I’ve seen many ‘cool’ looking women wearing…

[Freetodowhatiwant]

…bare nails! Is this a thing?

Usually during summer I am looking forward to choosing a nice summer mani and pedi colour so I’ve been idly looking at people whose outfits I admire when out and about and have noticed that many of them have no nail varnish on their fingers or toes. And I am also beginning to like it!

Having been lured to the white/very pale side, away from my previous reds, in the last couple of years I still could never forsee myself being tempted by NO nail varnish at all. Yet here I am, growing out my last gel pedi so much it’s now practically a French and quite excited about leaving them bare for the first time in years.

Anyone else noticed this and tempted to go bare for the summer pedi?

Nail varnish is full of toxins. If you lead a clean healthy life then your natural nails will be beautiful. I think a full mani/pedi just looks a bit off these days. I haven’t been doing mine for years, I don’t miss it.

It’s certainly healthier in summer to have bare nails exposed to the sun and light.

@Freetodowhatiwant

well asking if it's 'a thing' certainly didn't give the impression you'd considered that it might be a 'cut back' because people can no longer afford/justify the cost of getting them done.

it's been a consistent suggestion on all the CoL threads.

yes, of course people can do their own, but many never have.

a lot of fashion/trend comes about due to cut backs or excesses.

I don't know why pointing out the obvious has pissed people off?!?!

I don't 'get mine done' because of the exploitation/people trafficking/money laundering/abuse involved in nail bars & the lack of hygiene in many and I'm not paying the price local salons want to charge.

& cba doing my own.

💁🏻‍♀️

@continentallentil yes, but 'getting them done' had become 'a thing' and now, for many, not getting them done has been a cut back they've made and has caused 'bare nails' to become 'a thing' which is what the OP asked about.

@Anxioys I think it's probably lack of money in the demographic that usually gets them done, I agree. However, I don't think the demographics without money worries have ever had them done.

I never wear nail varnish on my fingers. I just buff them for a subtle shine.
However, I don't think I could go for bare toe nails. Maybe if I had a professional pedi. But without, nail varnish hides a lot of sins!

I have never wore nail polish on my fingernails and only wear the pinkish fungal nail breathable nail polish on my toes to hide slight fungal nail in the summer. When I used to use proper nail polish on my toes it made my fungal nail worse.

A quick Google shows that this is indeed a "Thing"

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/beauty/make-up-nails/a40648122/naked-nails-no-polish/

I was in South London this week and noticed it also. I felt a bit out of place with my red toenails.

Yes it's definitely a thing, 'done' nails are out of fashion at the moment which is helpful to those of us who have to have the them short and polish free for work

I've used nail varnish on and off from the age of about 12, my natural nails are in beautiful condition (about the only bit of me that is!), I have long slim nail beds, they never flake or snap and they're a healthy pinkish colour. My mother and grandmother before her also had very strong, elegant nails with or without nail polish (which is remarkable when you consider they both worked as cleaners). I think your genetic make up plays a far greater part in nail condition than 'toxins' from nail polish.

What is concerning though is the rise in skin allergies caused by gel polish and people curing them at home with dodgy UV lamps or at slap dash, cheapo nail bars.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/fashion/2023/jun/10/when-it-comes-to-nail-polish-let-the-professionals-do-their-thing

@blueshoes I agree!

Long painted nails make me shudder. The bacteria! The voluntary hobbling of your hands!

I recently saw a young woman with false nails completely unable to pick dropped coins up off the floor, it's so weird.

One former colleague used to have longer painted toenails and that made me retch, although that's definitely a me issue.

Excellent, no nail polish here!
Now, where does S&B stand on one or more plasters?

I have rubbish nails. I wear black in the winter, white in the summer.
Really don't care about cool or not

That’s me!! I sometimes (less than monthly) get mine done for occasions. Usually pale pink.

A couple of weeks ago I had coral done for a trip away, while I liked it at the time I won’t do it again. Felt too garish and a bit obvious.

My default is bare nails so when I do get them done again I will choose a colour for interest, but something paler/more classic.

I've definitely been noticing this too, OP (live in London, work central). Bare nails on hands had been trending for a while but this summer it's really noticeable 90% of women are not painting their toes either: not even a clear or 'bare' shade.
Personally I think it's more a fashion thing than COL thing because it's the same in wealthy areas & on women still sporting expensive blowouts and 'tweakments' etc. I'd expect painting one's own nails being more feasible on a budget than going without, if money were the only factor.

I’ve always loved having painted toe nails in the summer, though can’t paint finger nails due to work. However, I recently saw Deborah Meaden of Dragons Den talking about how bad nail varnish etc is for the environment, so I’ve stopped (though I do feel sad about it!). Luckily I’m 53 and not bothered about what people think!

I never have acrylics or similar as luckily I have very nice natural nails that grow fast.
I generally have colour on them but have definitely moved away from the darker colours. It’s usually Essie Ballet slippers or LD Dragonfly wings at the moment.
I may do my toes but I don’t especially want to draw attention to my trotters

I’m a bit eco and chemical free where possible so don’t wear it. It’s one of the many things that are slightly bad for you. So am 99% bare nails.

Other people being poor isn't OP's problem.

I’ve never worn varnish on my fingers or toes. Don’t care what’s the expected norm - I just please myself!

Its very funny how the now in "natural, unmanicured, clean" aesthetic needs to also be carefully constructed with the right type of products. I guess the young'uns don't have to manufacture this look to quite the same extent because they are naturally beautiful and healthy looking.

I have never worn nail polish but I do agree with you that abandoning the manicure is a logical fashion step in the current trend, along with natural eyebrows, no foundation and no shaving of legs and pits.

bare nails! Is this a thing?

You didn’t realise some women don’t spend money or time or both having their nails painted?

I can’t imagine even noticing some women having ‘bare nails’ let alone being shocked by it, let alone starting a thread. Mad.

Definitely a fashion. Same as the bared faced looked. Which actually takes a lot of potions and lotions to achieve the perfect bare faced! The bare fingers and toes also need to look perfect and therefore require all the maintenance, just not the final colour.
I think the fashions are just a rebellion/ other extreme to the very heavy make up & long nails we have seen over the last 5 years or so.