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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 ...
?

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.

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.

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.

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!

Katek Mon 27-Jun-22 22:49:05

I have my nails done with gel polish every 2/3 weeks, it’s my treat. I’ve been with same nail tech for 11 years and I fully intend to keep going!

Urmstongran Mon 27-Jun-22 22:47:23

A good idea Calli I’ll suggest it. But I expect (like me) she’d need to be so bluddy focused on the knitting she’d not see any of her tv programme! Knit one, purl one, drop one ...

Callistemon21 Mon 27-Jun-22 22:39:30

whilst watching television (her worst attacking time, gnawing away )
Has she tried taking up knitting or crochet? It keeps fingers occupied whilst watching tv

Urmstongran Mon 27-Jun-22 22:36:10

Biting nails seems a weird concept doesn’t it? My sister (mid 60’s) still bites hers. She has tried ‘Stop n Grow’, wearing cotton gloves whilst watching television (her worst attacking time, gnawing away). All to no avail. She says it’s a compulsion. If she has a bit of nail she has to bite it (and swallow it). Fancy eating yourself! I don’t get it but there it is.

Callistemon21 Mon 27-Jun-22 22:31:41

I knew someone who bit her nails all her life until she was in her 60s and decided she must stop. When they grew they were the toughest fingernails I've ever seen.

Urmstongran Mon 27-Jun-22 22:29:14

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.

Callistemon21 Mon 27-Jun-22 22:11:53

Thank you

Chewbacca Mon 27-Jun-22 22:08:13

Just had a look at QVC Callistemon and they do quite a few nice colours in Nail Envy now, not just clear/pale pink. 2 bottles £28 and they last forever.

Callistemon21 Mon 27-Jun-22 22:03:04

Chewbacca

I used to have very weak, brittle nails but they improved a lot after using OPI Nail Envy. Clear or pale pink and looks just like any other nail polish. It makes them as hard as..... erm....nails! QVC usually have it on offer.

I must try that Chewbacca, thanks

Callistemon21 Mon 27-Jun-22 22:02:04

Shame we can’t do some sort of deal, and both end up with above average hair and above average nails, isn’t it? Though I’d trade my nails for good hair any day of the week grin

I wouldn't say it's good hair, Maggiemaybe
It misbehaves and needs taming!

Thistlelass Mon 27-Jun-22 21:49:37

I have my finger and toenails done every fortnight. I don't like them overly long. But oh I do like some bright colours etc smile

Chewbacca Mon 27-Jun-22 21:47:19

I used to have very weak, brittle nails but they improved a lot after using OPI Nail Envy. Clear or pale pink and looks just like any other nail polish. It makes them as hard as..... erm....nails! QVC usually have it on offer.

Urmstongran Mon 27-Jun-22 21:31:04

Definitely MaggieMaybe I’d trade good nails for fabulous hair any day of the week.

nandad Mon 27-Jun-22 21:24:52

Urms, and all of you who have shown us your nails, they all look fantastic and they make you happy, so keep growing and painting them.
I have been blessed with long fingers and my nails are strong and grow quickly. I used to paint them all of the time, less so now because I’ve become lazy! I developed vitiligo 8 years ago on my hands and in the summer it shows up quite a bit, but I still paint my nails because that’s what I like and to heck with those who think my hands look ugly.

Maggiemaybe Mon 27-Jun-22 21:11:43

Callistemon21

^Strangely, I have incredibly strong nails and incredibly weak hair, no idea what that’s about^
I have fine but strong, thick hair and weak nails!

Shame we can’t do some sort of deal, and both end up with above average hair and above average nails, isn’t it? Though I’d trade my nails for good hair any day of the week. grin

Urmstongran, I’m wracked with hair envy when I see a photo of someone like Esther McVey!

Sago Mon 27-Jun-22 21:09:50

Urmstongran They look lovely.

Jaxjacky Mon 27-Jun-22 21:02:21

Definitely Urms they look lovely.

lixy Mon 27-Jun-22 20:43:06

Lovely nails! Hope you are happy with the gels if you do decide to go for it.

My Great aunt used to eat half a cube of raw jelly (strawberry flavour I think!) saying that it kept her nails strong. She did have beautiful nails but I have no idea whether the jelly had anything to do with it.

Callistemon21 Mon 27-Jun-22 20:32:27

Any tips from those with lovely nails?

Do you use cuticle cream, handcream, go to a professional manicurist, what polish do you use?

J52 Mon 27-Jun-22 20:30:50

Spinnaker your nails are lovely, they look the perfect shape to me.

Callistemon21 Mon 27-Jun-22 20:30:21

Yours look lovely too, Spinnaker