10yo wants acrylic nails

[MumToTeenAndTween]

She has been asking for them for about a year and obviously it has been a firm “no”. However, her friends in her class have been allowed to get them done! I can’t quite believe that their parents are allowing 10 year olds to get their nails done!! I have seen the nails with my own eyes so I know she’s not bluffing.

I’ve given her plenty of reasons why I am saying no, but she is constantly pestering and saying all the usual “it’s unfair”, “my friends have theirs done an their nails haven’t been ruined”, “you never let me do anything” etc.

Am I the one being unfair??

Has anyone here allowed their 10 year old to get acrylic nails??

Interested to hear others’ opinions on this.

Just no.

What salon would do them anyway?

My DD was not allowed until year 9 secondary school. Sorry OP 10 is too young in my opinion. They ruin their nails for a start. Also school might not allow them anyway?

No, acrylic nails on a primary school child!? Why on earth hasn't the school banned them?

I think she’s too young for reputable salons!

There are some fab press on nails these days, perhaps get her a few sets of those to wear / use? Try and go from the novelty angle of being able to change them whenever she fancies rather than having to book expensive appointments?

That's a hard no until she can pay for them herself!

I am surprised that school allows it and/or any salon would do them on 10 year old.
However, as a Parent its your job to say no - I would probably silently judge the parents of the kids that did have them and try to steer my DD in the direction of other friendships as well

Maybe in the summer holidays as a fun treat but never a regular thing at all.

Just say no, I won’t even let my 14 year old have them, they’re just unnecessary

No, but buy cheap stick on ones for special occasions maybe. I should be shocked but I’m not, there’s a kid who is 11 max (primary school uniform) who has perfect nails (French tip) highlighted hair, fake tan and wears obvious make up that comes in our shop, obviously out of earshot, we all think it’s really wrong, she’s done up to be a mini me, her mum looks the same basically minus the school uniform.

Absolutely not. They look terrible anyway.

No because they completely ruin your nails. My 13 year old loves stick on nails but removes them very quickly as they get frustrated with them.

Stay strong OP. This is just one of a long line of things you’ll have to say no to.

Year 3 teacher here… I had a child come to school last year with acrylics on. She told me her mum said she had to say they were press on ones if asked. She had to be sent home to have them removed, mum kicked off saying she wanted me to pay for the cost of the nails and removal as it was my fault.

Not only do they look dreadful on such small fingers, they are dangerous and damaging. I say this as someone who has acrylics done herself, although not as frequently anymore.

Absolutely not. They destroy your nails.

When she’s a bit (a lot!) older, a compromise (that I still don’t love but it’s certainly better than acrylics) is builder gel extensions.

I had no issue with my daughter getting gel polish at that age for holidays because it lasts but absolutely no chance of extensions. She is a teen now and I do tolerate the builder gel extensions in long holidays, purely because all of her peers are wearing either acrylics or the cheap superglued pop on nails and this is the best way to make sure she doesn’t start buying the latter from Primark….

At that age, I was allowed to have mine done in the summer holidays. I would go to the salon with my mum and would have those iconic 00s thick french tips. I used to keep them in a little pot after they were removed so I could show them to my friends at school 😂

My daughter is approaching the same age and keeps asking for them. We’ve compromised on stick-on nails (kids ones, so gentle on the nails and easy to remove with no damage) during the school holidays only.

Hard no from me. School wouldn’t allow it here anyway (don’t even allow normal polish).

Im having the same issue with DD asking to get her ears pierced, some of her friends have had them done far too young in my opinion. But I’m staying firm on that one.

I let her in the holidays.

No definitely not. Its a waste of money. It is damaging to nails and its not practical for day to day activities. Not to mention schools dont approve.

It's ridiculous they are children. I can't believe why parents would let theirs have them. They are probably the ones that have phones too when they don't need them.

Absolutely not.

Lol.

Those things are absolutely nasty.

Unhygienic and tacky as shite.

Her friends probably have press on nails as no salon would do this to a child.

I wouldn't even tolerate the discussion...its a straight no. I find this sort of stuff a bit sad really...and can't understand parents who allow this

@Newyearnewmewoooop
You let a 10 year old have acrylic nails?

Acrylic nails would mean she wasn't bathing / swimming, playing fun sports, allowed to hold people's babies, making jewellery or doing other intricate art and crafts, planting flowers, helping bathe her pets... ie. living.

She also wouldn't be putting in her own contact lenses, buttoning her own buttons, baking, chopping up and preparing food, opening tins of fizzy pop, washing her own hair properly...

Ew. Ugh.

I’ve let mine have hers done once, before the Summer hols. She LOVED them for the treat they were, wore them nearly all summer and then back to normal childish nails for school. I’d consider it again for other longer school breaks like Xmas/Easter. Definitely a treat rather than a habit!! Maybe something like that as a one-off would be a good compromise OP.