Natural nails or painted

I didn't intend to be rude - has no-one else had these thoughts? Isn't that the reason nurses in hospitals are not (well 'used' not to be) allowed to have painted nails.
Sorry to offend (just my weird thoughts which I thought I'd share).

It all depends on the rest of the person - if they are clean, tidy looking and their nails aren’t overgrown then no, I presume the don’t have an allotment under their nails

I don’t like overly long, thickly painted nails though, and for some reason (no idea why) nails which are different lengths really annoy me - you know the kind, where there are 2 or 3 really long nails and the others are various lengths?

All you lucky ones with long oval finger nails.

Essentially my finger nails are wider than they are long, so I leave them alone and let them blend into my fingers. I also cannot bear the feel of my nails once they start getting longer than my fingers, so I clip them close. So no nail polish for me for obvious reasons.

I love seeing the photos of beautifully painted nails. I always have my toenails painted, usually a sparkly version of the colour on my hand nails.
Unfortunately the nails on my hand tend to flake and split, so I only paint them when they look decent.

Very surprised to see the comment about dark varnish protecting during chemo - I was not allowed any varnish at all. Also the cancer and the chemo made my nails very flakey but now they are stronger than ever.
I am a toenail painter myself and use a variety of shades and have found OPI varnish to be the most hard wearing. I never now paint my finger nails as I do not like the feeling of it - makes them feel hot.
I have seen that the polishes which need the light source to finish them off are not good - seems the light source is UV and can cause melanoma under the nail.

That's my favourite colour MerylStreep! Love it and always go back to it - fingers & toes!

Did you know you can get Vegan nail varnish? The odour is less than the usual and lasts better for me anyway.
I loathe false nails.

What makes it vegan? Is it different from polish that’s not tested on animals?

I always have gel varnish on my toe and finger nails. As Dragonfly says it stops you losing your nails during chemotherapy. Last year during chemo my nails were fine and they didnt lift or come off during treatment. I keep them quite short at the moment but I am lucky I have quite long nailbeds. Just realised looking at the photo that I haven't put my rings back on after my nuclear bone scan. Better delve into my handbag for them.

grannyrebel
Thank you.

Such nice nails everyone!

I have just filed one down which was longer than the others having read your post SirChenjin!!

I didn’t lose my nails during chemo but they broke very easily and had a tendency to be flakey. I don’t remove my ring for nuclear scans but they are not looking at my bones or hands.

Always wear nail varnish on finger and toe nails,as I have got older finger nails on my right hand have gotten a bit flaky so I use PPI nail envy in clear and a pale pink which makes my nails feel much better .I tend to wear a bright pink or coral on my toes

OPI

I don't wear make up nor have painted nails. I do however look 10 years younger than my peers.

I always have painted toe nails but rarely finger nails.

I love that colour Dsisyboots.

I do t wear makeup or paint my nails either Esspee. I'm allergic to most makeup, and I was a nurse for most of my working life and wasn't allowed to have painted nails. I don't think I'll start now.

Strangely welshwife although my nuclear scans are for my bones as I have stage 4 metastatic breast cancer the first one I had I only had to remove my earrings plus my bra because of the metal hooks at the back. It was the same company in a different location. This time I had to remove all jewellery but leave my bra on. Likewise when I had radiotherapy on my spine in December all jewellery had to be removed. I can understand earrings when they radiating my upper spine but the hands were nowhere near. Even different clinics for the CT scans have different rules. This is in Portugal so most probably different compared to the NHS

I lost all toenails except big toes during chemo. Fingernails were all taped down in an attempt to stop them lifting but the pain was intense. Now my fingernails are so weak just passing through the little hair that regrew is enough to split them, but my toenails are fine so they get painted in the summer (despite having ugly feet lol) If I had the beautiful nails of other gransnetters I'd be wearing scarlet every day

One of the lasting effects of my difficult childhood was a horrible nail biting habit, which I have only reliably conquered in the last eight to ten years. Last year, for the first time, I reached a stage where I regularly need to cut and file my nails and I get a little thrill every time I do.

I occasionally get treated to a gel manicure by my daughters, which is a real treat, but if my nails are not painted then I still have a tendency to gnaw on the surrounding skin.

I've one little finger nail painted at the moment.

I started, and found I couldn't be bothered to carry on.

I am exactly the same as you MOnica - wide nails and cannot bear the feel of nails any longer than the tip of my fingers. My hair and nails grow very very fast so am always clipping my nails.

I don't like the look of painted toe or finger nails, never have done, especially on older hands.

I do wear makeup and love clothes, always shopping!

I'm with BBevan. I hate the 'heavy' feeling of varnished fingernails. Luckily I have healthy looking nails that I keep short.
My toenails are another story. I paint them in sandal weather so as not to scare the natives. Maybe the varnish has damaged them over the years.

Problem with painted nails is that it draws attention to your hands and feet which are a dead giveaway of age and few older ladies have attractive feet.
Makeup tends to gather in the wrinkles of older skin accentuating the problems.
Failing eyesight also means a less than perfect finish to makeup and nails. I notice this with older ladies all the time, even to the point of looking ludicrous.