I had my first manicure at 28 for my wedding. Now in my 40s and have had a handful of manicure and pedicures in my life. I see them as a special treat, and prefer to do my own nails. I keep them neat with no polish, but like to polish my toenails as I think it makes my feet look better.

Really like the pedicures, but I am afraid of the germs in the vibrating foot baths. It just makes sense to learn how to take care of your own body and save some money at the same time. It feels like a treat to me, even when I do it. I also don't care what anyone thinks, especially people who will look at my nails and judge me.

But, it's nice to have them done once in a while to have a special treat.

Exactly once, for my wedding.
I don't use nail polish on my hands, due to the nature of my job. I keep my fingernails short and clean. Ditto for toenails, but they get a coat of polish.
And I don't care what anyone thinks.

Anonymous wrote:To the people who think their nails look just as good if they do it themselves...no, they don't. They may look ok, but not quite as good.

Agreed. I even buy OPI and do my cuticles and am really good at painting but for whatever reason it really does never look as good.

Anonymous wrote:I mean, by professionals?

I've always kept my nails trimmed myself, and never felt the need to go and get them done by a professional. I didn't like the idea of someone else touching my feet and wasn't willing to pay the price.

I passed by a nail salon, and suddenly felt interested. Ended up getting just a pedicure, and it was actually enjoyable...if not awkward for me at first.

The nail technician was shocked I had never had a pedicure before "at my age" (I'm 26).

I know many women who get them done weekly, but it didn't seem that common.

A random and pointless poll, but I'm curious.

Only once! For my wedding. I can't stand people touching my feet or my hands. I know, I am weird

Anonymous wrote:To the people who think their nails look just as good if they do it themselves...no, they don't. They may look ok, but not quite as good.

I hate salon-done nails - they look common and fake. I love beautiful natural nails. Never forget that others have different tastes and values, PP.

I used to get regular manicures. I've learned to do a pretty good job on my hands, so there just isn't really a reason to go anymore. I'll go with a friend or if someone gives me a gift certificate. I don't dislike getting my nails done.

I would NEVER get a pedicure. No way am I putting my feet in that foot bath. Or letting a nail tech near my feet with sharp tools. I've just seen and heard too many horror stories. Just in the last year, I've had two friends who got horrible infections from supposedly clean, really upscale nail salons. Both of them ended up losing the nail.

42. Never. I waste enough time getting my hair done, I don't love having strangers touch me, and it just seems kind of dirty (weird infection dirty, not sexual dirty).

I have never had a manicure. I had a pedicure once as part of a girls day out. I am in my early 30's.

I'm hard on my nails - doing my own house cleaning, yard maintenance, hauling items around the house, etc. I can wreck a manicure in the blink of an eye and without much effort. So that is probably why I tend to do my own nails (when they do get done). Overall, I do like getting professional manicures because they are time consuming, they are messy (filing, polish) and the coats tend to be more even when a professional does it.

I am 46. I have never had this done by a professional. I do my own nails.

I can count on one hand how many times I've had a manicure. I enjoy them and I have pretty hands so the results are nice, but I usually do my own with similar results.

I think a pedicure would be nice but I've never had one and I'm 49! I broke a toe years ago that never healed quite properly among other things and I'm just afraid that a salon technician might inadvertently re-injure it.

Anonymous wrote:To the people who think their nails look just as good if they do it themselves...no, they don't. They may look ok, but not quite as good.

I think you're overthinking how much people care. To a finely trained nail eye like yours, a homemade manicure might look bad. But most people don't pay close attention to such banal things.

Anonymous wrote:To the people who think their nails look just as good if they do it themselves...no, they don't. They may look ok, but not quite as good.

And, this matters because......?

I had my first (and only) manicure and pedicure at 32, a few years ago (got them at separate times).

The pedicure was great and lasted a long time. The manicure chipped on the way home. I can see the value in a good pedicure, but hands seem like such a waste of time and money - or maybe I'm just not that delicate and ladylike

I do like painting my fingernails sometimes, but I keep them pretty short.

To the people who think their nails look just as good if they do it themselves...no, they don't. They may look ok, but not quite as good.