I have a bit of a dilemma. I was out to lunch with a friend today and I happened to look down and noticed the truly sorry state my nails were in (no, not my toenails).
I’m lucky enough to be blessed with really gorgeous long fingernails that accompany my graceful (probably the only part of me that’s graceful) fingers.
I even considered hand modeling for a time. I then realized a career in hand modeling would probably cause me to go all Zoolander and wear a protective glass case on my hand…
Looking at my fingernails now you would never believe that. They look chipped, broken, and just plain ugly. I can’t bear to keep them unpolished, but at the same time any nail polish I put on doesn’t seem to last long due to all the manual labor I have been doing at my various summer jobs.
I know the solution is to get a manicure and save the sightly view from anyone else, but I can’t seem to pull myself to do so.
For one, I actually hate the process of getting my nails done. Most women boast that it is incredibly relaxing, yet I feel anxious for it to be over. I can admit that it feels nice, but it seems like a dragged out ordeal. Especially when I’m waiting for my nails to dry… doesn’t it always seem to take so much longer for them to dry at the actual salon than at home?
Then I have to tell myself in my head that it was worth the $12 or so dollars I just spent, only to see my nails chip again so suddenly.
I understand that everyone loves to be pampered and that’s the main incentive to get a manicure, but I just can’t seem to think pampering myself with such an expensive (over $500 a year) gift that only lasts a few day is really worth it.
Lovelies, what is your take on manicures? Are they really worth all the money?
Photo: Source
cherry blossom / 47 posts
You don’t have to justify everything you do.
So if you want to do it, do it!
you can also learn to DIY. It’s cheaper (most of the time).
ranunculus / 3457 posts
DIY it. And yeah, salon manicures take longer to dry, because they don’t wait for the different coats to dry. Also depends on what color you chose. Also, I get manicures just for the filing… I suck at filing my nails, so I’ll go once every two months to get them filed, then I keep them nice and painted myself.
guest
This is how I justify my weekly manis: I want it. I have the money to pay for it. I have the time to do it.
Voila, justified. To me they are worth it because they are the only way I have found to keep myself from biting my nails mindlessly. When I was working in a kitchen and couldn’t have nail polish, I still got manicures, I just had them buff my nails until they were very shiny. That may be your solution. I don’t really “like” getting manis. I like having my nails look nice. And the woman who does my nails is a friend also, so I like going to see her, but getting them filed isn’t all that. I just can’t do it myself very well.
guest
I find it hard to justify getting a manicure, which is why I only get them on special occasions–if I have an event, or anniversary/birthday/holiday. Sometimes I will go and get one because I had a rough week, but other than that, I go with natural nails, or paint them myself. However, I do love a pedicure and I am lazy to file, push back cuticles and stuff so I get a pedicure once a month. The polish doesn’t usually chip from my toes and the nails grow really slow so I do go for a while back going back. I don’t usually like the polish they have at the salon I go to so I bring my own. If I bring my own, the polish lasts at least 5 days before chipping, whereas if I get the polish they have there (usually some unknown brand), the nails chip in the next day or two.
@healthy_happy_skinny@xanga - Doing them yourself is only cheaper if you’re not like me, buying new polishes on a whim! So many pretty colors….
guest
I cant justify getting a manicure. So if I’m going to get one, I don’t try justifying it. I just do it lol
guest
I love buying nail polish, and I do my own nails always. Would never pay some ridiculous amount of money for something I’ve learned to do myself – The whole filing, soaking the hands, pushing back cuticles, etc. Plus I keep thinking about how much polish I could buy with that amount of money!
I did get my nails done once, a super bright kelly green, and it chipped within two days. Lame.
Not to mention it’s been a lot of fun learning how to do my own nails the past two or three years. Now I hardly even have to do any clean up around the nails at the end with my paintbrush dipped in acetone. That, and my manicures always last 7 – 10 days. Must be my base coat or something, I am not sure. Or course, usually I get bored within three days or so and change it up anyway.
If you really want it, why not? No need to justify getting your nails done.
guest
I’ve literally never gotten my fingers done at a salon. I only do it myself
guest
I go for pedicures once a month and manicures when I have something going on. I usually do my own finger nails, but if there is a wedding or special event coming up I’ll get a professional manicure. I work on a computer most of the day and my hands and wrists get very sore. The hand massages they give are amazing and help my hands feel a lot better.
daffodil / 1525 posts
I justified doing it ONCE but then decided it isn’t really worth the $8-12 and I’d rather eat a delicious sushi meal for that much.
magnolia / 1054 posts
I always do my own nails, it saves a lot more money. I’ve gotten pedicures before, but $35 for something that I could’ve done myself? never again
guest
I do my own nails. They are currently looking something similar to this: http://myawesomebeauty.com/2012/01/29/summerfresh-nail-design/
now pedicures are a different story. I tried giving myself one and it just got really messy.
guest
my friends spend 75 -$150 on manicures –> hefty pricetag for nails
guest
Try gels. They’re expensive but they last for a long time
guest
I don’t get them because I have crap for nails and have to keep them short. I don’t want acrylic nails. But honey, you don’t gotta justify anything. If it makes you feel good, girly, like you are rewarding yourself for all you do, I say go for it, as often as you want. Everybody should do something nice for themselves. Years ago we lived on a hilltop and had a hot top on the patio outside. When I’d get off work at midnight I’d go outside and slip in sans clothing. It was wonderful, and there wasn’t anyone around to see.
guest
Where in the world do you live that a basic mani is $12?! Anyway..
I don’t like getting them at all, i find that is hurts a little, my hands and feet are very sensitive. But I like my nails to look pretty.
I don’t get a normal polish, I either do silk wrapped acrylic or schlack, which lasts a few weeks for me.
I’ve tried to learn to do my own, but I HATE that even more then going in and getting one. I’d rather pay someone else to do it, knowing they will do a far better job that I ever would.
rose / 980 posts
You don’t ever have to get a manicure. I don’t like them much either. I have long nails and have had them done maybe five times in my life. I can file them and stuff all by myself. I do think it is a waste of time and money for me. Pedicures make more sense to me since it is a bit harder to get down there and stuff, but I’ve never had one.
guest
My nails suck, no matter what vitamins or “nail and hair enricher” I take. So I resort to fake nails, not the ridiculously long bimbo nails, but they look pretty snazzy and I feel like I have a teensy bit of justification. But why take it too seriously?
guest
A manicure tends to cost $10-20, and since that’s the price of a bottle of good quality nail polish (OPI, Essie), I do my nails myself. I don’t go through the “hand/foot spa” process, just use nail remover with cotton balls, base coat and two coats of polish. Polish on my hands last at most a week, but I keep it for 5 days, remove on the 6th day and let my nails “rest/breathe”, then base coat and polish the 7th day. My right index fingernail gets weak, so I’d give my hands a break from polish for another week or month.
I would rather spend my money building a collection of polish (maybe some I should throw out) than going to the nail salon. Also be aware of how they clean their tools and certifications. At least when I do it myself, I know where my stuff has been.