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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not let my 13 yr old DD have her nails done in a salon?

27 replies

MaureenMLove · 09/02/2009 18:21

She bites her nails and wants to have her nails professionally done in a salon. Her two mates are having theirs done, for a 'do' they are going to during half term.

I'm not sure that a) professionally done nails are all that good for your nails anyway. b) She's 13 and c) its gonna cost about £20!!

Am I being mean? She's gone off in the usual Kevin the teenager way, 'its not fair!'

What do you think?

OP posts:
AliceTheCamelHasGotTheHump · 09/02/2009 18:22

What exactly does she want done?

lisaofpalatine · 09/02/2009 18:22

i think she should earn the money in any way you see fit

i think there is nothing wrong with going to a nail bar at 13

and if she bites her nails obviously the health of the nails over the top isn't going to make them any worse.

ThePgHedgeWitchIsCrankyBeware · 09/02/2009 18:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
MaureenMLove · 09/02/2009 18:25

She wants those fancy french polish type ones, with the sparkly tops, I think.

OP posts:
kittydotcom · 09/02/2009 18:26

do you mean false nails or just a manicure? cos i think falsies at that age may not be a good idea but a manicure may inspire her not to bite them.

Original poster
MaureenMLove · 09/02/2009 18:29

She wants the false ones. I think she's too young.

Of course it's all about being like her two mates. I think that's the bit that's hacked her off the most! She does get most things, in fact she is a very lucky girl.

I'm sure it's a PFB thing and a no, my little girl will NOT grown up' thing too!

OP posts:
ThePgHedgeWitchIsCrankyBeware · 09/02/2009 18:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

staryeyed · 09/02/2009 18:33

I hate false nails on teenagers. Looks horrible. What about a compromise- a manicure and french polish.

kittydotcom · 09/02/2009 18:36

IMO i think 13 is too young to start on the false nails thing. there is quite alot of upkeep involved too so even if you agree initially its gonna cost every few weeks for infills. a manicure with her friends is a bit of a compromise.

tankie · 09/02/2009 18:38

Will school let her have false nails? My school didn't even allow clear polish.

AnyFuckerForAShiteSoppyCard · 09/02/2009 18:42

too young IMO

my dd13's friends have acrylic nails and I won't let her have hers done (she hates me for it )

I think it is just another example of girls growing up too soon

I hate these nails myself, at the risk of getting flamed, what is next? bleached, straightened hair a la Chantelle from BB? orange tan? boob job?

tis bloody awful

RubyRioja · 09/02/2009 18:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Shoshe · 09/02/2009 18:48

Mo DGD wanted the same in the end we came to a compromise and she went and had a manicure, in fact she has one once a month (tis only a fiver here) and it has helped her to stop biting her nails.

I did tho buy some of the ones from the chemist and some glue and did her nails for Christmas myself, they looked great, but did come off with no problem the next day.

Original poster
MaureenMLove · 09/02/2009 18:48

Ah, not as unreasonable as I initially thought I was then! I was happy to be so, but I'm glad I'm not being the worst meanest mummy in the world!

What about the false ones you can get from Boots? Are they as bad for your nails? I don't mind her having them for one evening, if it will keep the peace.

OP posts:
Original poster
MaureenMLove · 09/02/2009 18:49

Ah, we should be a double act Shoshe! You answered my question, before I even asked it!

OP posts:
AnyFuckerForAShiteSoppyCard · 09/02/2009 18:50

yes, maureen, I let my dd do the sticky ones for special occasions

they tend to start falling off aftr a couple of hrs though !

staryeyed · 09/02/2009 18:52

The boots ones will fall off.

...when I was 13 I thought I would look really grown up if I got those stick on ones. With my friend we met some boys from school in the park. One by one those damn little buggers fell off and I had to kick them under the bench where no one would see.

kittydotcom · 09/02/2009 18:54

not used just stick on ones but the ones with the glue will take a while to wear off and will leave some glue residue on nail.

Leo9 · 09/02/2009 19:56

I think the best compromise is to promise her a manicure when her natural nails are just that bit longer. Then she's having something done that will actually pamper her rather than be damaging

I think stick hard to your guns on this one; she's still so young and you want her natural nails to develop properly while she's still growing; also, the natural look IS more classy and more the look that while she is a young teen, you would want her to realise that you prefer....I mean, I do like falsies myself as they look so perfect but I can also see they DO look on the chavvy side, if they're v long and sparkly bits on etc

Kbear · 09/02/2009 23:29

I would let her have then done in half term then get them removed before school. It might encourage her to grow her own nails if she sees how nice they look when they are "done". I took DD for a french manicure at Christmas and she loved the whole nail bar thing - there were girls in there your DD's age having outrageous colours put on but I can't see the harm in a nice french manicured look.

Kbear · 09/02/2009 23:31

Can i say one thing, as your bessie mate? Remember the lampshade? Same thing, your mate got the lovely new skirt, you got the lampshade. Let her have her nails done...! There's a party next week too don't forget!

Original poster
MaureenMLove · 09/02/2009 23:39

Manicure is fine! Acrylic nails are not! I would never stoop so low, as to not let my DD have whatever fashion stuffs she wants to wear, but I draw the line at those nails! She can have the stick on ones

OP posts:
Kbear · 09/02/2009 23:41

but they flick off in all directions - what about the glue on ones you do at home, the sticky pad ones are useless

Original poster
MaureenMLove · 09/02/2009 23:43

That was my compromise! I said, I'll get her the best of the stick on ones, but I really, really don't think the acrylic ones are attractive on a 13 year old.

OP posts:
Kbear · 09/02/2009 23:48

They can look cheap and nasty I agree, but my SIL gets her nails done and they look completely real and lovely. Quite short and neat, you would think they are real.

Tell her if she stopped biting them she could get a manicure once every couple of months(£8) and be smug of smugville because she doesn't NEED false nails!