Other Topics - Can't Get Nail Polish to Stay on Grandsughters Toe Nails...

My daughter is now 6 and polish still doesn't stay on her toes and fingers. She's just too active and it comes off. Espically when she's playing on the floor. We just let it wear off and re-do when she's ready.

without getting into the debate on whether a two year old should be wearing polish---try soaking finger tips (or wiping toe nails) in an astringent. My mother in law is a beautician and gave my teen sea breeze to soak in when we were planning a "spa nite" birthday for her 12th. it removes the oils that will keep the polish from adherring. other than that I don't know except that she's a kid and perhaps just harder on her little digits while playing, bathing, digging in the dirt, using playdough---just guesses. ;o)

After I read your question and thought about it, I don´t know how to solve your problem. I feel compelled to give you my thoughts on the subject though. Like you, I have a beautiful little grandaughter too. Even though little girls look cute with polished fingernails and toes, the products that are made for that purpose and the removers are very harsh for tender nails. Nails will beging to look yellowish and weak, but the most important fact is that little girls begin to look older before their time. Your grandaughter has a lifetime in front of her for makeup! let her be and look like a child first. I hope my letter won´t offend you. I just could not help keeping my thoughts to myself.

I always put a clear glitter polish as a top coat because it keeps my polish on. When I get a pedicure, whoever is taking the polish off complains about how hard it is to get off even with remover. Wet n Wild brand is what I'm currently using.

I would try the alcohol route prior to polishing. I sometimes use a facial astringent (Neutrogena) to rub on the nail bed prior to polishing.

In my experience with my daughter and her friends (she's now 6 yrs. old), polish just doesn't last on young girls nails. I think there must be something different about the make-up of young nails because they are also fairly thin & flimsy...if you find something that works, please let me know! :)

S.-

I have two daughters who are 6 and 3. We paint our fingernails and toenails all the time and I have the same problem. I was told due to the natural oils on the nails is the reason the nail polish does not stay on very long. I was told to scratch the nail a little bit to rough it up and the paint will stay on longer. I haven't tried this yet but it makes sense. Hope this helps.

-R.

I can't tell you why it happens or how to solve it, but I can tell you that it is normal. I can't keep nail polish on my daughter either and I know her friends have the same trouble. I wonder if it has to do with how "fresh" their little toenails are. Ours are old and crunchy, but theirs are thing and malleable. Plus, the play a lot harder with their feet than we do.

L.

There are so many chemicals in nail polish ... I can't imagine exposing a two-year-old child to them. So, perhaps she is allergic to something in it and is having some sort of reaction?

Vinegar is suppose to work as well. I haven't tried it, but here's what vinegartips.com recommends:

Make nail polish last longer: Wipe fingernails with cotton balls dipped in white distilled vinegar before putting on nail polish.

It's because she is two. Two year olds are hard on everything, including their own bodies. Plus, their nails grow faster than ours. If the chipping bothers you, just don't paint them. It's going to happen despite all of your measures.

My daughter is nearly 4 and we have the same problem. It almost all comes completely off by the time she gets out of the bathtub. I don't know.

If it is due to natural oils...or is she lotioning her feet prior to polishing? Try some rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and then wipe each toenail and let it dry then try to polish them.

Try Anchor for the base coat and Armor for the top coat. I get them at Beauty Brands. Made all the difference in the world for me!

I have to agree with Missy. She's two. Kids are harder on everything and if they're normal the crawl around on the floor, drag their feet, etc. My 8 year-old has the same issue, but it's because she plays hard. You have to choose-let her be a kid or have perfectly pedicured toes.

I have the same problem with my fingernails. after consulting a nail tech, i was told that my nails were oily. Note, this is just my fingernails, not my toenails. Polish lasts less than 48 hours. You might try rubbing alcohol before polishing. Sometimes that helps.

I have the same problem and always have had. She probably has oily nail beds which causes the polish not to stick. They always have to rough my nails up with a file and then apply the nail polish. Opi nail polish seems to work the best. Good luck.

A better question is: why are you exposing a 2-year-old to those chemicals?! You might want to wait about ten years.

Dear S.,
The Nail Polish and stuff YOu are putting on the babys toe nails , may be damaging to their growth.
I would leave it off. She has plenty of time to use that stuff when she is a grown girl.
Sounds Harsh, but I would not take the risk of something so precious.
YOur friend
MK

If you use baby lotion after she baths it keeps the polish from adhering correctly. I noticed that with my own pedicures. To help use polish remover before you begin to polish even if she does not have polish on.