Not to manicure my nails?

[NotJustACigar]

I'm in a professional job, wear makeup and decent clothes to work, but I find beauty stuff all a bit of a drag and tend to do the minimum I can get away with. Recently my DH commented that I should "treat myself to a manicure" and I realised that I am probably not getting away with my unevenly trimmed unvarnished nails as well as I thought I was. However, for me, "manicure" and "treat" do not belong in the same sentence.

AIBU to just trim my nails? Or if not, to file them myself into something that resembles a symmetrical shape and then varnish them with clear polish? Or do I need to do more in order to not look like a messy weirdo? If you hate spending time on beauty treatments, what do you do with your nails? Basically, what is the minimum I can do and get away with?

[2whippetsnobed]

I think the minimum is neat and clean.

[ThreeBeeOneGee]

My nails are clean, trimmed and filed so there aren't any jagged bits.

[PostHocErgoPropterHoc]

Does he honestly think it would be a treat? If so I'd take the opportunity to re-educate him. if he's being snarky about the state of your nails then tell him to sod off. You go one step further than me with the clear nail polish. I'm sure your nails are perfectly neat and professional.

[MrsKCastle]

In what possible world could what you do with your nails matter to anyone else? Bloody hell, why are you giving this even moment's thought?

[KiwiBanana]

Neat and clean sounds fine to me!

[HairyGrotter]

Fuck that shit.

If they are clean, and not long and yellow, where's the issue?

I don't do the whole beauty regime thing, I had a manicure once, in 2001, was horrible and the nails got in the way.

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

I think the minimum is sensible length (which could be short, but I think they need to be more or less equal to each other), neat edges and clean. I think that applies to men and women. I don't think clear varnish is required. As an alternative, you could use a nail buffer, that would make them look smoother and shinier and it won't peel/chip off like varnish so I think it's worth the extra effort at the outset.

[Delphiniumsblue]

I have never bothered, it is too boring. Ignore. Clean and trimmed is fine. Men in professional jobs don't give their nails a thought.

[NotJustACigar]

Thanks, all. They aren't varnished at all. They are clean and not yellow - however they are not neat. Anyway a picture is worth a thousand words...

[NotJustACigar]

And a close up so you can see they're really pretty ragged....

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

In what way are they not neat? Photo's only little but looks ok to me.

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

No close up?

[soundedbetterinmyhead]

What Dephinums said. Life's a bit short - I would put a manicure on a par with going to the dentist for 'treat' value.

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

Now I see it. Sort out the raggedness, but that's all.

[NotJustACigar]

Soundedbetter, going for a manicure is worse than the dentist I think - at least you don't have to make small talk with the dentist!

Ok I will sort the raggedness and leave it. Which are better - nail clippers or a file?

[MusicalEndorphins]

Why not book you both in for his and hers manicures and pedicures?
I think if your nails are neat and clean, that is enough, but no harm in trying a professional manicure just to see what you think. Look at these beautiful nails. If you like it, maybe show it to a manicurist and tell her you want your nails to look natural.
imabeautygeek.com/2013/09/23/mani-monday-what-nails-look-like-after-years-of-uv-gel-manicures/#axzz2x94e1Gd3
If you do go, let us know what you think afterwards!

[Dilidali]

I would either cut them shorter or apply some nail varnish,OP. As they are, they look like you haven't got round cutting them yet. Equally, if it doesn't bother you, they're absolutely fine.
I can't stand nailvarnish on fingernails, so for me it is cut short, file (I use a glass file), buff, cuticle oil, hand cream. I have a mavala cuticle pen, it's got it's own oil, takes 2 seconds.

[PostHocErgoPropterHoc]

I'd say nail clippers are fine to keep them short, that's what I'd expect men to do after all. If you want them as long as that then file them to take the edges off.

[KiwiBanana]

I'd just cut them short and make sure you keep on top of it.

[Pigletin]

OP they do look a bit ragged. You don't need to treat yourself to a manicure but you might want to at least file them or cut them shorter. Sorry, they don't look so "neat and tidy" in the second photo.

[CoffeeTea103]

I think a trim, file, buff and clear Polish is quick and easy to maintain.

[NotJustACigar]

Now cut short - I just have to remember to keep doing it. Thanks, all.

[Lottapianos]

YANBU at all, and this is from someone whose nails are her pride and joy and does her own manicure every week. Short, clean and tidy is absolutely fine. I use nail clippers and then file any jagged bits. Use hand cream at least twice a day. Clear polish if you can be bothered

[travailtotravel]

do you use handcream?

[SissySpacekAteMyHamster]

I quite regularly get manicures, but I don't get false nails, they are cut/filed quite short, as I get the gellish type of finish, so they last longer and don't chip so easily.

I used to just file mine once a week and use a buffer on them, and they looked great then. I made it a habit, and it didn't take long, used to do it whilst watching telly on a Friday night.