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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 ...
?

Germanshepherdsmum Fri 03-May-24 13:20:07

I prefer the ‘squoval’ style too. It’s much more modern and, imo, attractive.

TiggyW Fri 03-May-24 13:07:10

I would go for the ‘squoval’ option with gel nails - they’re more modern, more practical and don’t look like talons. 😎

Gundy Fri 03-May-24 06:27:11

I thought this was going to be about those long, FAKE nails that look like claws. Those are gross!

But your picture shows you have beautiful strong nails. I like the length they are at. In one month they’ll be quite long.

Personally, for an older woman, I don’t like to draw attention to my hands (veins, wrinkles, dark spots) so I go reasonable length - so I can work and do things - no polish except for certain occasions, vacation. Keep in mind that long nails are more unsanitary. People don’t think of that.

Fudgemonkey Fri 03-May-24 00:01:52

Looks fab to me do what makes you happy 😊

ileea Thu 02-May-24 19:11:44

I like longish nails. I go in every 4-5 weeks to have mine done. I'm 65 and like the way they look. I don't expect to stop having long nails anytime soon.

Musicgirl Wed 01-May-24 22:50:20

As a musician, I have never liked long nails as I cannot play my instruments properly otherwise. I don't like really long nails on anyone, old or young, however I quite like the polished, shiny nail with a carefully drawn on white tip, around half a centimetre long. You have good nails so enjoy them.

Dowsabella Wed 01-May-24 21:09:33

Go for it!! I'm really envious as I've never been able to grow mine long as for some reason it hurts!! I can't wear any nail polish either, or even get my nails buffed, for the same reason, and I (used to) have lovely long slim fingers. Gold polish sounds fabulous, and you have beautiful hands.

SheWho Wed 01-May-24 20:20:28

I can't bear my nails so long that they tap on my keyboard keys, but I must say that in general, elderly ladies' hands are so much nicer looking - with long or short nails - than the young girls with their handful of "sausages", and how can they do any kind of job with nails like that?

Corkie91 Wed 01-May-24 19:51:00

Love long nails with polish Yours look great What has age got to do with it

Chaze58 Wed 01-May-24 18:54:40

I think your nails are lovely. I always wear nail polish and I work with my hands all day. I don’t have them as long as I used. I really don’t like short ‘sensible’ nails. Longer ones are much more feminine. Just my opinion

4allweknow Wed 01-May-24 18:41:10

I just can't figure how people manage every day tasks with talon nails. I like to see well manicured, polished nails no longer than edge of finger no matter what age.

Sueki44 Wed 01-May-24 17:42:23

My nails are just natural, but fairly long. I think that they are elegant!

ChickenAnnie Wed 01-May-24 17:34:09

i think your nails look great. Do what makes you feel happy.

Callistemon21 Wed 01-May-24 17:28:56

Any tips on stopping fingernails breaking, splitting and peeling?

I eat a good diet, take vitamins (not every day) and use a good hand cream.

Jean1010 Wed 01-May-24 15:24:08

Please beware of gel polish, if you have strong natural nails just look after them and use polish that will not ruin them. I made this mistake when I had my last mani/ pedi before going on holiday in January.
I was at a new salon and was distracted by talking to another customer, before I realised it my nail surfaces were all filed and gel was being applied instead of vynalux which my previous salon uses.
My nails looked great on holidays but since some have split vertically and large pieces have broken off the sides of most of them because they are so brittle.
It’s my own fault entirely but I do regret having them done.
Gel polish is great on toes but I will never have my finger nails done with gel again.

HeavenLeigh Wed 01-May-24 15:07:17

Love my long natural nails they are in good condition I’m nearer 70 than 60 and never care what anyone else thinks 🤣

polly123 Wed 01-May-24 15:04:37

Definitely keep them, they look great.

Ijustwantpeace2020 Wed 01-May-24 15:04:07

These are mine. I’ve just had them done. I find the gel has stopped them from splitting (due to ongoing chemo). Love having nice nails and I’m almost 70.

knspol Wed 01-May-24 14:27:27

I think they're absolutely fine as they are, strong and long!
I have nails the same sort of length and have gel on them every other visit to the salon with an ordinary manicure inbetween. I do find that gel removal affects the nail strength and so like to give them a chance to recuperate.

hamster58 Wed 01-May-24 14:10:58

I think they look beautiful. The only thing to consider if you have them just repainted is that in another month, you might find them a bit too long for your own comfort, so perhaps a tiny bit off now would be a good idea

Marydoll Wed 01-May-24 14:09:10

Pantglas2

Gosh, Urms I’d give my right arm (? IYKWIM) for those - mine are so rubbish and nothing I eat/ supplement/paint seems to work! Grrr?

Snap!

GrammaH Wed 01-May-24 13:55:14

My great friend has really long false nails put on, always painted vibrantly. I'm torn between disliking them intensely & being secretly envious she's got the guts to have them done! I'm debating whether to get some slightly less blatant ones myself as my nails don't grow very well.

RosesandLilac Wed 01-May-24 13:41:49

I prefer short nails, I was a nurse for many years and never had longer nails. I find my nails are quite weak, they reacted badly to gel nails and BIAB so I stick to buffing them and occasionally wear polish.

Bonneygran Wed 01-May-24 13:18:39

Urmstongran, your hand and nails look beautiful; I’m very envious!

Mojack26 Wed 01-May-24 13:15:05

My mum had beautiful long nails, not ridiculously long.. a little like yours, maybe slightly shorter till she died age 88. Beautiful oval nails which everyone admired always well manicured. Nothing wrong with it. My eldest daughter has same type nails, pity it missed me! 🤣 Go for it...