. hip).

Is why I am not letting my own young dd get them when half the girls in her class are which I find mind boggling for lots of reasons!