Of course, your reasons for not wanting to perform this service are entirely up to you hun...
But from one mum of a 9 year old girl who I DO put enhancements on (not all the time, but sometimes we sit and play and I do her nails for her..she loves it)

She really looks after them, I don't nag her to do so, I explained and she listened, and follows advice better than any client....
She will voluntarily go to the nail case and get the solar oil and apply this a couple of times a day,
Of course she has had some breakages, but its always where I have applied the acrylic too thinly the corners tend to break off,
Her nails are so small, I struggle to make them thicker without them looking bulky (and you know what its like....you never have as much patience with your own kids)

I am not trying to talk you into doing it in any way, that's none of my business hun,

I would like to add (as I feel the need to lol)
I don't do my daughters nails for vanity, or to make her look older blah blah,....I am her mum and we like to do it....
She always has them a natural length, and loves the point when she can see her own nail underneath, as an ex-nail biter, she takes pride in her own nails now...

Now I am not hypocritical lol, But I would NOT do nail enhancements on any other child of 9 years, because their nails are sooooo tiny, and the fidget like mad (again only going of my own experience with my child)
Its not because I don't agree with it, as I think how a mum wishes to bring her child up is her own business,
Its because it would be a major pain in the bum for me, and I'd be scared of filing their teeny weeny fingers lol

I have a couple of younger clients that come in with their mums and have enhancements. I also do my 9 year old daughter's. They all look after their nails. They are all told if they pull/bite/pick them, they don't get them done again, simple as that.

I would do the appointment.

I'm even thinking of adding it to my treatment menu as a mother/daughter package.

Say if you do decide to do this childs nails just this once, she will go home really happy with her new nails showing her friends and telling them where she had them done...then her friends will be paying you a visit wanting their nails done aswell. What will you say to them then?
Just thought this might be something else for you to consider. x

hmmmmm, thanks ladies, you're really giving me something to think through here. It's funny how there's two very distinctly different views on this one.

My daughter's 12 and she gets to have an NNO for very special occasions only (eg weddings), and then they come straight off because no matter how many times I tell her, ever time I look her fingers are in her mouth. Perhaps my experience of young 'uns and enhancements is not the norm?

where is the line drawn tho?????

i think its a hard one really ! did anyone see "sacha the 11 yr old beauty queen " her mum took her for her nails doing at a nss, her nails were shredded , she wore em for school aswell ! she also made her get fake tanned and hair bleached so she looked far older than 11 !!

the thing is from a business point of view , you are turning money away , because they will be someone else out there who will happily take that little lass on and give her nails ,
but .... from an ethical point of view it seems wrong somehow ?? (i think its coz most of us are mums) dont know why because they are only nails and it isnt like you are technically doing anything wrong.

its a hard one for sure , it would be good to get some opinions from people like geeg, and samuel ..etc... who have been doing this job for years , they will have come across this before i am sure

Dont you have her number so you can let her know before hand. Tell her you have checked C.O.P and your insurance and your not covered or something.

I wouldnt just let her turn up and then tell her. Even if the mom is having her nails done.

We all do it i think, have a momentary lapse and then could kick ourselves.

What you need to think though, is if you dont do it and do a decent job, theres always someone alot ess professional to botch them up for her!!!

Its a bit of a vicious circle!

Also, if you are only proposing to do a NNO on her, then why cant she just have a file and polish?! if your not adding any length then i dont see why she cant just settle for them painted nice.

I've given my comments on page one of this thread.

The only ethics that come into this is the parental ethics not YOURS. As long as you know you are causing no harm then where is the problem?

As for drawing the line, you can draw it anywhere you want .. no one is stopping you.

As a parent I did not like the government telling me that my daughter could go to a doctor without my consent and be put on the contraceptive pill!! I like making the choices with my own family and I do not like being told by others what I can an cannot do in this type of situation. Safety is one thing morality is another. I do not make choices for other peoples children in a case like this.

Forgot to mention that i would do this girls nails and the point i was getting at in my previous post (but me being a dizzy blonde and didnt explain myself well) i dont think its fair to offer a treatment for this girl and not for any other....you will get more younger clients in and asking to book after they hear you did this treatment.

I have done my own 8 year old daughters nails when she has begged me. She loves the mum daughter thing and is obsessed with looking after them. I have to say that I only sculpt, I wouldn't put tips on her because the nails are so thin and soft I would be worried about blending. Also, if she does catch them they usually come off cleanly rather than pulling off nailplate. I think maybe this is an age thing - more oil and hormones etc.

As a mother myself I rather think like Gigi - it is a decision for the mother, not the technician. Put this into context. Look at how babies have their ears pierced. Personally I think that is cruelty and wouldn't do it to my child. Many very young girls can be seen walking around wearing high heels or platform shoes, even at school which can permanently affect their feet and posture. In both these cases and many more it is a decision made my each individual parent and until legislation is brought in then I feel that the parents freedom of rights to make these decisions should be respected.

Don't beat yourself up about it. Carry out the service but just make sure that you have covered all bases with getting the parents signature - including aftercare and removal.

Cheers,
Hazel