Generally, I’m not the girly type.
I don’t wear makeup on a daily basis. In fact, I’m sure I’ve gone years without mascara.
I don’t own a pair of heels.
I wear my hair goopless, shiny, and straight.
I’m not opposed to showing a little cleavage now and then, but my breasts occurred naturally. They don’t require any additional prep when I’m getting ready to go out.
When my friend suggested we get our nails done before the Surrey Conference, I thought having pretty hands would give me a boost. And I was right. I felt almost dainty.
I had no idea:
1. They are painful for about 24 hours. Not miserable, just sore.
2. I cannot text properly with fingernails. I don’t know how anyone does. There was a number between almost every letter I typed into my phone. I spent more time backspacing than I usually do messaging.
3. I cannot type properly with fingernails – especially on my laptop. I don’t know how anyone does. I spent more time backspacing and deleting than I usually do typing.
4. I cannot ten-key or number key properly with fingernails. I don’t know how anyone does. I spent more time backspacing and deleting than I usually do keying in numbers. And I’m an accountant.
5. You’ll get used to them is an out-right lie. Well, maybe not out-right. And it may be true for some people. But it isn’t true for me. I know that, because today, 8 days after I had the nails done, I called the man I had paid to put them on.
“How long to take them off?” I asked.
“Ten minutes,” he said.
I was relieved. I’d finally be able to finish the payroll reports at work.
I go there expecting some magic solution that would melt them right down to my normal fingernails. But, nooooooooooooooooooo! He got out these little pliers with sharp pinching ends. He began to dig and gouge and pick at the acrylics until he was tearing into my real nail.
“Wait,” I said. “I thought you were going to soak them to get them off.”
“No,” he answered, digging again. “That would take at least an hour.”
We ended up agreeing that he would cut them short, file them down, and I would return in two weeks when the acrylics would come off more easily.
Now I understand the phrase, “It hurts to be beautiful,” and my nails aren’t even pretty anymore.
Thinkin’ he wasn’t so smart. I had my my nails done ONE time, (by my daughter). When I felt the same as you, she said she’d just cut them short and file them, as the alternative, (soaking them off), was too time-consuming for me.
I can’t believe a licensed professional would do what he did. He could have permanently damaged the nail bed trying to remove them that way.
But I have to agree with what you wrote. It would take quite a while to get used to them. And I just didn’t have time or patience for that either.
Ahh, the price of beauty. Or perceived beauty.
See you Sunday- with short nails.:-) Ruth
Ouch. I’l just file my down and wait.
They looked good for week. You enjoyed them for that week. They’re al but gone now, but remember that week you enjoyed them. And NEVER do it again. 🙂
AH, Such pain is the price of superficial beauty!
I had no idea having artificial nails was so involved! Years ago someone told me about developing a nail fungus from wearing artificial nails and infecting the nail bed. UGH! PAIN! PAIN! After that, I never had any further interest in torturing myself. Now we have Botox, breast reconfiguation, eyelash replacement, face lifts, dental treatments and such to remind us of our perceived imperfections.
Give me a true smile from the heart anyday.
I can definitely do the smile thing.