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Style and beauty

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Original poster

Acrylic nails for a 12-year-old????

53 replies

Cocochoco · 19/08/2016 21:42

DD has wanted acrylics since she started secondary school. Quite a few of her friends have them and there's a nail party planned.

I have consistently said no because I'm worried about damage to her nails (also hate the look of them but that's a secondary issue). But she's begging and begging and I'm starting to waver.

So are they safe or not? She is 12.

OP posts:

Paulat2112 · 20/08/2016 20:20

personally i think 12 is far too young.

DelicatePreciousThing1 · 20/08/2016 20:40

Just NO.

DelicatePreciousThing1 · 20/08/2016 20:41

ANYWAY, reall nails are better; the fake ones are tacky in the extreme. Ugh

JackandDiane · 20/08/2016 20:41

i have gel powder
My real nails have never been so long ( i am a nibbler)
No damage at all

Crocodillian · 20/08/2016 21:42

This isnt a stealth boast (I could make an endless list about all of the things that I dislike about my physical appearance) but people have always complimented me on either how lovely my natural nails are or how I get my false nails to look so lovely. They are real. I really think that its partly the luck of the draw but also the fact that I've always taken care of my nails and avoid falsies at all costs.
It's a lot of upkeep and pullava especially for a 12yo. Some, not all, people also seem to type, use the phone and pick things up awkwardly when they're wearing acrylics and the housework can lead to emergency trips to the salon. I think some people's look lovely on them but I've always thought it an unnecessary expense if you can grow your own and it's always seemed like a lot of faffing.
I also know a few people that have caught infections in their toenails and fingernails after visiting salons (Im not suggesting for a single second that all salons (mobile or otherwise) are a health risk) but if you do allow your dd to get acrylics check out the qualifications of the technician and ensure that she then goes on to have them removed properly to minimise damage.

chocolateismyweakness · 20/08/2016 21:46

I have acrylic nails, have done for years. (Not the really long ones, I think they look nice but not to everyone's taste I know!) I got them took off today for a new set to go on and i never fail to be shocked at the state of my poor natural nail underneath. At 12 I would definitely be saying no!

Crocodillian · 20/08/2016 21:48

I see that you've said 14 OP. It's hard when other kids are putting peer pressure on your dd. Kids always want to be like everyone else, but in hindsight I can now look back on things and appreciate my parents' decisions. I wasnt allowed to relax my hair as a teen, I wasnt allowed to pluck my eyebrows. They were right about a lot.
I have sons and its all about Playstation games that apparently everyone else is allowed to play

BodsAuntieFlo · 20/08/2016 21:55

I wouldn't. I had 2 nails of sculptured acrylic put on 3 years ago and never again. They wrecked my nails even having them professionally done and removed. I was happy to take my DD for a manicure and normal polish at 12 though. I never understand nail party's tbh. Fair enough if it's a manicure and normal polish but certainly no acrylic or gel.

RowenaDahl · 20/08/2016 21:57

No, that is far too young and once they're on you need to maintain them. £££!

I would say she can have them when she is earning her own money. End of.

Fluffycloudland77 · 21/08/2016 10:40

Properly applied & removed acrylics and shellac are fine.

The problems come with improperly applied and removed product or using MMA.

Not enough questions are asked by consumers who want nail enhancements or shellac.

Fluffycloudland77 · 21/08/2016 10:41

There's still no way on gods green earth that I'd put acrylic on a 12yo though. I'd question if the salons indemnity would even cover it.

LuckySantangelo1 · 21/08/2016 10:44

I've had shellac applied and taken off professionally and it still ruined my nails. And I have super strong nails. Never again. So I'd say no to shellac and definately no to acrylics!

LuckySantangelo1 · 21/08/2016 10:45

I also think most reputable salons will say no to doing this on such a young child. Their insurance probably wouldn't cover it.

burnishedsilver · 21/08/2016 11:20

Shellac totally trashes my nails no matter who applies it or moves it. The damage done when I tried acrylics was actually worse, so it's a no from me.

I hate when people make inflexible sweeping statements as through they are facts, eg "x does not damage nails if properly applied and removed", with no proof whatsoever to back it up.

Fluffycloudland77 · 21/08/2016 11:50

Did you apply Solar oil twice a day?

How did you check it was proper cnd shellac purchased from sweet squared or ellisons?.

Fluffycloudland77 · 21/08/2016 12:19

www.nailsmag.com/article/96323/avoid-nail-damage-with-proper-gel-polish-removal

Would you trust Doug Schoon? He wrote one of the industries must have text books.

It's not the cnd shellac & it's not the cnd nourishing remover. It's improper removal techniques, people removing it with poor quality acetone (theres a reason it's 99p a bottle in homebargains), people also go to salons and think their getting cnd shellac for £10 when the minimum uk price advised is £25 (there's no way a therapist can use genuine products & sanitise throughly for £10) and poor client care at home eg no Solar oil twice a day.

Recently my mil spoilt her cnd shellac manicure with chemicals. She missed my text so she took it off with Methylated spirits. Her nails don't look great and she's using Solar oil 3 X a day to try and repair them but it's going to take her at least 3-4 months to see improvement.

Contrast that with my dn who also oils twice a day but she has the kit to remove it and she has been taught by me that you do not scrape, you re-wrap and wait for the cnd nourishing remover to penetrate all 4 layers and push the loose product off at a 45 degree angle. Her nails are noticeably stronger than before she started using Cnd Shellac & grow longer now than before.

abbieanders · 21/08/2016 12:53

Yeah, the reason she'll see a result in 3-4 months is that her nails will have grown, not because she applies oil to them. This is the kind of advice that makes me avoid beauty therapists like the plague. There is always a costly solution that works in exactly the same time frame as just waiting.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 21/08/2016 13:01

I'd let her. They'll probably run her nails temporarily but they'll grow out again and then she probably won't bother again. Let her learn by experience.

Original poster

Cocochoco · 21/08/2016 13:10

This has helped me stay resolute. Thank you. She's surrounded by girls whose mums/dads aren't bothered about what's age-appropriate so i often seem to be a lone voice.

Interestingly I never knew they were supposed to apply oil etc - none of her friends do, and they don't expect them to last more than a week or so. Such a waste of money!

OP posts:

LuckySantangelo1 · 21/08/2016 13:49

fluffycloud I had my nails done by a CND Grand master. With all the CND shellac stuff. And yes I used solar oil. Left me with awful peeling weak nails. I had to wait months for the damage to grow out. I have heard this repeated again and again by people who have used Shellac, so it's certainly not just me!

LilQueenie · 21/08/2016 13:54

no why cant she just grow her own nails and use polish. even I wont do gel nails because it takes forever to scrape off. I use gel effect polish instead. C

Fluffycloudland77 · 21/08/2016 18:14

Enhancements don't have to be removed at all. You can keep re-balancing them and never remove them.

That's what I meant Abbie, the damage she's done is permenant to that bit of the nail and will need to grow out now. The solar oil will prop it up strength wise while it grows.

Even a natural nail will benefit from a professional system nail oil.

Lucky Thin peeling nails is usually caused by physical damage eg using nails as tools not jewels (I hate that phrase) or exposure strong chemicals on a regular basis, it's also caused by thinning the nails with buffers. If she buffed that's a no no with cnd shellac. What did the therapist say when you complained?.

acdcfan · 21/08/2016 18:17

Speaking as a nail tech, no! I never put enhancements on anyone younger than 16...

annielostit · 21/08/2016 18:30

12, not in this house.
I (used to) get gelish & shellac on mine and when they are removed my nails are screwed for months. No polish just manicured since June I have long strong nails.

flawsome · 12/08/2017 01:13

I'm not going to tell anyone how to raise their child but with all of the pressure our children are under at the preteen age, I think that you should maybe sit down with them and have a talk see why they want to do it and if maybe a compromise could be achieved. It could be that you go to an experienced manicurist and they do a good job applying and removing the acrylic; without any damage to the nail. If you do eventually give in then try it out for a week or so, if they like it then that's something to discuss about. If they don't then it's your win, just remember they are children and they just want to be up with the trends and like every other girl.

XXX

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