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Long nails on older hands. What do you think?

(230 Posts)
Urmstongran Mon 27-Jun-22 16:37:39

I have strong nails. I’m going for a manicure this week (you can see how they’ve grown in a month!) & would normally have them snipped right down. However this time because it’s summer, I’m tempted to just have gel polish put on them and not have them cut. But would it be a bad look for a ‘pensioner’? Do long nails just look better on the young? I’m wary of them looking like talons ...
?

Witzend Tue 28-Jun-22 08:25:45

Not for me, but each to her own.
I keep mine quite short - or try to, since past a certain length they’re bound to split and tear off. I do my own manicures, just clear polish - any imperfections or chips don’t show! My nails have naturally white tips, but they’ve never been strong.

Coloured polish on toes though - my feet need all the help they can get!

hollysteers Tue 28-Jun-22 09:40:59

Acrylic nails are the solution for nail biters and finger pickers (me and my daughter)
I wouldn’t bother with them otherwise, but they do the trick.

pen50 Tue 28-Jun-22 11:48:44

My natural nails are rubbishy - thin and weak and grow really fast too - so I have acrylic and gel put on every fortnight (which might have to stop when I retire, sob). My hands are the oldest looking bit of me; I keep the nails fairly short as I use a keyboard at work and have a mid-grey polish, which I think looks unusual but reasonably classy. Colour not recommended for toes, though, makes you look like you should be on the Silent Witness slab.

One week's growth here in the picture.

missdeke Tue 28-Jun-22 12:07:17

My nails and hair grow very quickly, but as my hands are quite twisted and ugly I cut them every week, if you've got nice hands like the OP show them off whatever way you like.

Alioop Tue 28-Jun-22 12:10:16

I'm lucky like you to have strong nails which I don't have too long, but it's because I garden a lot and they put holes in my gloves. I wear clear polish on mine and if I'm going out for lunch or a show I put a bit of colour on them myself. I really love polish on my toes though.

Scottiebear Tue 28-Jun-22 12:12:38

I'm 66 and think my nails look pretty good despite my age.

Juicylucy Tue 28-Jun-22 12:18:40

I have very good strong nails as well, and mine are long and oval. My daughters a nail technician she doesn’t touch my nails I won’t let her, but she has lots of clients that wished they had nails like me and they are half my age.

Fronkydonky Tue 28-Jun-22 12:19:56

As I have breast cancer the only thing that made me feel feminine for months on end, after losing my hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, nasal hair- was my lovely shaped natural long nails painted with gel polish. My eldest daughter is my nail technician and she would ensure that they were manicured with a builder gel underneath to keep them strong. I have recently had to remove both finger and toe gel polish & cut my fingernails to undergo more breast surgery however I can’t wait for my nails to be gel manicured again for summer. Do what makes you happy. I have no problem with older women and beautifully manicured fingers and toes.

Buttonjugs Tue 28-Jun-22 12:25:37

They look lovely, and I don’t see it as an age thing at all. Beautiful nails look good on everyone. I’m not too keen on those excessively long nails some people have… honestly how do they function? But yours aren’t like that. I’m envious, my nails are pretty fragile and don’t get very long.

sunfield91 Tue 28-Jun-22 12:26:33

I am in my early 70s and have had acrylic nails for over 10 years, going to the nail technician every four weeks for infills, and have all my nails done when needed.
I have found as I got older darker or brighter colours look better on my hands , pale colours seem to accentuate the wrinkles on my hands! Because the nails are acrylic I Have them left plain and then use nail polish when I get home and I’m able to change the colour whenever I want within the four weeks
Don’t change your colour: they look great

Bluesmum Tue 28-Jun-22 12:36:07

I hate to see long false acrylic nails on anyone and also long toenails, but your nails are so beautiful I would definitely try to keep them at their current, very elegant length. My nails are very weak, always peeling and splitting but I alternate between OPI Nail Envy, and Meybelline Primer/strengthener and have just about got them looking half decent, for a little while at least. I am allergic to some ingredient in some nail gels, so have to avoid them.

valchoc Tue 28-Jun-22 12:36:32

Ugh!Have you seen Mary Berry s nails ?And SHE handles food !!

Cedardove Tue 28-Jun-22 13:29:06

Lovely nails everyone! You’ve inspired me to go and paint mine. I’m not sure why I haven’t had nail varnish on for years. Too much gardening probably but I’m going to treat myself.

Zetacatty Tue 28-Jun-22 13:31:09

I think your nails look lovely. Long nails look elegant whatever your age. Not only would I go for long nails but I’d have them painted bright red! Xxxx

Jodieb Tue 28-Jun-22 13:35:03

How do you remove gel polish, please?

Nannashirlz Tue 28-Jun-22 13:38:46

Why does it matter age it’s your body do what you like if it makes you happy then sod what everyone else thinks lol I’ve long nails and if someone doesn’t like it then tough lol I bite mine for years as a child to a adult. I’ve also got long hair. If someone as a problem then they are just jealous. They don’t live in my shoes and I don’t live in there’s.

BassGrammy Tue 28-Jun-22 13:47:22

My nails are very similar to yours..very strong and easy to grow long! I no longer grow them as long as I used to, but love to see well manicured nails!
I dont have gel nails, but I do like nail wraps for special occasions!!

deanswaydolly Tue 28-Jun-22 13:54:56

Perfect

Happysexagenarian Tue 28-Jun-22 14:13:41

I can't bear long nails! I hate the feel of my nails beyond the ends of my fingers, so they are always cut short. I have strong healthy nails (and hair) that grow very quickly, perhaps because I take Vit.D every day. I've never bitten my nails, I couldn't they're too hard. I don't paint my nails (fingers or toes) and I've never had a manicure or worn false nails. My GD thinks I'm weird. She wears artificial nails (gel I suppose) all the time and spends a fortune on them, but she's now noticed her natural nails are dry, flaking and splitting but she won't stop wearing them. My hairdresser fired a junior because she refused to shorten her nails and clients said she scratched them when washing their hair. I do wonder how people do everyday tasks with long nails!

Maggiemaybe Tue 28-Jun-22 14:14:06

Urmstongran

Got to thinking - I wonder how long I could actually grow them if I tried? Curious I googled some images. I definitely wouldn’t keep going this long. Bizarre.

I’ve told this tale before, but when I first tried soft contact lenses at Specsavers I froze at the thought of “nipping” them out (which I do every day now without a second thought). They sent for a receptionist who I swear they employed just for this purpose “to help me” - she had long pointy nails well over an inch long and as I saw them getting nearer to me I somehow found the courage to whip the lenses out myself!

kevincharley Tue 28-Jun-22 14:25:18

They're far from being talons, they're a nice length. Go for it!

Coco51 Tue 28-Jun-22 14:27:02

Mine split vertically so have no choice
sad

kittypaws49 Tue 28-Jun-22 14:28:26

Your nails look great and I don't see why you shouldn't have them whatever length you like , regardless of age. I saw a young woman on a fashion programme the other day who had the longest talons, obviously fake, that I've ever seen. Apart from the fact that they looked revolting, how would she ever perform the simplest task I cannot imagine. A step too far in that case,

Hetty58 Tue 28-Jun-22 14:29:43

Urmstongran, personally, I think old hands, with visible bones - and bulging veins - are unattractive. I wouldn't want to draw attention to them. My nails are kept short as I'm a gardener anyway.

karmalady Tue 28-Jun-22 14:31:41

personally, I like short nails and dislike talons on any age. I need short nails, I use my hands a lot for crafts and gardening