Acrylic nails for a 12 yr old?

I was a junior bridesmaid when I was 12 and I just went and had a french manicure painted onto my actual nail. Acrylics are harmful to your natural nails and I don't feel like I'd put them on my 12 year old but thats just personal opinion! The press on's are less harmful for her, and even though they may look cheaper, her hands will not be photographed and really no one will be close enough to notice them anyhow.

They're so hard on nails. What about the dip powder? It's more costly but they're supposed to be more gentle on the nails themselves. Even a good manicure on her natural nails would look lovely!

I don't know if I'd bother with something like that if she won't be able to/you don't have any plans to maintain them. Getting them for just one day is kind of a waste. I agree with the others, a regular manicure would be more than fine.

They make some really nice looking press on nails now. H and I are saving for a house so I stopped getting my nails done and started using press on nails and everyone is always impressed when I tell them that they are press on. Check out Impress by Kiss nails. I highly recommend them.

I personally would not let my 12 year old have acrylic nails. I think just going to the salon/spa together and getting a mani/pedi would be just as special.
My girls, 8 & 9, love getting manicures!

My 10 year old daughter will be in our wedding as the flower girl. Am going to let her have a mani/pedi and get her real nails painted with the bridal party. As for acrylic nails they are so harsh on your nails, I would say try the dip powder or a gel polish instead.

I wouldn’t do it for my daughter. Besides being damaging for natural nails, it’s also just unecessary & I’ll say out of style too. Her or anybody else’s nails will look wonderful with a regular manicure. And this is coming from someone who always has manicured nails, with nail polish 😄 I obviously don’t know anything about your daughter & this might be totally irrelevant for your case, but I personally feel like 12 year old should not need acrylic nails to feel absolutely beautiful 🙂

Acrylics are terrible for your nails, even as an adult. I’ve taken my daughter for a mani/pedi before but she only ever gets her natural nails painted. It’ll be just as special and grown up without acrylics.

Maybe a gel manicure? I prefer those to acrylics anyway!

My 9 year old has had acrylics done once before and she will have them again for my wedding. The nail tech new the appropriate nails and length for her age. No they didn't last as long as on an adult but she loved them and is looking forward to having them again. The first time she had them was well over a year ago. She knows this is not a norm and only for very special occasions. I see nothing at all wrong with it. U know whats best for ur child.

Nails grow, and at age 12 I don't see a big issue with acrylics. However, if her nails are long enough I'd probably just opt to have her regular nails get manicured / painted.

I got acrylics for a dance I went to when I was 13, however I hated how damaged my nails were after. I say try for a gel manicure so her nails aren’t damaged. She’ll still have the fun of getting the manicure.

I would try dip powder or shellac! I have been getting acrylic nails since I was 14 (so 11 years) and it's a pretty big expense. It hasn't damaged my nails, they never break off & I always get them filled. I'd also never rip them off myself. But since it's her first time with this, dip powder or shellac will be a good option!

I'm a nail tech and in my professional opinion I would give her a few more year until you get them for her. They can be harmful if you dont tale care of them correctly amd once they are off it will take awhile for them to be strong again because of how much nail is drilled of to prevent the oils from making the nails lift. My little sister I buy the fake nails from Wal-Mart. Lightly drill her nail then super glue them on and paint them myself. If you are not worried about them being long do a gel polish and a manicure (i believe this is the best opinion ober fake nails for the wedding) it wont be harmful it will look pretty just dont let her try to take it off herself.

I wouldn't do it for a 12 year old. The chemicals plus the process is very hard on natural nails, and hers may not react well. You don't want to damage her nails. Plus, this is only for one day, and it's expensive!

I would just let her get the press on nails, as they are fairly inexpensive, don't really do any lasting damage to the nail, and it's what she asked for! Then it doesn't matter whether they last for a day, or a week.

The other alternative I would consider for a 12 year old, is just a straight manicure. They can paint the "french manicure" look onto her natural nails, and it will look like she has acrylic.

What about gel instead of acrylic? It will be way more durable than a regular manicure, but not as intense as acrylic.

Nails grow fast at 12 - so either way wouldn't make a huge difference to the health of the nail.

If you get them done, when they are over you can take her to the salon to have them remove them. It's a bit more gentle (in my experience) than trying to remove them yourself.