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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to not ask the nail technician to redo these nails?

138 replies

Hellyk1985 · 12/09/2026 21:08

Attached are some photos I had of my nails done professionally yesterday.

Im not a fussy person but I think these are bad? I was pretty upset because I don't treat myself very often. I'm getting them fixed by another nail tech tomorrow (at full.price). DH thinks I should go back and complain for a redo but i don't have it in me, she was so lovely and worked really hard.

He thinks I'm a sap!

AIBU to not ask the nail technician to redo these nails?
AIBU to not ask the nail technician to redo these nails?
OP posts:
DobbyTheHouseElk · 13/09/2026 08:12

@Hellyk1985
Lots of suggestions here, but honestly please keep an eye on your cuticle. They have been cut badly, shouldn’t have been cut at all really. But some are inflamed and I really would focus on this rather than the gold stripe. If you get an infection under your cuticle this could be nasty.

Is this tech in a salon where someone is overseeing her work? Or is she a solo tech working from home? If at all possible, please do speak to the manager if there is one. She desperately needs education. Multiple problems with your nails. Sadly back in the day when education standards were better, those nails would not have passed training. Online courses have a lot to answer for.

Original poster
Hellyk1985 · 13/09/2026 08:16

Thanks everyone for comments. I'll update when I see the new lady today. To answer some of your points...

  1. Yes she filed my nails down massively
  2. She spent two hours doing them and whether I like the outcome or not I feel bad not paying her for her time (40 quid)
  3. Thanks for the advice on style, shape and design. I haven't had my nails done for years and things have moved on quite a bit. I get quite anxious going to beauty treatments/hairdressers etc so spent quite a bit of time finding something I liked. I thought the inspo was simple and practical, but if it wasn't going to suit me or turn out as expected I thought she might of said prior to starting.
  4. Any complaints/refund will need to go through her specifically as I believe it was a rent a chair type agreement.

As for the comment calling me pathetic for caring about my nails 🤷 if this was designed to make me feel more silly then mission accomplished

OP posts:
fruitpastille · 13/09/2026 08:43

I hope your redone nails are lovely. It's so disappointing when you look forward to a treat and then it goes wrong! I would also go elsewhere and probably not ask for a refund. You should take the option that causes you least stress.

Some posters on here are thoughtless about the effects of their words.

Sunbringer · 13/09/2026 08:45

Forget the design, she’s injured your cuticles. You’re susceptible to infection and fungal issues due to this. I’d get the other lady to soak it all off and treat with oil and leave bare to breathe and heal. Keep oiling and keep them clean and otherwise dry. Let them heal and never go back to her - she’s dangerous

Lentilcakes · 13/09/2026 08:49

Agree with others . The line looks like dirt

ridingfreely · 13/09/2026 08:52

I think you have chosen a poor design for the current health and state of your nails/ fingers. It looks like she’s done the best she can with a bad idea

Cherrytree86 · 13/09/2026 08:52

Hellyk1985 · 13/09/2026 08:16

Thanks everyone for comments. I'll update when I see the new lady today. To answer some of your points...

  1. Yes she filed my nails down massively
  2. She spent two hours doing them and whether I like the outcome or not I feel bad not paying her for her time (40 quid)
  3. Thanks for the advice on style, shape and design. I haven't had my nails done for years and things have moved on quite a bit. I get quite anxious going to beauty treatments/hairdressers etc so spent quite a bit of time finding something I liked. I thought the inspo was simple and practical, but if it wasn't going to suit me or turn out as expected I thought she might of said prior to starting.
  4. Any complaints/refund will need to go through her specifically as I believe it was a rent a chair type agreement.

As for the comment calling me pathetic for caring about my nails 🤷 if this was designed to make me feel more silly then mission accomplished

@Hellyk1985

she has butchered your cuticles leaving you open to infection. You need to go back and tell her. You need to be refunded.

Cherrytree86 · 13/09/2026 08:53

ridingfreely · 13/09/2026 08:52

I think you have chosen a poor design for the current health and state of your nails/ fingers. It looks like she’s done the best she can with a bad idea

@ridingfreely

well, her best isn’t even anywhere near good enough. Have you seen how uneven and unequal each nail is from the other and how the lines are wonky??

CinnamonBuns67 · 13/09/2026 09:09

Regardless of how lovely the person was I'd be fuming if someone I paid to do my nails did them like that, I'd not ask her to re do them she'd never come near my nails again but I would be asking for a full refund and getting someone else to do them.

PrettyLittleRose · 13/09/2026 10:40

Hellyk1985 · 12/09/2026 21:08

Attached are some photos I had of my nails done professionally yesterday.

Im not a fussy person but I think these are bad? I was pretty upset because I don't treat myself very often. I'm getting them fixed by another nail tech tomorrow (at full.price). DH thinks I should go back and complain for a redo but i don't have it in me, she was so lovely and worked really hard.

He thinks I'm a sap!

OMG, who is picking the YABU option?! 😂

They are ghastly @Hellyk1985 sorry Flowers

Looks like you've won a 'be a mechanic for a day' contest! 😬

If you have the nerve/are brave enough to ask for a refund, then do, but whether you do or not, I would never go to that same place again.

If she wasn't able to do them well because of the shape/how short your nails were, she should have said she can't do them, and not took your money!

.

PrettyLittleRose · 13/09/2026 10:52

Just saw the inspo pic. IMO that doesn't look great either. It simply looks as if there's dirt under the nails. Why would anyone aspire to have this look? Confused

Original poster
Hellyk1985 · 13/09/2026 11:22

Update... Totally different design but I'm happy

AIBU to not ask the nail technician to redo these nails?
AIBU to not ask the nail technician to redo these nails?
OP posts:
EveryoneUsingOutro · 13/09/2026 12:20

TheFormerMrsTruelove · 13/09/2026 00:39

@EveningSpread No hate from me, just eye rolling at the level of arrogance in your post. That’s some very black and white thinking you’ve got going on there. Do you generally struggle with social interaction? Do you find you get on better with animals than people?

(a) what’s this pathetic obsession with nails that everyone has and She’s treated herself for the first time in ages after getting a break from caring for her babies. Don’t try and belittle her because she wanted to do something for herself. She hasn’t got an obsession with her nails and, even if she did, it wouldn’t be pathetic.

(b) do you think putting “technician” at the end of a very basic job description means you’re going to get a wonderful service? Well you’ve got a very healthy sense of superiority, haven’t you?! Basic? Did you spot that her cuticles were damaged as @DobbyTheHouseElk did? Did you even understand what @CostcoFanofThree was talking about? A proper training course results in nationally recognised qualifications and includes modules on hygiene, health and safety and anatomy of the hands and nails, and that’s without learning how to actually do the nails. It’s not a very basic job. You just don’t understand what proper training includes.

Come on people. You don’t need your nails doing, it’s bullshit You’re completely correct; nobody needs to get their nails done. Just as nobody needs to go on holiday when a tent in the back garden will do. Nobody needs a selection of footwear when a pair of wellies and a pair of flip flops will do.

Who is it you think died and appointed you the arbiter of what it is reasonable to spend money on? How did you get to the stage where you feel your definition of worthwhile is the only definition worth having? It doesn’t matter if she’s had more surgery than Katie Price and she spends every spare penny on Bingo, cigarettes and tanning sessions. What she drinks shouldn’t give you a hangover.

👏👏👏
well said. That poster @EveningSpreadis ridiculously arrogant and very narrow minded. Define “worthwhile”

Yes I know all about patriarchy beauty standards yadda yadda but actually, I like to look nice FOR ME and my own self respect and self esteem. I’m not actually that much into nails but I do spend on very good haircuts to tame my mop and I love skincare and a new lipstick. FOR ME.

Blondeshavemorefun · 13/09/2026 12:22

Wonder why she made then so short. They wouid annoy me. Why did r hug say anything after the first file of one nail being made shorter

Redpaisley · 13/09/2026 12:27

TheFormerMrsTruelove · 13/09/2026 00:39

@EveningSpread No hate from me, just eye rolling at the level of arrogance in your post. That’s some very black and white thinking you’ve got going on there. Do you generally struggle with social interaction? Do you find you get on better with animals than people?

(a) what’s this pathetic obsession with nails that everyone has and She’s treated herself for the first time in ages after getting a break from caring for her babies. Don’t try and belittle her because she wanted to do something for herself. She hasn’t got an obsession with her nails and, even if she did, it wouldn’t be pathetic.

(b) do you think putting “technician” at the end of a very basic job description means you’re going to get a wonderful service? Well you’ve got a very healthy sense of superiority, haven’t you?! Basic? Did you spot that her cuticles were damaged as @DobbyTheHouseElk did? Did you even understand what @CostcoFanofThree was talking about? A proper training course results in nationally recognised qualifications and includes modules on hygiene, health and safety and anatomy of the hands and nails, and that’s without learning how to actually do the nails. It’s not a very basic job. You just don’t understand what proper training includes.

Come on people. You don’t need your nails doing, it’s bullshit You’re completely correct; nobody needs to get their nails done. Just as nobody needs to go on holiday when a tent in the back garden will do. Nobody needs a selection of footwear when a pair of wellies and a pair of flip flops will do.

Who is it you think died and appointed you the arbiter of what it is reasonable to spend money on? How did you get to the stage where you feel your definition of worthwhile is the only definition worth having? It doesn’t matter if she’s had more surgery than Katie Price and she spends every spare penny on Bingo, cigarettes and tanning sessions. What she drinks shouldn’t give you a hangover.

That poster was arrogant and so are you with your comment ‘ do you find you get on better with animals than with people?’

Who are you stereotyping there? And what do you know about them to think that there is a problem with them and it’s not due to circumstances. So you are sounding as superior as the poster who thinks a nail technicians job is basic. Both of you are looking down at a group of people.

DollopOfFun · 13/09/2026 12:30

They look loads better OP, both shape and colour.

FWIW, I prefer a shorter set, longer nails give me the ick.

AbsintheMakesTheHeartGrowFonder · 13/09/2026 12:32

Hellyk1985 · 13/09/2026 11:22

Update... Totally different design but I'm happy

Oh, these are absolutely gorgeous!

Polipocket60 · 13/09/2026 12:33

They dont look how you wanted. I would just let them grow out for a couple of weeks and use a cuticle oil.

Livingthebestlife · 13/09/2026 12:44

They are fab, really gorgeous. Are you happy with them yourself?

luckylavender · 13/09/2026 12:54

Hellyk1985 · 12/09/2026 21:23

For DH to say there were bad, I thought they must be BAD. Can't bring myself to complain but lesson learnt! Definitely a proper nail tech working in a well established salon

I actually think you have a duty to report. She’ll never learn if she’s not told. They truly are awful. What was her hygiene like? Better not have anything done for a while just in case.

Dweetfidilove · 13/09/2026 13:21

EveningSpread · 12/09/2026 22:59

Right I’m prepared for loads of hate here: obviously they look terrible, but also (a) what’s this pathetic obsession with nails that everyone has and (b) do you think putting “technician” at the end of a very basic job description means you’re going to get a wonderful service?
Come on people. You don’t need your nails doing, it’s bullshit. If you get suckered in by shit companies etc, you’ve only got yourself to blame, like so many things it’s all a big scam. Just save your money or spend it on something worthwhile, then you won’t be disappointed. Having special designs on your nails isn’t normal or mandatory, just be a human and get on with life.

🥱

TrojanDonkey · 13/09/2026 14:00

They took her 2 hours??

ChiliFiend · 13/09/2026 14:25

Love the new set!

aliceyyyy2654 · 13/09/2026 14:52

You need to ask her to redo them, they look like you have dirt under your finger nails

aliceyyyy2654 · 13/09/2026 14:53

aliceyyyy2654 · 13/09/2026 14:52

You need to ask her to redo them, they look like you have dirt under your finger nails

Sorry didn’t see you had them redone. They look much better but you should find a new technician, they aren’t good