# Getting your nails done **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 26, 2006, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001 "2006-10-26T17:06:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001/21 "2006-10-26T19:41:30Z")
1. Do you keep your nails painted? Nope. It just makes me pick at them, and pretty soon start biting. 1a. What colour, usually? Back in the days when I did, I liked white or very pale colors. 1. Do you do them yourself or have them done for you? I file and clip 'em all by myself. 2. How much does it cost you in your area? Don’t know 3. Natural or artificial/overlay nails? Natural, and fortunately they’re long and strong. I find the less I mess with them, the better! ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001/22 "2006-10-26T19:47:11Z")
I always keep my toes done, but not professionally. I just slap some color on there and don’t look too closely, but then, I’m not much of a sandal-wearer. I did have acrylics once upon a time, and used to get fills every two or three weeks. Even if I’m not working with my hands, I can’t keep polish on my natural nails for more than a day, but it stays on the fake ones almost indefinitely. I always kept them short, because even if I wasn’t plumbing, I still did a lot of rough outside stuff with them. If I have to change jobs, I may go back to the fake nails again as a consolation prize. Looking at that OPI site really gives me the jones to take it up again. ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001/23 "2006-10-26T19:47:18Z")
My nails are nothing but a trauma to me… 1. Do you keep your nails painted? - no, just when they’ve grown a decent length and I can be bothered with it 1a. What colour, usually? - various shades of purple, occasionally black. I’m an ElderGoth, y’know. 1. Do you do them yourself or have them done for you? - mostly I do them myself, have had them done properly a few times but that’s more forward planning than I need in my life. 2. How much does it cost you in your area? - I can get a manicure for £14.45 or a French maniculre for £16.75 (or £21.35 if I want heated mittens, and who wouldn’t?). A basic file and polish goes from £7.25 upwards. Pedicure will cost me £17.85 or £20.15 with heated booties (should that scare me?) 3. Natural or artificial/overlay nails? - natural, never tried the others I am, however, off for a delicate bit of waxing on Saturday morning. I may be back later to share my pain. ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001/24 "2006-10-26T19:48:47Z")
[QUOTE=GingerOfTheNorth] Okay, so I will admit to a few girly-girl habits. First is having my eyebrows threaded and dyed - this is a necessity for me as I don’t wear makeup often, and my natural brows are unruly white-blonde monstrosities which look ridiculous with my red hair and only serve to make me look devoid of all colouring in my face. Secondly, I keep my toenails polished all the time, and occasionally have my fingernails polished a very pale neutral colour. I don’t use acrylics or anything, just my natural nails. I usually go about every two weeks to have a polish change done on my toes, with a pedicure every six weeks to two months or so; manicure once a month or so. They always do such a nice job of it, it looks better than anything I could possibly do, and it’s cheap. A polish change is around $7 around here for toes, $5 for fingers. A pedicure is $18, manicure $10. Today, however, I decided that I want the colour re-done NOW NOW NOW. As the husband had to go work, I am at home with the baby. I’m doing my own toes at the moment. It’s ridiculous. I’m 35 years old and I’ve damned near forgotten how to paint my own nails. I have sitting on my desk, currently: Nail polish remover cotton balls orange stick base coat (OPI Nail Envy) Nail polish (One slut red for my toes, one baby pink for my fingers) Super-dry top coat One might expect that I’m armed for a week away. No, just five minutes and one polish change. And it looks lousy. I think I’m gonna get a pro to do 'em later. Stupid girly girl. My questions: 1. Do you keep your nails painted? 1a. What colour, usually? 2. Do you do them yourself or have them done for you? 3. How much does it cost you in your area? 4. Natural or artificial/overlay nails? 4a. If artificial, how long have you had them on? 4b. How often do you have a fill done? Thanks, ladies (and gentlemen, if you have manicures and pedicures). [/QUOTE] 1. Yes. 1a. Usually a self-administered (and very nice done, I might add) French manicure using Essie’s “Marshmallow” for the tips & “Delicacy” for the nail bed. It’s a very natural look. 2. I do them myself, generally; in sandal months, I have my pedicures done for me. 3. I can get a manicure/pedicure for $30 (including tip) - NW NJ. 4. Natural - average length. I had acrylics in the past - they _murder_ your natural nails. And too many women in this area wear them Dragon-lady length (shudder) 4a. N/A 4b. N/A VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![mlerose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@mlerose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlerose)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001/25 "2006-10-26T19:51:06Z")
1. Yes, my toes are always painted. Fingernails, almost never. My fingernails peel and break and never grow evenly long enough to bother (they have to grow quite a bit to reach the tips of my fingers; the nail bed starts pretty low on my fingers). 1a. Varies depending on mood and season and outfit. I’ll wear reds, purples, greens, peaches, blues, sparklies (silver/gold). I won’t wear black and rarely wear pink. 2. Just me 3. No idea, I’ve never had my nails done. 4. Natural ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001/26 "2006-10-26T19:58:19Z")
1. Do you keep your nails painted? Sometimes, depending on my mood and how badly I don’t want them to break. 1a. What colour, usually? Whatever’s handy, which is my case is often metallic blue, or failing that clear (I don’t keep much enamel anymore, and I try to avoid the sparkly kinds because they’re a PITA to remove) 1. Do you do them yourself or have them done for you? Myself. I never had them done for me except as a kid or for prom, in both cases by my mother. 1. How much does it cost you in your area? No clue, I should go find out. 1. Natural or artificial/overlay nails? Natural. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001/27 "2006-10-26T20:09:16Z")
**Do you keep your nails painted?** Yes, transparent nailhardener and transparent topcoat. That way they need less upkeep. **Do you do them yourself or have them done for you?** Fingers I do myself, always. Toenails I have painted when I get a pedicure, three times a year or so; two during SandalSeason, and one when I’ve mistreated my toenails particularly bad and they are painfully short. \*\*How much does it cost you in your area?\*\*A pedicure with a fake acrylic nail on both my big toes costs me 48 dollars. Tipping is unusual in the Netherlands. \*\*Natural or artificial/overlay nails?\*\*All natural, but acryl on my toenail to help them grow back. **If artificial, how long have you had them on?** usually 3 weeks or so, untill my toenails are presentable again. Then I pull the acryl off and polish my own big-toe-nail, and it stays pretty till I start mistreating it again. \*\*How often do you have a fill done?\*\*So, never. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001/28 "2006-10-26T20:10:00Z")
1. Do you keep your nails painted?- sometimes. When I feel like it. 1a. What colour, usually?- Black or purple. Sometimes crimson. I’m also slightly-goth. 1. Do you do them yourself or have them done for you?- Do them myself 2. How much does it cost you in your area?- No clue. 3. Natural or artificial/overlay nails?- Natural. 4a. If artificial, how long have you had them on? N/A 4b. How often do you have a fill done? N/A ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001/29 "2006-10-26T20:16:42Z")
[QUOTE=GingerOfTheNorth] ..having my eyebrows threaded.. [/QUOTE] What is “threading eyebrows”? I’ve never heard of it before. Google suggests it is a method of unwanted hair removal, like plucking or waxing. Can someone tell me more? ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001/30 "2006-10-26T20:16:48Z")
[QUOTE=GingerOfTheNorth] 1. Do you keep your nails painted? 1a. What colour, usually? 2. Do you do them yourself or have them done for you? 3. How much does it cost you in your area? 4. Natural or artificial/overlay nails? 4a. If artificial, how long have you had them on? 4b. How often do you have a fill done? [/QUOTE] 1. About half the time - the grow better and are stronger when I leave them alone, but I love the way they look painted 1a. Any range of colors I can get away with at work - lighter in the summer and deeper in the winter though, usually. OPI polished last the longest. 1. I do them myself - I don’t get that pampered feeling from manicures some people get. I just get bored and I can do them just as well myself, plus I can read or watch movies 2. About $15 for a regular manicure, around $40 for a full set 3. Natural - I’ve had acrylic, but they are too much work to keep up with, and my nails grow fine on their own I really dislike pedicures - I’m very, very ticklish so it’s not an enjoyable experience at all. I will do them myself at home though, because I like having nice feet. My toenails are almost always painted, usually something brigher & funkier than my fingernails. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001/31 "2006-10-26T20:31:19Z")
[QUOTE=Maastricht] What is “threading eyebrows”? I’ve never heard of it before. Google suggests it is a method of unwanted hair removal, like plucking or waxing. Can someone tell me more? [/QUOTE] See my post #20 in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001/32 "2006-10-26T20:51:04Z")
[QUOTE=Jayn\_Newell] I try to avoid the sparkly kinds because they’re a PITA to remove [/QUOTE] Preach it! I have a bottle of Maybelline [Wet Shine Diamonds](http://www.maybelline.com/products/productDetail.aspx?prodid=41), I think Sparkling Champagne (but it might be Sparkling Sand). The sparkle effect is subtle, and I love the way it looks on my toes during sandal season – it even looks kinda neat on my fingers – but it’s such a pain to take off that I hardly ever bother with it. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001/33 "2006-10-26T21:17:18Z")
I am rather vain about my hands, I confess. I have small hands but long nails, which I think look nice. 1. Do you keep your nails painted? Up until quite recently, yes. When I had a job, I got my nails done every two weeks at the least (usually a color change once a week, then a manicure every other week). During the summer, I got a pedicure once every three-four weeks. Now that I’m a poor grad student, I do them myself, maybe once a month. I tried trimming my cuticles while watching TV yesterday. Big mistake. Lots of bloodshed was involved. 1a. What colour, usually? Anything that stands out, although I stayed away from really bright colors (like lime green, for example). 1. Do you do them yourself or have them done for you? See above. 2. How much does it cost you in your area? In Seoul it was 15 dollars for a full manicure and 50 for a full pedicure. 3. Natural or artificial/overlay nails? Natural. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001/34 "2006-10-26T22:15:58Z")
Okay, so I gave in. I went to my usual girl, she looked at my toenails and LAUGHED. I still tipped her $8 on a $12 job. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001/35 "2006-10-26T22:27:54Z")
[QUOTE=GingerOfTheNorth] Okay, so I gave in. I went to my usual girl, she looked at my toenails and LAUGHED. [/QUOTE] This reminds me of a funny story - I used to date a guy that was a toe sucker, foot guy - not a full on fetish, but liked feet. He thought it would be really erotic to polish my toenails. Being a sport, I agreed. He made the biggest friggin’ mess I’ve ever seen. Seriously - I was like “Dude - didn’t you have models and shit when you were young?!?” He did, but I guess the foot action distracted him and made his hands shake. 🙂 goof ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001/36 "2006-10-26T22:37:10Z")
1. Do you keep your nails painted? Not as a rule. I have to write (with a pen/pencil) a lot for work, then transfer all of that on to the computer. This is just an excuse for the fact that I’m really lazy and also my nails don’t grow very well and often break. 1a. What colour, usually? When they are done I usually have them in some dark reds or purples. 1. Do you do them yourself or have them done for you? Done 2. How much does it cost you in your area? Cheap. It’s L.A. and I don’t even go to the really cheap ones. 3. Natural or artificial/overlay nails? Natural. I tried the artificial and a) they looked kinda ho-like and b) ruined my nailbed underneath when I had them taken off. It took some months for them to strengthen and recover. 4a. If artificial, how long have you had them on? I had mine on for 1 month. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001/37 "2006-10-26T22:42:51Z")
1. Do you keep your nails painted? Fingers never since they break less unpainted. Instead I just keep them clean and was once asked if I had a french manicure, heh. Toenails get painted far more often, but I’m giving them a rest after having them painted all summer. 1a. What colour, usually? Often colors I won’t wear for clothes, purples, berry colors, aqua etc. I figure my feet are far enough away from my hair not to worry about clashing. 1. Do you do them yourself or have them done for you? I can’t imagine paying someone to touch my feet. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2006, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001/38 "2006-10-27T00:47:56Z")
_1. Do you keep your nails painted?_ My fingernails, yes. Toenails… it depends. I’m more vigilant in the summer when they’ll actually show. _1a. What colour, usually?_ I have over 200 bottles of nail polish; I work at a credit union so I’m limited in my choices; generally I do reds, pinks (from baby pink to hot neon sometimes, heh), beiges, plums, browns, etc. If I wasn’t limited by my job, I’d use all my colors (metallic forest green, cerulean blue, etc). _2. Do you do them yourself or have them done for you?_ I always do them myself. _3. How much does it cost you in your area?_ Since I do them myself, I only have a vague knowledge of about $25-35 for a set of nails and probably $15(?) for a fill. I think it’s more if you want silk wraps or whatever instead of acrylic. _4. Natural or artificial/overlay nails?_ Only natural. My nails are rather short to me right now, but they’re still where I can tap them (or if I hold my hand in front of my face, palm-side in, I can see a decent (aka not a tiny sliver) of nail). [http://winstonlf.com/hotaru/me/nails.jpg](http://winstonlf.com/hotaru/me/nails.jpg) That’s a pic of my nails when I think they were relatively, but not really, short. Home-done french manicure with freehanded tips (my nails are a touch more rounded there than I usually like). Note that’s my right hand and I’m right handed. I have my technique for polish down PAT. Unless something goes wrong, my polish will last until I get bored with the color. That’s generally a week, but I’ve had my polish go as long as 3 weeks just to see if it could (no chips). My polish lasts through typing all day, using a big ol’ calculator, and it lasted back when I worked at a garage and did oil changes, too. The ladies that come to my credit union love my nails; I get at least one compliment a day on them. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2006, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001/39 "2006-10-27T00:54:18Z")
> [@](#): > > Whatever’s handy, which is my case is often metallic blue, or failing that clear (I don’t keep much enamel anymore, and I try to avoid the sparkly kinds because they’re a PITA to remove) I use the sparkly kind when I NEED the manicure to last a full week. PITA to remove, but also stays on. Something sparkly and fairly neutral. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2006, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001/40 "2006-10-27T02:34:06Z")
[QUOTE=zweisamkeit] [http://winstonlf.com/hotaru/me/nails.jpg](http://winstonlf.com/hotaru/me/nails.jpg) That’s a pic of my nails when I think they were relatively, but not really, short. Home-done french manicure with freehanded tips (my nails are a touch more rounded there than I usually like). Note that’s my right hand and I’m right handed. [/QUOTE] That’s about what my natural nails look like. The white of my nails is VERY white and they grow very long and strong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-nails-done/378001.md?page=3)