Nice nails - really, does it matter?

[Merguez]

Doing my nails comes very bottom of my list or priorities. Manicure and polish only for very special occasions. But other mums I know always seem to have immaculate nails.

Does anyone really notice or care? Is it important?

I like to paint my nails as I find it relaxing while watching a movie or something. It normally lasts a day or so. I've never had a manicure or pedicure.

My fingernails grow freakishly quickly and are super strong. Which is odd as my hair is shit and my toenails don't seem to grow at all. And my hands are busy too - what with nappies, gardening, cooking etc, I like to be able to give them a really good scrub clean and for them to look clean too. Varnish could hide dirt, and would grow out in mere days. So long, and bare is my look. Then I clip them all off and they grow again.

Mine are shortish but usually with a neutral polish as I feel a bit more comfortable with them like that.

I am ASTOUNDED by the suggestion that women are not taken seriously if they wear nail polish. The mind boggles.

Me too I'm a scientist and mine are always painted. I'm taken seriously!

I can't have long nails because of my job - wearing gloves, opening tubes, that sort if thing - so I keep them very short and square and dark painted.

I don't do the gel, shellac thing etc as I have no time. I have painted nails though. usually pink but have been a deep red for the last couple weeks. i am fairly sure when I am at work meeting with CEOs, CFOs, COOs etc of global financial institutions that they are taking me quite seriously. I don't think the long fake nails thing works in a professional environment though.

I used to have mine done every week and without fail I had a compliment on them so yes, people do notice when they look nice. That's not to say though that people judge when you haven't had them done, I think it's more usual not to just because people don't have time. But I do think they notice when you've made the effort.

I try to do mine at bedtime and sleep with hands / feet uncovered for a couple of hours. It only takes five mins after washing and they are dry by morning. If you have soft nails, try a hardener or just keep them short and polished, they don't have to be long.

I only judge nails if they are bitten and grubby looking. DH picks at his nails and cuticles- and I am trying to wean him off doing it. It implies that the biter/picker is nervous, not in control imo.

Mine are rarely polished- as i find it chips off too quickly and looks a state. So, I just keep them bare, but clean and mid length (to the tips of my fingers I suppose).

Toenails I prefer to be bare too. Again, clean and neat.

I keep mine short-ish, and painted a pale colour that doesn't show any chips. Its very subtle, but makes me feel more 'finished.'

Lol at toes like chipolatas! I have had painted toenails for as long as I can remember but I decided to give them the winter off being painted this year and they do look very bare.

I currently have festive nails, spent about 45 mins doing them in bed last night!

river nails are already dead I believe.

Whatever makes you happy, I love doing mine and feel naked without polish.

Thanks so much coconutty I love them. I find they really set off my outfits.

I bit my nails for years and years and then miraculously stopped. But now I've discovered that nails are quite a faff. I keep them filed pretty short and they're naturally quite strong and shiny so that's enough for me.

I just hate the feel of nail polish on my fingernails.

(always paint my toenails though)

I especially hate the French manicure look.

Agree Mrs Wolowitz, it's bizarre that people who make time to do their nails/have a haircut etc are considered to have too much time on their hands or selfish beasts who think only of themselves. The 'I just don't have time' thing pisses me off a bit; I work, am doing college course, do DH's book keeping, all childcare (DH works away Mon-Fri), take the dog out and do the house work and I have a lovely local lady that comes and does my gelish nails once every three weeks. Fine, if people don't want to or it doesn't interest them, but why make out its only because they're busier than everyone else?

I personally don't like the very long painted false nail look. Long nails give me the eebiejeebies, especially long toe nails. I try to keep mine short and filed and will occasionally paint them, not very well though.

I don't understand people who spend a lot of time or money on their nails, but each to their own for sure!

I'm always amused when people say 'how do they find the time to do x,y, or z' on here, as they manage to find the time to arse about on Mumsnet!

or make a chicken feed the five thousand

I like having nice nails. It doesn't take that long. I oil them day and night ( feet and hands) push down cuticles and manicure/ paint every week.

I have short nails, though, I haven't the lifestyle for long ones:)

I like getting them done properly though.

As a previous life long, well probably 30 years, biter of my nails, I always thought I wouldn't like or manage with them very long but I can quite easily. The only problem is doing something that involves scratching something. I don't often allow them to grow that long though, they're usually kept to just a few mm over my fingertips.

It's funny because until yesterday, I was growing out a pixie cut and hadn't coloured my hair since August so was rocking the bed head/big wig, 3 tone blonde look and didn't give a rats ass (I caved and dyed it yesterday and a cut will soon be following) but my nails are always nice :)

Makes me think of that great 80s film Working Girl where Melanie Griffith started out with long (false?) nails and jangling bracelets up her arm with big hair... And as she climbs the corporate ladder everything is toned down.
Painted nails don't seem frivolous to me!
However, I might look askance at very long nails or some nail art in the workplace... Depends on the workplace!
I'd only ever really judge if they were dirty!

I keep mine short, neat and clean, usually clear or a neutral colour. I'd certainly noticed bitten or dirty nails, there's no excuse for mankyness!