Can a 12 year old get Polygel nails? The answer is an iffy yes. For the most part, the younger the child is, the more fragile their nails tend to be. This means that if a 12 year old were to get Polygel nails, they would be more susceptible to breakage and damage.
Nail enhancements like gels and acrylics are beautiful, though they should not be applied to children under a certain age just for the sake of avoiding any possible lasting nail damage. For a little background, Polygel nails themselves are composed of an incredible hybrid formula.
This formula provides the durability of acrylics and is effortlessly combined with gel flexibility. Also, it is easy to shape and apply, cutting the application time. As for answers to any further questions you may have about children wearing Polygel—or any other nail varnish for that matter—continue reading below!
Is It OK For A 12 Year Old To Get Polygel Nails?
Yes, with parental approval following a consultation with the nail tech, a 12 year old can get Polygel nails. As with any nail enhancement procedure, there is a possibility that nails could get damaged, although this is a slim chance when the Polygel is applied and removed by experienced professionals.
As a client, you have the right to know what the effects of the enhancement will be: not only the positives, but negatives too. The tech that will be applying the Polygel should be informative of the product and the process; they should be able to put your mind to rest regarding whatever questions you have.
Are Gel Nails Safe For 12 Year Olds?
Yes, gel nails are safe for 12 year olds. That being said, parental consent should always be given prior to the application. While gel is safe, there are higher risks of damage to individuals with thin, fragile, and/or otherwise brittle nails. Many gel-producing companies actually warn against use of their product if the individual has thin nails.
This is mostly only because of the tearing that can occur if gel is improperly removed. The wrong tools along with the failure to disrupt the seal between the gel and the nail can lead to trauma. This trauma can appear as tears along the surface of your natural nail, or as unsightly peeling of your nail layers.
More often than not, poor technique is to blame for the resulting damage, which is why an experienced nail technician should always be the one to remove nail enhancements. The wellbeing of your nails (or your child’s) is not worth the risk to remove gel manicures or pedicures at home.
If by chance you are left to deal with post-gel damages, you should refrain from getting any other nail treatments done until the nails in question are fully healed. Also, the use of cuticle oils, olive or coconut oil, and the increased use of biotin supplements can help speed up the recovery time.
How Old Should You Be To Get Polygel Nails?
There isn’t really a specific age to be in order to get Polygel nails. As with any beauty treatment, if you are under 18, most salons would require parental approval. Generally, this would depend on the individual tech and the salon rules that they need to adhere to.
Most of the time, nail technicians are completely fine with applying gel nails to anyone 12 and up as long as their parent approves of it beforehand. And, of course, if you are at an age where you are legally seen as an adult, you don’t need to ask for permission from anyone except yourself.
Should I Let My 12 Year Old Get Acrylic Nails?
Whether or not you let your 12 year old get acrylic nails is a decision only you can make. It is worth noting that acrylic nails are seen as safe—if kept at a short length (medium and long length nails should not be worn)—on children between the ages of 11 and 15.
Usually at this age, children are aware enough to mind their nails and communicate any issues they may be experiencing with them. In contrast to this, acrylics should not be worn by children that are involved in extreme sports or by those that may be too young to communicate problems they may run into.
A good example as to why this would be the case is a Queen Victoria Hospital (NHS Foundation Trust) article published in December of 2018, which described an influx of pediatric patients during a winter holiday after the children experienced nail bed trauma.
It is noted that the trauma was most frequently caused when a lifted edge of the acrylic got snagged during playing or sports, and then tore the nail from the nail bed by the acrylic enhancement. As a result, plastic surgeons at Queen Victoria Hospital strongly suggested against the use of acrylic nails of any length on children at any age.
Can A 12 Year Old Get Shellac Nails?
Tentatively, yes. There are no official rules out there that state 12 year olds should avoid getting a shellac manicure. Alternatively, as with Polygel, gel and acrylic nails, the child in question and their parents should be aware of the potential downsides.
The risks are more or less the same as with other nail enhancements, where a majority of the damage can come from improper removal. With this in mind, shellac nails have a much easier removal method when compared to other similar products. The overall risk of damage is comparatively minimal.
Can A 3 Year Old Wear Nail Polish?
No, 3 year olds should not wear nail polish. All toddlers have a tendency to put their hands and fingers in their mouths—it’s inevitable. And when you factor in the amount of time that a 3 year old spends playing, you have a recipe for disaster.
Continuing from this idea, most nail polishes (don’t let that “toxin-free” label fool you!) do contain toxic chemicals that don’t belong in mouths, noses, and eyes. It is better to be safe rather than sorry: Don’t paint your toddler’s or infant’s nails.
Can You Use 10 Year Old Nail Polish?
Technically, no. It isn’t recommended to use 10 year old nail polish. A majority of the time, nail polishes only have a shelf life of 5-8 years if unopened. Otherwise, open nail polish lasts only a fraction of that time (about 2 years).
Signs of expired nail polish include:
- Clumpy or thick polish
- Difficult application
- Inability to blend after shaking
- Polish that is stringy and clustered to the applicator brush
Final Thoughts: Can A 12 Year Old Get Polygel Nails?
Overall, Polygel and other nail enhancement treatments are up to parental discretion for any child under the age of 18. In particular, Polygel nails are known to have the best of both worlds by having a unique, putty-like formula; they are long-lasting and flexible.
If interested in Polygel, clients are entitled to ask questions regarding the process to better feel more secure in their decision. Knowing the pros and cons of any beauty treatment beforehand leaves little room for regret once all is said and done.
Coincidentally, if the thought has ever crossed your mind, nail polish (even dried) does not belong anywhere near the mouth. That being said, toddlers should not wear any sort of polish to cut out the risk of exposing them to chemicals like formaldehyde that are present in most nail varnishes.
Last but not least, if your nail polish has been sitting pretty for 10 years, no matter how cute the color is, it should be thrown out. Polishes only have an unopened shelf life of a maximum of 8 years, and when opened that number gets unceremoniously dropped to 2 years.
