I don’t know how some women do it. No matter the time of day, the circumstance, the number of kids, projects or amount of cooking that is done, they always have the most perfectly manicured fingernails. Is it genetic? Is it a skill that I never learned (I did cut a few classes back in the day so did I miss it)? It doesn’t seem to matter what I do and how careful I am, after yet another ruined manicure this week, it has become clear to me that I am just not destined to have nice nails.
To be truthful, my nails were never much of a priority; I do realize it is my own fault. As someone who believes that personal care and presentation is important in daily life, it’s also a great faux pas on my part. But, in my defense ;-), I’ve always struggled with what I call “the triangle of me” (the businesswoman, the athlete woman, and the privileged housewife woman). You would think two of the three would find it important to maintain good nails, but you would be wrong. The businesswoman in me never wanted to take the time; I could always be doing something more productive, making more phone calls, finishing that one last proposal, etc. I would always keep my nails neat but we all know there is a difference between general maintenance and manicured. I would often notice other women’s beautifully manicured nails in business meetings and wonder, how do they find the time? Are they up at four a.m. to get fresh polish on? Keep in mind, this is pre-Shellac era - the struggle was real. And it still remains a mystery to me.
It’s fairly obvious why the athlete woman side of me made it less of a priority, however, there are plenty of female athletes that have absolutely incredible (and sometimes outrageous) nails – just Google images of track athletes, as an example – so it’s not really an argument that can stand challenge. But, it may be slightly more understandable…?
Frankly, once I transitioned to more of the “privileged” housewife woman, I had much more opportunity to become the manicured lady I’d been envying all those years…so I thought. Impossible! I clean the house, I cook (not my strong suit but I do give it a go now and then) and I do a lot of dishes. A ton of dishes actually, considering there are only two people in the house most of the time, and my cooking skills are limited. And, I do a ridiculous amount of laundry. So the combination of all these tasks means that when I do ultimately take the time to get a manicure, Shellac or no, inevitably, within 24 hours, it is buggered up. Argh!
How, you are wondering? Don’t I wear gloves when I clean and wash dishes? Yes, sometimes (I admit sheepishly - most of the time it’s just too much of a hassle to reach under the sink for the rubber gloves before doing dishes. Remember, this is the woman who will avoid changing a light bulb because it requires getting the stepladder). I always assume laundry and cooking are fairly non-fingernail damaging tasks, even after years of proof otherwise. As a result and after years of denial, I have finally come to the conclusion that I just plain don’t care about it enough so it’s my own damn fault. I may envy the beautiful nails but I’m not willing to do the work that goes with having them. When I have an opportunity to manicure them, either myself or professionally, I’ll find something else to do. When I do go to the nail salon, within minutes of getting there I’m secretly getting annoyed at the time it is taking; I just want it to be over (ironic, I know, considering it is also meant to be a time of relaxation). I look around in combined admiration and jealousy at the other people who appear to truly enjoy their break, having their glass of champagne while being well shellacked.
I say this with some reluctance, because I still very much envy those with flawless nails at 6am (and, by the way, Shellac has given me so much more of a chance to be one of these ladies, if I would just give it a chance back), I have succumbed to my nature which is, clearly, a lady without nice nails.