Parents, would you be turned off by a nanny with fake nails?

[Anonymous]

I am a Career Nanny who is transitioning from my old nanny position into interviewing for a new position. I have had fake nails (acrylic) in the past and really liked them. I am considering getting them again but am worried that during the interview process it might make parents like me less or make them feel like I will be less active with the children. This is not the case at all. I always kept my acrylics very short. clean, and neat. I like a french manicure so it is clear with just the white tip. I feel like it is a very classy look and it would not hinder me giving wonderful care to to children.

Parents, if a nanny came into an interview with nails like I have described would it be a turn off?

[Anonymous]

Side note: Have you tried the gel manicure. Look of acrylic and doesn't kill your nails as much.

I don't think I would notice them unless they were long. I think I would worry a bit about you being active with my kids, but if you kept them short I probably wouldn't care or notice.

[Anonymous]

If there're obviously fake, yes. It'd be totally unprofessional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If there're obviously fake, yes. It'd be totally unprofessional.

+1

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't be completely turned off, but if the choice was between you with fake nails as you described and you without them I would go with you without. Like 12:14 I would worry a bit about you being active with my kids.

[Anonymous]

Have them painted a light or nude color and them short. They probably won't notice.

[Anonymous]

I would prefer without them as I would also prefer my nanny to have short and neat natural nails to prevent scratching my child and also being a place to harbor bacteria even with frequent handwashing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer without them as I would also prefer my nanny to have short and neat natural nails to prevent scratching my child and also being a place to harbor bacteria even with frequent handwashing.

+1
http://infusionnurse.org/2010/03/29/nurses-artificial-nails-bacteria/

I know it's about nurses, not babies. But still informative.

[Anonymous]

Yes, yes I would.

[Anonymous]

Even though I love my "You RED my mind" and hot pink colors, I'd never go into a job with anything like that. Too distracting and unprofessional for work with children.

[Anonymous]

I always always have my nails polished...I usually keep them short and stuck to nude colors..I am sure if you keep your nails natural looking (and French mani is!) you're fine..
Just dont go to long and keep a nice shape
It's awesome that you care about your nails...I am so over hearing nannies say "I roll out of bed and go in yoga pants..." this is a reason nannies aren't treated as professionally as they should be

Love shellac!!

[Anonymous]

OP here -- It seems like the general consensus is to not get fake nails during the interview process.

I will wait until I land a position and will then ask the parents if they are okay with me having fake nails. I would hate something as silly as my nails to keep me from getting a great position.

I would never have the super long and colorful fake nails that many people have. To each their own, but I just find them trashy. I will wait to get fakes but if I do they will always be kept very short and only ever have a french manicure on them.

Thank you for all of the responses.

[Anonymous]

First of all I see nothing wrong with going to work in yoga pants when you're a nanny. It's not as if you're showing up at someone's house in a pair of grey XL sweatpants from champs. Yoga pants are form fitting and, if you wear a long enough shirt, could easily be mistaken for leggings. Enough with the yoga pants bashing.

Secondly, if you're working with an infant or toddler, it would probably just be impractical to have acrylic nails. Your nails would probably break/chip easily, and it would end up being a waste of money anyway. However, no reasonable MB or DB is going to discriminate a candidate for a nanny position based on her fingernails. come on.

[Anonymous]

I think as long as your fake nails don't look fake you're fine..I don't think the acrylics will chip nor is grooming ever a waste of money..again I am glad to see a nanny taking pride in her appearance.
I'm not bashing yoga pants but I don't see what people are so defensive over. I'm entitled to my opinion..I just think that we as nannies need to look professional and that means spending some time getting ourselves ready in the morning..yoga pants once in a blue moon are fine but you can't tell me they look more professional than khakis or darker denim.

[Anonymous]

What about a nanny who has NO nails because she bites them to a quick?

(me)