Reasons For and Against Letting Your Daughter Use Nail Polish

When your daughter starts getting to be "that age" (you know what age I'm talking about), one of the first things she'll want to do is paint her nails. Getting her nails done makes her feel like an adult going to the beauty salon. She'll feel good about her appearance, attract the attention of other kids in her classroom, and start developing her own unique sense of fashion. But before you take a trip to the store or the nail salon, you might want to ask yourself if your daughter is mature enough to start using nail polish. Like anything else, it comes with a certain level of responsibility--and she might not yet be ready for it. As a mother, here's what I considered before letting my daughter start painting her nails.

Reasons For Letting Your Daughter Use Nail Polish

As your daughter gets older, she'll start caring more about her appearance. She'll notice that the older women in her life get their hair and nails done every week, and she'll want to take part in that, too. Is it OK to let your daughter enter that realm of adulthood? Here's a few reasons why you might consider letting her paint her nails or join her aunt on her next trip to the salon.

First off, you might not want to admit it, but your daughter is getting older--and the older she gets, the more preoccupied she'll be with her appearance. When she's a teenager, her nails are going to be the last thing you're worried about. Why not let her have this simple pleasure? She'll feel like she's entering the exciting world of adolescence, but in a safe, parent-approved way.

Second, painting her own nails teaches her some responsibility. If she doesn't do it correctly, she'll have to deal with the consequences, like yellowed or brittle nails. Teach her how to properly apply nail polish and show her tips and tricks like applying a base coat. If she's a nail biter, this is a great way to help break that habit. Show her that she needs to put effort into her nails if she wants them to look nice.

And third, painting her nails boosts your daughter's self-confidence. After years of being dressed by her mother, she'll feel like she's gaining some control over her appearance. When she picks a nail color and shows it off to her friends, she'll feel good about herself--which is increasingly important as she enters her teenage years that will make or break her self-confidence.

Reasons Against Letting Your Daughter Use Nail Polish

As a mother, I can't help but worry about everything, and I had a few misgivings before I decided to let my daughter start painting her nails. Here's a few things you might want to consider for your own daughter.

First of all, some types of nail polish are toxic and can even damage your nails. If you're going to let her paint her nails, make sure it's a plant based nail polish that doesn't contain any harsh chemicals. And if she doesn't want to use the plant based nail polish and insists on fancy gel nails instead, you might have to put your foot down. She'll think you're just being stuffy, but it's better than her nails suffering irreparable damage.

Second, your daughter might not be at the right age foe nail polish. If she's too young, she'll just scratch or peel it off--and that's twenty dollars down the drain. There are brands of children nail polish on the market, but if your daughter's young enough, she'll forget about the whole thing in a week anyway. We want our kids to be happy, but that doesn't mean we have to indulge every silly desire that pops in their heads. Make sure she's at the right age foe nail polish so she can use it responsibly.

And third, if you feel like your daughter's growing up a little too fast, it's okay to say "no" once in a while. If she's a child or a preteen, she's too young to be worried about attracting other members of her peer group. She probably won't understand you, but tell her it's OK to enjoy her childhood while she's still young. She has all the time in the world to fuss over her appearance when she's older.

Overall, letting your daughter use nail polish is a personal decision that only you can make. If you decide to let her paint her nails, look for a children nail polish that's non-toxic, particularly if your daughter has a habit of putting her fingers in her mouth. When she's older, you can graduate to regular trips at the nail salon. In fact, that can be a fun mother-and-daughter activity that you do together!