Should Parents Permit a Young Teenager to Wear Artificial Nails?

It's just another sign your little girl is growing up. Sometime during seventh or eighth grade every young lady will want to begin experimenting with make-up and other beauty aids which she feels will enhance her attractiveness and make her look older.

One of the duties inherent in parenthood is the setting of limits. The parents must come to an agreement, in private, as soon as the issue arises, as to which of these enhancements they will allow, at what age and on which special occasions. If the teen senses any disagreement between the adults, she may try the "divide and conquer" technique in an attempt to get her own way.

Artificial fingernails are definitely unsuitable for young teenagers for several reasons. Among the most prevalent are:

(a) They are unnecessary. Healthy girls receiving adequate nutrition can grow beautiful nails naturally. The emphasis during the early teen years should be on learning to care for their own nails properly. An attractive manicure kit that comes with instructions, would make a terrific birthday or Christmas gift for a young lady in this age group.

(b) False fingernails are impractical. Girls this age are often involved in team sports. False nails could cause them to fumble or drop the ball during an important game. Even during normal Physical Education or Art classes the nails could be marked, split or broken.

It is not unheard of for girls this age to get into a vigorous tussle with a sibling occasionally. The acrylic nails can inflict a nasty gash which she may later regret, if only for the follow-up disciplinary measures she incurs.

(c) They are expensive. The initial application usually exceeds $50.00 and a biweekly maintenance appointment is recommended. Parents of teenage girls usually have more pressing demands on their bank accounts.

(d). There is danger of infection. If the technician's tools or hands are not clean, and the skin is broken during application or wear, bacteria may enter the body. If water seeps in between the false nail and real one, infection can result. It's not worth the risk for a young teen, who may be careless with cleanliness routines.

(e) False nails are hard to remove. The recommended procedure is to soak the hands and nails in a nail polish remover containing acetone or in pure acetone itself. This substance is a highly volatile, flammable, and moderately toxic solvent, not the type of material a young teen should be handling.

This is one of the times when parents are called upon to be parents, not their child's best friends. They should say "No!" to false fingernails for their young teen and stick to it. They may wish to compromise with a coat of pale nail-polish on well-kept natural nails at the beginning of high school, but that's as far as it should go.

False fingernails for a young teenager should be out of the question for at least the next five years.