What would you say?

[Elizabeth Anne]

Hello, ladies,

I have had my nails long for several years. They are somewhat longer now since I started doing acrylic & now gel overlays. I never, up until just a few weeks ago, have had anyone comment about them. Nothing bad said, just "my you have long nails". It has come from strangers (females) & one person that works where I do (male). I had to come up with something quick to reply back, so I have said to everyone that has commented that I use them in my work & also I do alot of typing in my work so they come in handy for that. This is beginning to bother me, but I sure don't want to cut them short. I pride myself in taking care with them not to break or damage.

Has this ever happened to any of you & how did you handle it?

Hugs,

Beth

[Jillian310]

Working as an executive for @ 30 years, I kept my nails impeccable by regular manicures. But I had one nasty problem. They would chip with ugly v shaped chips. To combat that, I now get them acrylic. They are longish, but not fem length, yet longer than one might expect to see on a man's hands. I always keep clear polish on them. Over the years I have had many nice compliments on my nails from GGs who said they like a man that is well groomed, and having nice nails was very attractive to them. And the flip side is that they make Jillian's hands look so nice too! BTW, the nails are now so hard because of the acrylic that I haven't chipped a single one since I started using that method.

[Denise01]

I too have long nails, but not as long as I would like.
Due to my job, i often break one, then it takes a while to have it grow back out.
I have had a couple of people comment on my nail length, but i just kind of ignored it, and changed the subject.

Couple of weeks ago i was at a TG function for the whole weekennd. Was wearing a clear acrylic nail polish and one of the girls I was having breakfast with, commented,as to the length and how good they looked.

Naturally i thanked them for the compliment, and if any gg makes a comment as to how good they look, I just say thank you and do't say anything more

Denise

[LucyTwitch]

Hi

I would not let it bother you, they are your nails. I go through period when I grow them and then cut them.

Love
Lucy

[~Dee~]

since i was a wee little child, ive had long nails.
all my keyboards tend to lose their lettering quite quickly, cause i dont so much as type as i scratch the keys :happy:

i had to have long nails because of how my hands are .. they help me do things and manipulate objects a lot better .. oh and type too.

ive had guys give me a hard time about them .. i remember telling one guy that they were really really useful .. "how?" .. well they are great for poking in peoples eyes when they give me a hard time about my nails. :D
but mostly i just have gg's come and ask how i could possibly get them so long.
in the workshop now i still get girls coming over and asking me how i manage to not break my nails ..

for the most part ive never seen the need to say anything more than "i prefer keeping long nails, why?"
afterall .. they are your nails .. and its your body .. so if people give you a hard time about it, how stupid are they going to look?
its the same as if someone wanted to keep their hair long.

if you really want to stop any further questioning, though, you could always go with something like "you must of been staring at me pretty hard to notice my nails.... is there something youd like to tell me?.. no!, wait! .. dont tell me, i dont want to know" and just use that as an excuse to quickly walk away
:D

[~Dee~]

bwahaha
:D
too slow chicken merango.
:P

[JamieTG]

Hi Elizabeth. I get comments on my nails all the time. Occassionally a guy will say something and I just say I like them long. However most of the time its women that comment and its always a compliment on how nice they look. Many times women will ask me my secret on how I keep them so long without breaking and I enjoy talking with them about it. At first I was a little self conscious but now I like to show them off. When someone comments just say that you like having nice nails and don't worry about what they might think.
Jamie

[Bev06 GG]

Hi Elizabeth.
If its bothering you tell them that you make models. Long nails are great for picking up and manouvering tricky little peices with glue on them. Typing isn't really that believable as most typists can't type properly with long nails.
My partner was sussed not so long ago by a beautician who he calls on to collect her insurance premiums, and it was his nails that gave him away. Not that he was particularly bothered.
BEVxxxx

[Penny]

Hi Elizabeth. I get comments on my nails all the time. Occassionally a guy will say something and I just say I like them long. However most of the time its women that comment and its always a compliment on how nice they look. Many times women will ask me my secret on how I keep them so long without breaking and I enjoy talking with them about it. At first I was a little self conscious but now I like to show them off. When someone comments just say that you like having nice nails and don't worry about what they might think.
Jamie
My nails closely resemble Jamie's. I have had comments on how pretty they look by both men and women. I say thanks! Ocassionally someone will comment on how long they are. I'm never quite sure how to take it so my simple sullution is to ask. "How do you mean?" People do not like to explain themselves but by some chance I should encouter someone who happens to think a guy shouldn't have long nails(I have not yet), my comeback would be to ask more questions like "and?" or "and you arrived at this conclusion how?". The point is that I really don't have to justify anything about my appearance to anybody and neither do you! We can however be held accountable for what we say.

[Tracy_Victoria]

I think there is a line between practical and fantasy. yep it nice to have lovely long nails, but as we all know not every female has or even bothers with there nails. Some even Chew them, so I don't see the need to grow mine for my own as a part of my dressing dispite having worn false nails before.

Saying that I have very small hands, my 11 year old sons hands are nearly the same size as mine, so using rings and due to the size, this helps me.

I think if you have really long, and girly nails, people will question it, and to be honest I don't think there is a real answer to cover it. certainly if they look very fem. most things you can divert peoples attention, but in this case the only thing you can say, "is I like them like this" but I don't think it will stop them guessing you motive!

good Luck

[nibel]

I don't like long nails myself (even in a woman I mean), but I know the perfect excuse for having long nails... just say "that is because I play guitar". Some people let their nails grow so they don't need a pallete to play. Of course that would be nice to *really* know how to play before using this excuse. :P

[Clare]

I have reasonable success at growing my nails, but I really need to have a professional shape them for me. My efforts aren't always that great! I tend to round the tips of my nails, but I notice many have the square tip look though. What's the better shape as far as nail life is concerned, rather than looks?

The downside is that my nails are brittle and often split even though I use several nail care products to strengthen my nails.

[DanaJ]

Hi, I've had gels and now fiberglass on my nails for 2 years now. They usually have about 1/4 inch of free edge to them too, The way I handle it when someone makes a negative comment is to first act like I didn't notice. "Oh, yeah I guess they are - maybe I will clip them later". The second one is better, you turn it arounf on them. You ask them "When did you last get a haircut?" or "I hate to tell you this, but that ties is seriously ugly". They will then worry about their own appearance, and you will be forgotten :)

And Bev - as a model builder and nail fan, I hope whoever you tell that story to isn't a model builder. Having longer nails makes building models near impossible ;) Hell, I can hardly even pick up coins or small objects anymore LOL

Clare - oval is the worst shape for nail strength, square or "squoval" (swuare with rounder edges) is the best...

I have several photo step-by-step threads showing artificial nails being applied and removed in the Beauty Club if anyone is interested ;)

[Elizabeth Anne]

Thanks, ladies, for all your replies. Sorry to be so long getting back with you.
I have been quiet busy the last few days.
My nails are the same length as Jamies but are "natural" except for the dull shine from the gel overlays. I actually have my nail tech buff off some of the shine when she does a fill-in.
You have made me feel much better about this issue & I am going to try to be more firm with any comments I might recieve in the future.

Hugs to all & again, thanks.

Beth

[nancy58]

Hmmm. This discussion may have put me onto a solution to a problem I have: Even though I keep my nails pretty short, I am always breaking them. Maybe I *need* to use a polish after all, just to protect them. :)