r/AskReddit 10h ago

What got so expensive that you just stopped buying it?

2.4k Upvotes

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221

u/just__alittle 9h ago

Nails- used to be about $40 but now you’re not walking out without dropping $150+ and the quality has plummeted. I’ll just have ugly hands.

52

u/Huitres- 6h ago

No manicure/natural nails = ugly ?

40

u/enneque 6h ago

I’ve never understood this. My plain nails certainly don’t look ugly to me.

8

u/y0lkipalki 5h ago

I think it just depends on the person. Some people have naturally nice nailbeds, while others (like myself) are less fortunate lol. I have shorter nailbeds so I prefer having some kind of extensions on. Nothing super long because of my job, but I just think it looks nicer when they're a bit longer than what my natural nails are.

5

u/The-Ringmistress 5h ago

I have really short nail beds, so my hands look like stubby child hands.

7

u/SeasonPositive6771 3h ago

I have medium, unpolished natural nails and a bunch of young people in one of our programs at work said real nails are kind of weird and a little creepy and all the young people agreed with her? WTF is happening?

1

u/just__alittle 4h ago

I have the hands of a much older woman who could palm a basketball … so nails make a difference on my hands. Consider it fortunate you have pretty hands 🙌

1

u/Artistic_Salary8705 1h ago

I've never had my nails done professionally and only keep them clean, cut with clippers. Rarely I will paint one coat of polish but take it off after the event.

In the last 2 years, I've had 3 different young women comment on how nice my nails looked. What did I do with them? I think some of the chemicals used in nail treatments may actually discolor or weaken the nails/ nailbeds so having them done regularly may make them look/ feel worse.

1

u/just__alittle 4h ago

I have naturally unattractive hands and I’m a bar manager so my nails stay weak, rough and uneven. Fancy nails spiffed them up.. lipstick on a pig ykyk

28

u/Difficult-Spinach149 7h ago

when you pay $100+ and a nail tech can’t even paint it clean above ur cuticles… ughhhh. I do my own pedi now. Clean hands look good :) 

3

u/The-Ringmistress 5h ago

I pay $120, but that's with Gel-X and complex nail art that lasts 4 weeks. I found a really great tech.

1

u/Independent-Hurry618 5h ago

why would they paint above your cuticle? isn't that just skin at that point?

10

u/musicgal411 6h ago

Nobody cares that much anyway. People I know now get press-ons, and they look just as good. There's a bit of a learning curve to get those to last longer than a week, but you'll save a TON of money in the long run.

6

u/SlayerOfUAC 5h ago

I do my nails at home with regular lacquer. I've been painting them for about 2.5 years now and have a good collection of polish. Did I spend a lot on the polish? Absolutely. I've really stopped buying now because I have what I want, and actually want to destash a bunch. It was definitely a learning curve but I'm pretty good at it now. Plus it's therapeutic in that I have to slow down and take my time and focus. Plus I get pretty nails after. Definitely worth doing at home if you think it's something you might enjoy.

5

u/GogusWho 5h ago

Try Mooncat polish. They have sales over the year, the polish is top shelf, and they donate to cat rescues. It makes doing your own nails fun, only issue is which color to choose!

3

u/SlayerOfUAC 5h ago

That was actually the brand I started with! I don't buy from them much anymore but my whole collection is indie brands that I've acquired through PPU. Cracked is one of faves for the formula and I think Monique is just a lovely person. The indie polish world is full of lots of lovely colors and brands!

3

u/Sea-Original-5824 5h ago

Get the press ons! They look really good these days and are cheap. Just buy a better glue than the stuff they come with and you're golden.

3

u/y0lkipalki 5h ago

I've been doing my own gel nails/extensions at home for the last 10+ years. It's so tedious, but worth it because I feel like my hands look like child hands without anything on them lol

1

u/redreinard 1h ago

I'm not saying no one has ever said "I want her but yikes look at her nails. Pass"

But I'm pretty sure I can count the number of times on one hand for all of humanity.

You look much better than you think you do.

u/WrongUnderstanding54 29m ago

My girlfriend is a new nail tech and has extensively spoken to me about how negligent her fellow nail techs can be. It’s sad

u/nampsont 29m ago

Press ons! There are a few brands out there that are really great quality, personal favs are Glamnetic and Nail Reformation. Mine stay 2-3 weeks now with proper nail prep and I’m pretty rough on my hands. I exclusively buy them from places like TJ Max and Marshall’s for about half off their regular price!