Are your nail extensions and polish hiding dirt?

[WingsOnMyBoots]

I don't have false nails and I rarely wear nail polish. I don't do dirty manual labour, just normal everyday things. Everyone seems to have these beautiful, clean, pristine nails yet I have to scrub mine 3 or 4 times a day to keep them clean underneath.

Am I abnormal? Or is that other people's dirt is actually hidden by the polish and extensions?

I don't have extensions but I'm always getting grubby nails

I have often seen awful collections of dirt under beautiful nail extensions. It is very off putting. Everyone should own a nailbrush unless their nails are very short.

That's why nails are best kept short, I think. Mind you, mine are short and I've just washed my hair with violet shampoo and the tiny bit of white that was visible is now grey

I guess these things must conceal dirt and germs.

My nails are always short and unvarnished.

I wear polish but they’re fairly short and I use a nail brush.

I have extensions and they get gross really quickly underneath and need cleaning several times a day.

I don't wear extensions but often have painted nails and they're relatively long - they're just well shaped; I think, they somehow don't seem to collect dirt! I do use a nail brush too.

I keep mine short because of this, they always look grimy when I try and grow them, but they are very weak and I don’t reallt get a white tip when I grow mine out. I used to get acrylics but when they came off you could always see the dirt under them. I never felt like I really got them clean either after chopping chicken etc. I’d spray disinfectant up the bottom of them Not worth the hassle!

I used to regularly get long nail extensions, and now keep my natural nails neat and polished.

I have NEVER had an issue with collecting dirt under my nails - ever! It must be a difference in lifestyle I suppose. My job doesn’t involve manual labour and I don’t particularly get myself in mucky situations. If your nails are collecting that much dirt, what about your actual fingers and hands??

I find with long nails the dirt doesn't get as deep and comes out easily by washing hands, really short and it doesn't trap the dirt but in between length I find I'm forever scrubbing them to clean them.

lhastingsmua

I don’t think it’s a case of those people with fake nails - or indeed natural nails - doing “manual labour”🙄
I was thinking of daily grime which everyone is affected by.

I have fairly long natural nails and don’t wear nail polish... my nails are never visibly dirty. Unless I’ve been gardening anyway!

One are currently hiding dough as I am in the middle of baking bread. Once that’s all done and I have washed my hands, showered and washed my hair they will be pristine.

This reminds me of a quote from a Jilly Cooper book, one of the characters (sexy journalist boozy not uptight like the other character) painted her nails because it was less hassle than cleaning them

Yes, if I pick my nose.

I think I've just realised something: some people are saying they don't collect dirt under their nails. I think it has to do with their nail shape. My nail shape kind of folds in at the edges - hard to explain. But I've noticed other people who's nails just seem to lie flat, making it less likely that dirt will get caught and trapped.Oh the unfairness of it all!

To answer Ihastingsmua

My fingers and hands are fine! My nails are also quite short by the way. I don't like long nails at all. They are shaped straight across and are an oblong shape. I get lots of compliments about them as they are nice - I always have had. But they definitely collect dirt!

I keep mine short and paint with Dior Nail Glow. I use a nail brush regularly. Hate grubby looking nails!

Use a Rimmel white nail pencil .. marvellous things. Apart from the actual pencil the top has a pointy bit for getting out dirt, then whiten with pencil while hands are wet. Wouldn't be without - have one upstairs and one downstairs.

I wear gloves for most household tasks.

Did you used to bite your nails? In ex or current biters the nail bed starts lower down so the white goes lower on the finger as it's separated.
Dirt collects and is much hard to remove as it's lower down packed in.

I’m a head scratcher. And I think this is why my nails tend to get a bit of gross under them. I wash/scrub as soon as I notice. Plus if I’m about to start cooking.
I’m trying to grow themdo use cuticle oil about 8 times a day on the cuticles and under the tip. I
Think this has also contributed to them looking a bit dirty.

I like the sound of the pencil whitening rhingy

Up until very very recently (Thursday just gone in fact, I had acrylic nail extensions. I always had them quite long. I used to wear gloves when washing up and cleaning, and I used to make sure they were cleaned underneath daily and dried throughly to prevent lifting.
However since January I've been going to a new place. My lovely angel lady who does them encouraged me to grow my own nails under the acrylic ones. So I've been growing them since January, without any length being taken off. I now have my natural nails the same length my acrylic tips were, with a shellac polish on. I do the same, wear gloves to wash up and clean, and clean underneath them. Of course now I no longer have to worry about them lifting.
I think as long as they are kept clean there's no problem.

I see long actrylic nails and just think one false move when you are wiping your bum and there will be a tear, or a lot of poop caught up there.
Long nails are grim.