Yes...the chipping is the problem! I do like clear...or a soft pink...but it's the nonstop chipping maintenance! Perhaps I *should* have asked...does anyone know which polishes are better at being chip-resistant?

Yep, I do, in a reversal of what I said earlier, I DO like a light pink!

I always have mine painted some form of pink in the spring/summer.I get a pedicure every 4-5 weeks.They use the opi nail polish and Ive never had a problem w/it chipping in between.

Shelley

I wear bright red from fall through spring, then in spring switch to pink. Right now they are still red cause the salon was booked this month for proms. So, early June I will get a pedicure and get pink. They use OPI, which is very durable, and won't chip. I won't need another polish until about September. If I had to do it myself, I would not be wearing sandals, cause I don't do polish myself. I'm too messy. However, if your nails are trimmed, you don't have to wear polish. Either that, or buy a good salon-quality like OPI and do them, and they will last a long time.

Guy's perspective here - toenails are noticed. A neutral pale color is all you need, and with that chips aren't too noticable. This also avoids clashing with any bolder colors you may have on your fingernails. A French manicure can look nice on toes (I'm over them as far as fingers go) but I suppose that's more upkeep than a neutral.

I sure hope no one is looking at MY toenails!

I just had my spring pedicure this week. I think toes look best when polished, although as long as you have removed any callouses and your toenails are clean and trimmed, you don't need to be polished. I just love having a pedicure. Chipping is not a problem, just coloring the new growth along the bottom.

My color is OPI "Your Villa or Mine." I love the names of the polishes.

My fingernails have a pale pink called Ballet Slipper.

My red OPI is called Affair in Red Square. My daughter wears, I am Not a Waitress. I love the names also. I haven't picked a pink yet.

I'll be different here. I never notice feet. I hate to have others touch my feet, and therefore have never had a pedicure. I only polish my toenails in the summer when I wear sandals, and I just keep polising over the top as it chips and grows out. I don't know what I'll do when I'm too old to reach my feet -- I guess I'll just have to quit wearing polish since I hate others to touch my feet (I did let my husband polish them when I was too pregnant to reach them because my best friend said I needed pretty toes in the stirrups for L&D!!).

My MIL always notices feet, not just toenails, and comments on them -- she thinks long, slender toes are pretty??? -- and doesn't wear sandals because her own toes are too short and ugly. My DH says there are lots of other things on women he'd rather look at, so ugly toes don't really bother him!!!

I do wear polish during sandal weather which, around here, begins in late March and ends in October. I normally remove existing polish and apply a new color every Sunday. I do one or two coats with no clear top or bottom coat and I'm not perfect at it but good enough that it looks fine from the distance most eyes are from my toesies.

I do notice other women's toes, probably because I do polish mine. Sorry, but you asked, I don't like it when their toes are unpolished in sandals. Some do the french manicure which is fine, but IMHO, you need to do something if you're going to expose the toes. I do agree that it's even worse to have chipped polish or obvious space between the polish and new growth though.

A few weeks ago I decided to get a pedicure. She did a nice job and I haven't removed it yet because it looks so good but I think it'll be three weeks on Wednesday so it's got to come off soon, if only to change the color.

I almost never wear fingernail polish because I use my hands too much and too roughly and I'm lucky if the finish lasts a day. Plus I'm ok applying polish with my right hand (on my toes or left hand) but my left hand is useless and botches my right hand without exception.

OK So... on a slightly related topic, I just found this out -- have you EVER heard of this? Toe cleavage. That's when your toes don't quite go all the way into the closed-toed shoes (like pumps) and you can see the cleavage. Apparently men find that sexy -- it's all about cleavage. WHO KNEW??

Where I live, women wear open-toed shoes all year, so I appreciate a well-groomed foot and prefer polished nails.

The trick to keeping toenail polish to last is patience. Apply a clear base coat. Let it dry completely then do it again.
Wait one day.
Apply one coat of your color - let dry completely (don't do this before going to bed!), then do another coat.
Wait one more day.
Apply one more coat of color - let completely dry, then add a clear, quick-dry top coat. Moisturize your feet and toes after you shower.

When I do this, the polish will last until it grows out without chipping. I'll do another color coat or two as needed, and I find I don't need to remove the polish and start over for many weeks. (I wear frosted pale colors as red and darker colors are too dramatic for the office).

LOL, Lowspark! YES!!! I HAVE heard that!!

I wore flats or my Tretorns all last summer and I never made it to the pool, so I didn't worry about anything beyond being sure I didn't have dry-skin elephant ankles! This year, things have slowed down more and I want to venture out in some more casual flip flops or sandals. I DO notice other women's feet when they're not taken care of...but I couldn't decide if I cared whether their toes were polished or not.

foodonastump...you hit the nail on the head (!) I know I don't like to see strong bold colors on toes that clash with an otherwise cute outfit. I think it's just that I don't like the dark colors.

Okay, Gina...great tip. I like the waiting a day in between coats idea. That might work better for me. I don't really like other people touching my feet either (thank you, dlynn, I thought I was the only one!), so I'll try that. I never have enough time for coats to properly dry, then I rush it, then I'm annoyed, then I take it all off and put the tennies back on!

Going to look for OPI with the funny names! Thanks everyone!

One of my DD has a "thing" about anyone touching her feet. I've tried to bring her with me on several occasions to get a pedicure. She always ends up walking out when they start to work on her feet. She does enjoy the water bath. lol

I do notice if someone has dried up heels that looks like they have not been washed in a week and they have on open heel shoes. UGH! Painted toes or not...as long as they are clean.

DH is so tolerant of me sitting in front of the TV and using the Ped Egg once a week. I love that thing and am on my 5th replaceable file.

Always ALWAYS have polished toes....since almost the year one! Easy 50 years since my toes have been more than a few minutes without polish....likely more!
Not too fond of pale colors on toes....I like something that makes a statement! currently wearinga deep winey red OPI color but next time will be the Not a waitress thing.
Funny....I hang out on the Hosta forum sometimes and was posting a picture of a noid ( that's a no I. D.) and got my foot in the picture.
Someone replied "Don't know which hosta that is but the pedicure looks like I am not a Waitress".
LOL!
Hands look like grubby monkey paws right now, feet are pretty good!
Linda C

Yep, I came to this realization about 5 years ago when I was drug into the painted toenail world by my best girlfriend who was horrified at my "nude" toenails.

Even I saw the difference right away and since it stays on for at least 2 weeks before looking bad, it isn't hard to keep up with.

Sadly though I got the dreaded white toenail fungus on one of my toes and so I'm currently polish-less while I put on Vick's Vaporub and teatree oil every morning for a couple of weeks to try and nip it in the bud.

Grace

Hi..had to chime in. I live in South Florida where toes are out all year round and I do pedicures every 2 weeks more as a treat than a necessity. I like the OPI for durability and my favorite is also "I'm not a waitress" but for spring I tried "Hoodoo Voodoo" and love it.

I think it is fine if you like it and your feet are groomed!

My sister has the cutest feet, I have "piano hands" which also means I have "piano (long) toes"...ugh not so cute - LOL!

I love pedicures and it is so inexpensive here - $25 for mani/pedi - Like Shellm I find I only have to have a pedicure once every 4 weeks or so until it grows out - never chips.

I like the french pedicure or pale colors - love ballet slipper too! In the winter when they are not public feet I like chocolate martini which is dark.

I like polished toenails, too. But I also think unpolished, but trimmed and clean are just fine.

Rarely do I bother with polish or pedicures in winter...my feet are covered by socks, why waste the time or money? However I do use a pumice all winter long to keep from getting calloused feet.

I have never used one of those pedi-egg things, and I won't allow them to use the razor-blade thing on my feet at the pedicure places,either because in the past when they have used them I end up with this horrible, thick callous afterwards.

In summer I get a pedicure every 3 weeks or so, that's how long they last/look good. I love the Opi polishes, too, but have never really looked at the names. (Of course now I will be reading every bottle! LOL) I choose whatever color I am in the mood for on the day of the pedicure.

A couple of toe rings, some great looking sandals, and I am good to go!

Linda

I haven't painted my toenails in years, although I did it quite often when I was in my early 20s. It was kind of a fad back then.

Lars

I have a pedi every 3 weeks for years. My callouses and such are awful to keep under control and so I use someone who's a specialist. In the bargain I get my toes polished. I only use OPI ("Who thinks up these names") and I never have a chipping problem. On my finger nails we use a base coat called "Sticky" which might help to solve the chipping problem.
Lately I've taken part of the winter off from polishing. Since I have bad/deformed feet, I wear closed shoes and orthotics most of the time, but liked my toes polished. Then I had some nail splitting and dryness so we took a couple of months off of polishing to let them breathe. The color came back to the nail and they no longer break. I'm back in the polish mode for spring, but a pedicure isn't a luxury for me, but a necessity!

I get a pedicure every month, all year round. Without it, my feet look like the before photo for the Ped egg. Toenails have not been without polish in years.

After planting the garden the past two weeks, my hands are another story. Going for the mani/pedi today.

Being a nail tech, you betcha I notice toes! I'm never without polish on my toes.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with going bare if you have nicely manicured nails. But I dont know why anyone would want to! hahahhah!!!

I am a runner and my toenails unpolished are not pretty. From constantly being jarred they need work and get discolored! So in the Summer wearing open toed shoes I like my nails polished! I will say I use Loreal nail polish and it lasts forever, never chips or fades, it goes when my nails grow out!

I use the Sally Hansen polishes on toes. I often do french manicures too..I love them..hubby not so...I do my own toes.

A good top coat is key to any polish job. I use a few "cheap" polishes too but the top coat is key.

I'm another who doesn't mind bare toes over chipped nasty small bits of leftover polish.

I like crazy toes. But tone it down because my hubby prefers it.

I do add crystals, or stickers or reverse frenches with colors.

Right now my nails have clear on them. Because I like to let them breathe for a few months.

But I wore flip flops all weekend...so it's time to break out the "good" look. LOL

It's weird, I always have my toes polished, but never my hands. They just chip too fast cause of work, so I never (well, rarely) do my fingernails.

Nope, I never polish fingernails or toes, but they are clean. I break nails in the garden or in the barn or at work, so I don't bother to polish and they're never longer than the end of my fingers anyway.

I've never had a manicure OR a pedicure and don't have the time or patience for either, plus I HATE having people mess with my feet.

I don't notice other people's toenails usually, but I'm in Michigan where feet are only uncovered about 3 minutes a year, LOL.

Actually, I wear open toed dress heels year round, even in the winter because I walk to work in my boots and then change into shoes when I get inside.

If my nails are polished, you can all thank Makayla, who just loves to polish my toenails and I let her.

I do keep them trimmed and clean and using a suggestion from Lars I actually have a microplane that I use on heel calluses.

Annie

Worked in the garden all weekend. Farewell, manicure!

Toenails, Yes! Almost always! Sometimes I'll take a break in the winter to let them breathe. Usually a shade of light pink so any chipping/growth is less evident until I can take care of it. I'm not a 'red' person, so that's extremely rare, Christmas, maybe.

Fingernails, rarely. Usually for some "event". And almost always very, very pale, nearly clear. Just so they look healthy.
I do far too much work in the garden to keep up with fingernails!
I think I've had one manicure and never a pedicure in my life.
I'm another who HATES people touching my feet (very ticklish) unless they can really massage deeply. No light touch stuff!! LOL

Ultimately, though, I'm sure not going to judge anyone by their toes! More important to me is what comes from their heart and mouth!! :+)

Deanna (wearing a medium, frosty pink polish)

I haven't read the entire post, but I had to comment on May's post re: Toe Cleavage. I worked at a company once that had a strict dress code - including a ban on Toe Cleavage. That's where I learned what it was!

mostly I don't paint my toenails, since I'm not dedicated to upkeep...

I learned to do my own nails several years ago and much like Gina it does take few days because every coat has to dry completely.

Now don't get me wrong...if you have the time to sit and let dry thats fine. I do not have the time so I apply a very light coat of color over a base coat...I may do this for 3-4 days and then apply a top coat. Then once a week I re-apply a light coat of color followed by the top coat.

I love having painted toes so mine are done year round but only in spring summer do the toe rings and ankle jewelry come out.

Now my hands are a different story-what a mess!! I have learned over time that keeping my nails short and boxy works best for me in my line of work. If I let them grow they just break.
I only apply color to my finger nails for special occasions and it depends on the event what color I choose.

What a fun thread!!

Cheers!
Susie

ps...my toe nails are tropical blue right now-I wear a lot of blue-teal green over the summer LOL!!

I'm giving Gina's method a try, too. I had to remove the polish from my recent manicure. Last night I put on a base coat. Tonight I'll do a palr color.

I looked at the pale OPI nail polish that I have at home and the color is called "Your Royal Shyness." I love that name.

I have hussy colored toes -- Your Villa or Mine? And shy fingers -- Your Royal Shyness. Very entertaining.

Unfortunately the base coat is called Base Coat.

Pam it works for me so give it a try!! You end up with an almost laquered look like a car finish and as for myself I never chip...lasts a few weeks until I change color.
I got 2 new pair of flops for Mothers Day and they both have some blue in them hence the blue I have on now....its Funky Feet in "200 volts"....looks like dark teal.

I also use a moisturizer with a light self tanner to it "jergins" and apply to my feet as they never really tan. I really don't have much of a tan all over but my feet always look better with a little hint of color.

Cheers!
Susie

Well, this thread has cost me quite a bit of money. All this talk about toenail color made me want all new colors for summer. Yesterday I bought 4 new shades of OPI, then went in another store. While paying at the next store, I dropped the polish on the tile floor and broke all four bottles of polish. So, now this thread has cost me $70. But, I have very pretty toes!!!

Gee whiz, that must have been a hard floor! Those bottles are pretty thick glass. What a mess although it must have looked like a Jackson Pollack painting. Sorry for you "loss."

Okay mine are purple with a flower garden of stickers on the big toes now.
LOL
And I've worn sandals or flip flops every day since I did them!

My toe nails grow out before they chip. My nails grow quickly. So in a few weeks, I'll change them.

When I was a young professional, my toes and fingers always matched.

I like many others would kill a manicure and paint job on my hands in like 3 hours now. And like Annie, I use my hands as tools, and I often have missmatched lengths.

Always have my tonails painted usually in a French manicure i do this all year round. I always notice people toes...and teeth!

I wear a neutral beigey/pink shade on my toes year round. It's enough to make me feel "finished" without being too labor intensive to maintain.

I keep my fingernails rather short and just buff them for shine. With all the cooking/housework/outside work I do, that is the most practical way for me to go.

I've never had a manicure, but the husband of a friend who recently turned 50 arranged for a bunch of us to get pedicures - my first. I got a bright (OPI) coral just for fun and it lasted for months! Note that it was wintertime and my feet were covered in socks/shoes/boots which likely added to to the pedi's longevity. I also don't really like people touching my feet..

My sister & DD do their own nails (fingers & toes) weekly. They both find it relaxing - kind of a zen thing. I do my toes when they need it because I feel it's part of being well groomed, but I find it to be more of a chore than a zen experience. Different strokes for different folks!

In the business, we say you paint a house and you polish your nails/toes.

Okay, I tried Gina's method and I think that works great. One of my big gripes is that it seems to wear off so fast from my shoes (they don't feel that tight!). this held up well.

When I was in NYC Memorial Day weekend, I picked up a color...Ladies and MagentaMen? I think that was it. Well, I feel like I have hussy toes! I am so NOT used to that shock of color. So, I'll have to tone WAY down. It's way too flashy for me. But I did look at everyone's feet each time I rode the subway. Perfect feet and toes. Man, I am so out of style!

LOL, Momto4, you haven't even IMAGINED "out of style" unless you come to visit me. (grin) Ashley keeps trying to "fix me up" and I keep telling her I'm not broken.

As I've said before, if small children do not run screaming in fear when they see me, it's good enough! I wonder how long before Makayla starts trying to "fix me up"?

Your girls don't tell you what to wear? (snicker) Mom's are absolutely not allowed to be fashionable, you know. We're Moms.

Annie

Another OPI lover....Cajun Shrimp on my toes (kind of a corally red---get lot's of compliments on the color) in the spring/summer and Mrs. O'Leary's Bar B Q in fall/winter. Ticket to Paradise on the fingers (a very pretty 'bridal' shade..also like Bubble Bath, Tutti Frutti and Passion - all nudes).

Toes stayed polished without chipping until I NEED another pedicure. I exercise and/or swim everyday and nothing chips it unless I do by hitting them barefoot on something. Certainly not from wear and tear. Hands, not so lucky. I can polish my own between manicures for a few extra days. Of course it never looks as good as a salon job.

Okay....This post got me thinking about my humdrum beigy toenail polish color, and today I picked up a bottle of OPI "Shootout At The OK Coral."

As I type I have those little foamy separators between my toes waiting for the second coat to dry. This is the part I don't like. The prepping & polishing is not bad, but I know if I move around at this stage any little pieces of lint or a dog hair or anything...will jump on my wet nails and ruin my efforts.

Looking down, my toes are pretty cute, but I hope this pedicure lasts me a while. I know I don't have the patience to keep doing this over & over all summer.

I had to laugh seeing 41 responses to this question. As a guy that really made me laugh. No...I don't paint my toenails and neither does my wife. Kinda of surprising the number of women who do. I guess if you live in a warm climate and show your feet off a lot it would be okay. Truthfully I am shocked on the amount of money women spend on makeup, shoes, pedicures, nails, fancy bags and purses, hair etc., etc. If you are good looking or even marginal I think natural beauty is so much better than all that extra stuff. I guess that is coming from a midwestern guy who like down=home natural women. Personality and natural beauty beats all that high-tech expensive makeup etc. Just my opinion.

Duane

Duane - You make some good points and it is nice to have a male weigh in. I think you represent a lot of guys who prefer to see women looking natural. My DH's reaction to my vibrant polish was, "Whoa! You have girl toes!"

From what I've gleaned from the posts on this forum, more women here would prefer a good chef's knife to an expensive designer bag and spend more time making breads and jams than fussing with elaborate beauty regimes.

I think this post got so many replies because it is timely - it's summer, meaning for most of us our toes are just coming out of hiding - and it's just fun to hear about what other women do.

I wrote about my DD who finds it relaxing to give herself a weekly pedicure. Fact is, other than that, sunscreen and lip gloss are the only "makeup" she wears.

I think many of us perform some of these beauty routines less to impress men, but as a little indulgence.

I got a pedi yesterday...."Girls Just Wanna Have fun"....an OPI red shade!
Linda C

Yes, these are female indulgences - most of us aren't doing it to please (or catch) a man. My DH could not care less about my hair style or what color my toes are.

Grooming and self-adornment are part of human nature. (And many animals as well.)

Besides, all that high-tech expensive makeup helps me look younger than my age, and that's a big psychological boost for a middle-aged lady. (I'm not going down with that ship, LOL!)

Gina, I have seen photos of you on your vacation pics and you are stunning. A natural beauty who I would have pegged at 26-29 years of age if I had to guess. Whatever you are doing to stay young it is working. And I don't remember seeing a lot of makeup or adornments in your pics. When you have it you have it. And you definitely have it.

Duane

I painted my toenail a few times when my sons were in middle school (they're now in college). My younger son commented, with a very disappointed tone, "I didn't think that you were that kind of mom" I didn't dare ask what that meant!
Funny how our kids' visions of us are.

sflinda...that's exactly what my 14 y.o. son said!!! Too funny!

So, ever since I embarked on my fancy toes goal...it has been COLD! Good grief, it's either rainy or it's 60 degrees! Forget about wearing shoes where my toes show! pffft.

I am a guy and always have my toenails painted. I get a pedicure every two weeks in a nail salon and always have red toenails year round. There are a lot of guys doing this including MMA Fighters. I am married an my wife and I usually have matching toes. I guess I have a strong feminine side and am not afraid to show it. Why not? Women have been wearing men's fashion for years and there are even articles in women's fashion magazines that describe how to incorporate men's fashion into their wardrobes. What's fair is fair. If women can borrow from men's fashion then men can borrow from women's fashion. Pedicures not only make your feet look pretty, but also feel really good, especially the foot message. Most men have gnarly ugly feet and if they are going to expose them, they should get pedicures and wear nail polish. So girls and guys try pedicures and get out there and show those pretty red toes.

Jamie

I admire that self assurance, jamie; guys who paint their toenails must be a very small minority though.

My husband would NEVER paint his toe nails..but he does like to have his finger nails buffed as he likes his nails "shiny".

I tried to rip off (with a box full of school books) my big toe nail in June(it was more painful than alot of things I've endured!!!!)..and it's slowly starting to grow, but I have it clipped about half off...even that 1/2 toe nail gets painted and "decorated".

Right now I'm wearing "cherry" on my toes.