Is it permissible for women to grow their nails long? What is the ruling on using nail polish, glitter, beads or artificial nails, especially if it protects the [natural] nails from breaking, in addition to being an adornment?
There is no objection to growing the nails and coating them [with nail polish, etc.] per se. However, the coating or whatever is attached to the nail must be removed before ablution (wudu) and ritual washing (ghusl) since it prevents water from reaching the nail. Moreover, the aforementioned reason (i.e., protection) does not absolve one of the rules. It is also not permissible to display adornment to a non-mahram man.