What kind of nails for DD prom?

[Nameychangington]

DD is 16 and will be having her prom in summer (I'm trying to be organised). She has asked to get her nails done for it - I have never had my nails done and neither has she so we're clueless.

She bites her nails so it'll need to be false nails. What should we book for her? There seems to be so many kinds and I don't know what any of them are or what the difference is! I'm dimly aware there might be ones which damage your nails or which hurt to have done (she has sensory processing disorder so unlikely to be able to tolerate pain or something that feels really weird). Please help!

she has sensory processing disorder so unlikely to be able to tolerate pain or something that feels really weird

with this bit of information I’d probably just get some glue on at home ones so if she does feel weird she can easily take them off herself.
I never have nails done anymore but the rare occasions I used to for a special event I would feel claustrophobic and need to take them off soon after which with acrylics was difficult and I ended up damaging nails

If she has SPD, I would recommend taking her in for a bog standard normal mini manicure in the not too distant future to see if she can tolerate others fiddling with her nails. DS cannot bear it still and had to learn to cut his own nails very young because he hated it so much if anyone else came near them.

I have mild SPD (I think. not diagnosed but based on what I've learnt from DS) and I can tell you that I hate false nails and gel nails and they all feel really really uncomfortable for me. I'm not wild about manicures either but suck it up when I need to. So I am doubtful that false or gel nails are going to work for her but, again, if you go for the mini manicure and she tolerates it, you could ask them to do a test of one gel or acrylic nail to see how she finds it.

Another option that could work but as she bites her nails would not be perfect, is to buy one of those powder kits you do yourself at home. They can be really great and the control of doing her own nails can be really helpful. INcidentally, re biting, one thing I did to help me stop biting m nails in my teens ws to paint my nails in very very bright colours (often mixed colours) as it made me so much more aware of them and therefore less likely to put them in my mouth. Not sure if that would help her at all.

Oh, and if you are going with any kind of false nail, definitely don't go for anything too long. Again, the sensory feeling of that is likely to be overwhelming for her.

Oh this is helpful thanks. Yes I'll take her for a manicure first and see how that goes - she will likely tolerate it when there and only unmask at home afterwards if it's going to be an issue.

If she manages that one, what shall we go for for prom? Gel, acrylic, something else? I agree definitely nothing too long and nothing she'll be stuck with for ages. I think she just wants to look 'finished' and feel grown up.

My teen loves to get a full set of acrylics. She is planning to get fresh tip for prom.

I think when you go for the mini manicure, ask them to talk to you both about the options and also ask if you can pay to have one nail done in whatever option they recommend so that she can see how it feels. To me, the nails always feel uncomfortably "fat" when I've tried gel/acrylics and I'm an adult with very minor SPD, so I can easiy imagine that sensation would be unbearable for her (if she's like me).

Basically, there are two SPD issues:
1 the act of having her nails done and ifi she can cope with her nails being filed etc, she'll cope with the application of acrylics/gel, even if she does find it really uncomfortable.

2 how they feel over the longer term. For me, the short term discomfort in the salon I can cope with becuase it IS short term. But the two times I've tried this on my nails, it's been awful over the following few weeks, and I've been THRILLED to have them removed. (also, remember a lot of the gel/acrylic stuff can't just be removed, it has to be removed at the salon at a later date - you can't just take it off yourself).

Gel removal might be uncomfortable for her too, I think the stick on ones are a good idea for this situation. Do you think if you take her for a regular manicure it might encourage her not to bite her nails? I know when I've broken a nail it's really uncomfortable for me so if she can have them a neat but short length that might help

100% agree with stick on nails - they can last for the night and be removed at will - with gels / especially acrylics, you'll need an appointment for professional removal. If she's also a nail biter there might be some discomfort applying the nails. It's also not something super easy to DIY remove if you don't know what you're doing, so if she's feeling like she needs them off you'll need to wait for an appointment which might be an issue.

You can get some fancier press on nails on Etsy, that are hand painted by nail artists. Even the standard boots ones are really pretty and likely to last well for the evening!

Had a convo with young women at work yesterday about nails - consensus was don’t go for acrylics as they damage your nails, but you can buy press on ones that are really good.

Hmm ok maybe stick on nails are a better idea, I will try to sell that to her. She's young for her age and has some struggles and just wants to look the part and look 'grown up'. Thanks this is really helpful.

Well, it’s was women in their mid-20s recommending press on nails to me - would that be grown up? 😀