Nails for 12 year old?

My daughter just turned 12. We didn’t get to celebrate her birthday (yet) because I was actually in the hospital having her baby brother. About a week later, her grandmother passed away, so we have been funeral planning and getting things squared away. My daughter mentioned she would like highlights or her ears pierced as her gift. My husband doesn’t like the highlight idea, because she doesn’t really take care of her hair right now, we kind of have to hound her about washing and brushing it better than she does. Anyway she is really self conscious of her fingernails. They are just like mine- short, weak and brittle, with horrid cuticles no matter how many vitamins, creams and strengtheners we try. She said some girls at school get their nails done (fake.) I feel like this would be a gift she would love but also I wouldn’t want them too long because she’s a bit dingy and bumps into things a lot and I wouldn’t want her to accidentally knock one off and hurt herself. I don’t even get my own nails done anymore but I think she’d love if we did that together plus she would feel better about her nails too. Is this appropriate? Would you allow tips or maybe just a good gel manicure done? We both definitely could use some self care after losing her grandmother. She was a very special woman. Thank you for any advice.