I am getting **** for my long girly nails

[ReineD]

I work at a retail store and I am starting to get funny looks and comments by customers and coworkers. My god they are just nails but people have such strong opinions about them. Sometimes I feel self conscious but mostly I dont give a shit any more. I love my girly nails very much and they help me to e press my fem self all day long in a really real and up front way. I keep then very clean and polish them twice a week.

Do any of you have any thoughts or experience with this?

My SO has finger nails your length, except hers are filed in the pointier style. She's not in retail plus she is middle aged, so the vast majority of people that we know who do notice, keep their opinions to themselves.

One of my friends once asked my SO, while a group of us were sitting together at a restaurant, if my SO played the guitar. It was obvious that she was trying to find out why my SO's fingernails were so long. My SO simply looked her straight in the eyes and said, "No". I do think that more people notice as you say, and maybe the more intuitive people put two and two together. But, no one can control this and if you like long fingernails and you don't mind the possibility of having people wonder, just enjoy your nails!

It's a trade-off and only you can determine what is most important to you. My SO's nails are more important to her than what people may or may not think and this is her prerogative.

[mikiSJ]

Wear them as long as you AND you boss think is appropriate. If your boss doesn't mind, then you simply need to get over the comments.

What kind of retail are you in: an auto parts store or a household goods store. I think the work environment should be taken into consideration.

[rita63]

I try to keep my nails longer but I work with food and the public health laws up here are fairly strict. Never any polish or fake nails and they better be clean and short. I work in a Health Care setting with mainly women and there is an element of anti male sexism in the place. Coming out trans would give the more vicious gossips a field day, including the male union president. A few years till retirement and then they will get as long as I want.

Blair as a former business owner I think my customers comments would have been the deciding factor, they pay the piper and call the tune.

hugs rita

[linda allen]

Your nails are very pretty, but suitable for a female. If they cause problems at work, you should keep them shorter. Don't wait for your boss to order you to cut your nails, if co-workers or customers are commenting, it's time to cut them.

Don't count on laws to protect you from having to cut your nails. If it gets to that point, your company will find another way to get rid of you or cause you to quit. Are they worth it? In the long run, probably not.

[Lyndaloves]

I worked in an enviroment that long nails were snapped or cracked regularly.
Now that I am retired they are growing out nicely unless I get stuck rebuilding a patio outside.
I keep mine in a rounded pointer style and when they do get long the SO is on my back about my girlie nails.
She knows of my CDing and has ordered me to stop, a year ago.
So I am back deep in the closet again.
As far as nail length goes no one would really care how long they are except,
the beautiful shiny pink polished look really draws attention to them.

Lynda

[Ressie]

Thank you all so much for all of the support and intelligent comments. Luckily I am the store owner so its my call. I love my natural nails so much. Everything I touch, especially when I type (50 wpm), is a constant reminder of who I really am. Having had 1/2 inch to 1 inch acrylics many times I would love to grow them even longer! Its thrilling. My question is how long is too long in boy mode?

Cool, you're your own boss, but what are you selling? It sounds like girly nails don't quite fit with the type of customers you have. I can see them fitting in well in some retail clothing stores, but if you sell power tools that's a different story. You probably don't want to turn your customers off if you're serious about your business. I think there a little long for boy mode myself.

[Aly Cat]

I think they are very pretty nails. I would say if it is becoming an issue for those around you and it is work related, take the white part down maybe half way and just keep them polished and clean. Clean polished nails are relatively common (at least here around Atlanta) on guys from what I have noticed. Even my manager gets his nails shaped and polished, though he keeps them relatively short. I can still see a hint of white where they just barely stick out from the tip of his fingers. This slightly shorter length is common even with GGs though. They just keep them polished with a clear coat or hint of pink and call it a day. So maybe do that? If it was anywhere else like in general public, id say screw what others think and do your nails the way you want; french manicure and all!

Edit: I just saw your post where you said you are the store owner. Screw what anyone else thinks! You're the boss!

[Cynthia99]

I think Lynn is right. I grew my nails out about that long a few months ago, and no one said anything. I rounded them a lot more and suspect they were not as noticeable due to that - although I did (And do) normally wear nail hardner/topcoat. Usually, its the matte one by Opi, but I do wear the shinier one - and no one has said anything. I do keep them shorter (Long nails make it difficult to play guitar, although some people grow their right hand out and use for fingerpicking style. And some guitarists have the acrylic nails on at least a couple of fingers of that hand.

[Vickie_CDTV]

Even in a state with gender expression laws, even in a non "right-to-work" state, if you boss doesn't like you for any reason your head can still end up on the chopping block. If a boss sees an employee as a liability, when it comes time to cut employees' hours (which many businesses are doing right now), or cut employees entirely, they will be at the head of the list.

If one is in an "at will" state, they can fire you for any reason at all. Even with gender expression laws, the day you are a minute late to work they can fire you. Unless they are dumb enough to tell you it is because of your expression, they can get away with saying anything.

If your employer objects to your nails, cut them and keep your job; better short nails and eating, than long nails and going hungry. I am not saying that is right, but that is just the way the world works sadly.

[Chickhe]

...you are the store, its your call. But, if you are asking what works without raising eyebrows? I think no shine and about 1/8th to 3/16th of an inch...which seems to pass either way. Works for me.

[natalialimapoa]

Theres a guy that owns a really macho hamburguer restaurant near my house. He has really feminine eyebrows that call everyones attention. Guess what? Nobody cares, everyone thinks he is gay and thats it. And he seems happy all the time.

[Bootsiegalore]

My question is how long is too long in boy mode?

Probably bitten off at the end of the finger! LOL!

R

[cdtraveler]

Have to agree the nails look good. I would love to grow mine out too bit have a spouse and young kids feelings to factor into the equation. Still my secret compromise is to manicure them to the nth degree keep them filed smooth and femshaped but just keep them short. I've done the same with a gradual :row reshaping. Makes me feel girly w/o jeopardizing job or family.

Amanda

[Jennifer in CO]

to answer your question - too long is when they get in your way. Mine are about the same length as yours and have been longer but I don't let them get past 1/4" anymore because past that they get in the way of typing, working on cars, etc.

[candydawn75]

Had a "friend" on Facebook that commented on long nails on guys saying how bad they looked. She is no longer a friend. I did however ask her if there was ever a time she let her legs or underarm hair grow when no one would notice!! ;p
Mine aren't as long as yours but they tend to break.

[Sometimes Steffi]

[QUOTE=BlairP;3279940]
My question is how long is too long in boy mode?
/QUOTE]

Sorry to tell you this, but they are twice as long as acceptable in boy mode, IMHO. That doesn't mean you should trim thrm, but that's not what you asked

[Rogina B]

I am very surprised at all the negativity..they are only fingernails and she is the boss! And they look great! All good!

[linda allen]

I am very surprised at all the negativity..they are only fingernails and she is the boss! And they look great! All good!

# 1, We didn't know she was the "boss" until later in the thread, not at the beginning.

# 2, When you're dealing with the public, everyone is your boss!

[Jenniferathome]

If you were my guy friend, I would give you shit too and I'm a cross dresser! It's what guys do

[DebbieL]

Keep in mind that when women give you a hard time about your long nails, it's usually envy. Men don't really care as long as you aren't making unsolicited advances at them. You say that you own the store. You get to decide.

When someone mentions them, just ASK - "Do you like them?" - you might be surprised at how much positive feedback you are getting.

[Rogina B]

I love the logic expressed about the customers!! We aren't sure what Blair does cause she hasn't told us..However,[in my best Phil Donahue voice] I'll say" You mean to sit there and tell us that if a guy needs a new muffler bearing[lol] to pass Cali inspection,he won't buy it from Blair cause her nails are too long and pretty? And Susy Homemaker doesn't want to buy a new vacuum cleaner from Blair because her nails are like her own? Let's just imagine what Blair's store could be selling for a minute..If it is food,there are codes to follow... I doubt that any customer [other than a member of the "hater's church"] would avoid purchasing because the seller or cashier's nails are longer and better groomed than their own.

[Ellie52]

Not sure if its been mentioned but just say you are learning (playing) the guitar and need long nails (look at Mark Knopflers) to fingerpick. I do play guitar and would use that excuse if anybody commented which they havent. It also gives you the excuse to varnish them as you can say its nail strengthener...Hope this helps...Ellie

[Jenniferathome]

Not sure if its been mentioned but just say you are learning (playing) the guitar and need long nails ...

but that is only on ONE hand. The other has to be short. And of course, if someone asked you to play something, you might give yourself away if you instead pulled out a tuba becuase you can't play the guitar.

[sandra-leigh]

Learn to pluck the strings using each of the hands. Ambiguitarist :-)

(I am pre-beginner on guitar, but when I do some minor experiments with it, some days it feels better in one arm, and some days it feels better in the other.)

[Ellie52]

but that is only on ONE hand. The other has to be short. And of course, if someone asked you to play something, you might give yourself away if you instead pulled out a tuba becuase you can't play the guitar.

Check out Australian shred guitarist Orianthi. She has long nails and plays guitar, granted they are a bit shorter on her left hand but beggers cant be choosers. Ellie