Getting a gel manicure every four to six weeks is a luxury I’m really grateful for. When I was younger, I remember my mom and aunt always having beautiful, well manicured nails and that was always so glamorous to me. It’s a tradition I’ve kept up, even though the manicures I get are definitely more elaborate than the simple red, French, or nude my mom and aunt would get.
I feel like an It Girl every time I get a fresh gel mani done by Lydia at Oh My Nails. Although sometimes I opt for a simple milky white or light pink, most of the time I go in with a vision for something funky. I love experimenting with fun colors, designs, and even gems. For me, nails are a fun way to express my creativity and style in a relatively small way.
I recently got back on TikTok and stumbled upon some discussions around nails — what nails are classy, what nails are trashy, and the type of nails that “attract a rich man.” Now, I don’t really expect nuance on TikTok, but I was really taken aback by how many young women held such closed minded views when it comes to nail art and designs. According to “femininity experts,” anything other than a French or funny bunny was a bad idea. If you work in corporate, are above the age of 25, and want a husband, you better not have color or designs on your nails.
As a 33 year old married woman who works in corporate, I’m here to tell you to not listen to any of these women. These binary views of femininity and “class” are extremely cartoonish and ridiculous. In reality, most people are not paying attention to your nails unless they are extremely elaborate and long and even then, it’s not something they will be fixated on. I also regularly get compliments on my nails from women in upper management at my job — who also have cool nails. As for “nails to attract a high value man,” most men are definitely not looking at your nails! And any man who is going to place such harsh judgements on you based on the style of your nails is likely not worth your time.
I do think having well groomed nails is a good idea for everyone — men and women alike. That doesn’t mean you need to have an expensive manicure; it just means keeping your nails clean and healthy. I get my fun nails for me and for the other women who appreciate nail art. Do what makes you feel good and don’t let these arbitrary rules stop you from expressing yourself.
(And if you’re wondering what I use to keep my nails strong, I just use castor oil and multi-vitamins from Ritual!)
Here are some of my favorite manicures I’ve gotten to give you some inspiration for summer 2024:
Funky, 70s inspired nails
Avocado nails
Pastel French nails
Glazed donut nails
Euphoria nails
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