Can we start an anti "nail" campaign?

[2rebecca]

As a GP who frequently washes her hands, allotment owner and instrument player I really hate the trend for women to have immaculate nails that cost a fortune, scratch people and mean women can't do anything useful. Where t f did this horrible trend come from and how do we give women back the use of their wonderful hands?

I am very happy to join you. Musician, horse owner and would be gardener but I never have enough time left for that! I don't tend to do anything stronger than than a clear varnish for very special occasions.

Not the problem MN thinks it is?

www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/body/news/a42147/half-young-women-uk-removing-all-pubic-hair/

www.self.com/story/turns-out-84-percent-of-women-groom-their-pubic-hair

Some interesting stats here including 82% of female respondents saying they’d removed all pubic hair in the last four weeks, and 60% of Male respondents saying they want their sexual partners to remove all pubic hair: www.buzzfeed.com/carolynkylstra/pubic-hair-science

This doesn’t happen without a great deal of social pressure from somewhere, or from many places.

My point is - do you think 86% of women pay for false nails? Do you think 60% of men expect women to have perfectly manicured long nails? This is why I stated that I’m not as concerned by this as I am by other things such as hair removal.

Ironically am reading this thread whilst doing my gel nails!

I find them the opposite of restrictive; I can do far more with gel on my nails as I know they won't break and get sore

I also just like the different colour options - my nails, my choice!

Deathgrip the study's quoted have some gaping holes.

If you want to discuss that issue. Start a thread. This isnt really the right thread for it it and I dont want to derail it.

The judgement being cast towards women on what badges itself as a "feminist" thread is
un-fucking-believable!

Surely people can see the irony of this thread?? Let's release women from being told they must have fancy nails by telling them they CAN'T have fancy nails WTAF?

I've haven't so much tosh being spouted on MN for a while now....... I have long sculpted acrylic nails and they don't stop me doing "anything useful".

I'm a triathlete, I run, cycle, open water swim..... I weight train in the gym..... I have a child and I've managed for 11yrs not to put his eye out.... ditto puppy and DH...... I manage perfectly well to cook, clean, bake, maintain my car and bike...... I ride a motorbike where I wear protective leather gloves - no issue.

Jesus wept this thread is depressing,

I missed fell walking and scrambling off my list of things I have no problem doing with my ridiculous brightly coloured talons

Ah the old porn and pubic hair comments. I have waxed for decades..I am nearly 60. And no I don't look like a 9 year old.

I love having my nails done. I don’t wear them ridiculously long. They are a normal length but enhanced with gel so they don’t break. I get nail art and I love it.

It’s my choice to get them done. It’s my treat to myself each month and I’m not giving it up. Equally, I don’t expect anyone else to have gel nails if they don’t want them. Each to their own.

As it happens I don’t like the look. I’ve not worn nail varnish since I was 13. Yes I am aware of the exponential rise in what’s considered to be basic grooming.

But here’s the thing: some women enjoy it. A lot. If you talk to them, as opposed to lecturing, some of them say it’s the only thing they do that’s solely for their own personal pleasure. So many other so-called ‘feminine’ interests - cooking, baking, quilting etc - are about nurturing or caring yet I have never seen them scrutinised on here, only make up and fashion.

Oh fgs. I can judge inch long coffin nails with the the best of them. Does that make me a better feminist? No, it just makes me a snob, and that’s all any of this is. A waste of time and energy and yet another example of how we still spend more time wanking around infighting and criticising any woman who doesn’t do every in the prescribed acceptable way than actually making progress for women’s rights. It wastes easily as much time as getting the bloody manicures done, and arguably achieves less, as a manicure at least gets one woman pretty nails and another a few quid. All this does is distracts, and creates bad feeling, alienation and division.

Not interested in your 'cause'
Since when am I not entitled to do whatever the fuck I want to MY body?

I'm happy to join too, wasted on my fingers. But I'm fascinated by the really fancy nail art ones, there's a woman who gets the same bus as me in the morning with amazing blingy ones, I openly stare. To be fair I also can't stand the smell of acetone.

I have never worn false nails, I'm too lazy (and a nurse so can't have them for work). Do I give a shit what other women do with their nails? No.

I hate the whole 'I'm a feminist and women should do what they want with their bodies unless it's something I don't agree with' rubbish.

I feel no pressure to paint my nails, or wear heals, or shave my body. Some of these things I do from time to time but that's up to me.

I've always thought the increase in nails popularity coincided with the online porn.

Genital waxing is clearly porn inspired

BINGO!!!!

erythronium just coming back to say I agree with everything you said. These threads do always go the same way, people pointing out the harm/restriction/problems due to whatever beauty related practice and lots of people coming back angrily saying well I don’t find it restricts/harms me as I don’t do kickboxing/ play piano/ surgery, have never had infection etc therefore it’s not true and you are a misogynist
I’m sure I’ve seen similar threads relating to high heels, genital waxing, make up. Posters refusing to look at the wider feminist issues. Which is disappointing on this board, feels more like aibu at times

There’s a difference between nails and shaving. I think many women feel ashamed if they don’t shave. Even ads about shaving don’t show hairy legs.

Having unvarnished nails is much more acceptable.

So it’s not a terrible pressure.

@Kilbranan maybe if some women weren't told what shallow,useless vessels they are due to their nails then the discussion would've gone differently.

Like the OP and some previous posters, I am concerned by how much the beauty industry has grown in recent years and agree that the grooming and styling choices we make do not occur in a vacuum. However, I’m not in a position to judge other women as I wear make-up and colour my hair and like to think I’m doing these things for myself rather than because the patriarchy expects me to.

The trend for fake nails is one I’m unlikely to succumb to. I find them impractical and just don’t like them aesthetically. Long talons, 'fancy' nail art and bling don’t look very elegant to me and the thickness of most false nails (even the supposedly natural looking shorter ones) makes me shudder. I realise how bitchy that sounds, but can’t really help it (I believe thickened nails are usually a sign of a health condition and these subconscious reactions are how our bodies try to protect us from catching illnesses).

I would also hate having to visit nail salons on a regular basis. The smell is absolutely awful, just walking past some of these places is enough to give me a headache and I’m generally not overly sensitive to smells at all. More importantly, the working conditions in many studios can only be described as modern slavery and a fair few of these places are also vehicles for money laundering. Of course NASALT (not all salons are like that) and I’m sure it’s possibly to find perfectly decent places, too. In the end we all have different tastes and life would be quite boring if we all liked the same things.

I can get my hot, toasted bagels straight out of the toaster with my acrylic nails and don't feel a thing they are oh so useful.

Well I love my shortish gel nails... I love having a splash of colour when I look down. Same for lipstick. It means when I have no time in the morning with my baby son I can pull jeans and a T-shirt on but I have some colourful elements to my outfit.

And having gel makes your nail very rounded at the top, not remotely sharp... if I was trying to scratch you I wouldn't be able.

I'm not restricted in anything, I spend lots of time cleaning with bleach, changing nappies, yoga, typing, doing exercise - zero impact from having gel nails and shock horror I have acrylic tips!

And there is zero smell at my nail salon. I don't understand what everyone means. And I actually enjoy going once every two/three weeks. I can sit back with a coffee and chill out... plus I get a nice hand massage 😊

These threads do always go the same way, people pointing out the harm/restriction/problems due to whatever beauty related practice and lots of people coming back angrily saying well I don’t find it restricts/harms me as I don’t do kickboxing/ play piano/ surgery, have never had infection etc therefore it’s not true and you are a misogynist

Except that's not what anyone has said

I agree it's disappointing that people won't look at these issues in a wider feminist context, and the discussion becomes personal rather than political, with a tone that has an edge of fear around it.
More mundanely, as someone who doesn't have manicures as a regular thing, but had one this week ahead of a special event, I'm amazed at how expensive it was. Given the popularity of "nails" and the ubiquity of talon salons, why isn't the pricing now in pocket money territory? I think a manicure should be no more than a tenner, max, and was astonished to be asked for £40 for mani pedi with gel or shellac or something. I'm going to have to pay half as much again to have it removed apparently 😳😏.

I came to the conclusion last weekend that I'm going to stop trying to grow my nails (can't wear acrylics as too faffy with contact lenses).

I love long, pretty nails but the bottom line is I love painting, pottery and writing more and was noticing they were even getting in the way when I as typing.

Won't be giving up funky nail varnish any time soon though!