Just look at these gorgeous nails. They are my dream nails, the perfect shape: Almost pointy but not so pointy that the tips keep breaking off.
They belong to George, a great guy who works at Nordstrom, and he was pleased by how much I loved them. They’re his real nails, obviously, and he gets them done at a place on Melrose called Pamper or Pamper Something.
We discussed my own nails, which are kind of oval. As everyone knows, I do my own nails, because I find it relaxing. I admit that it’s hard to make them all the same shape. I like to blame the nail-files but I guess it’s due to handedness and a less than optimal angle.
Here, look, from last winter:
Anyway, I’ve been irrationally proud to say that I’ve NEVER HAD A MANICURE, ever. I will be 65 in a couple of weeks, so that’s more than fifty years of doing my nails. It’s a long streak, and one I didn’t plan to end. I could have it on my gravestone or in my obituary. “She did her own nails.”
BUT! Why not just go get someone to make my nails look more like George’s???
This is my dilemma. If I give in and do it, can I see it as a refutation of stupid, reflexive stubbornness and personal “policies” that have outlived their usefulness? Can I turn it into a triumph somehow? I want to have my cake and eat it too, an expression I hate because it doesn’t even make sense to me.
Or, I can stick to my guns, because I don’t like the idea of paying an immigrant a pittance to service me while working in a toxic atmosphere. It seems so colonialist and fucked up.
Okay, so let’s not vote on how dumb I am, it’s a given. I want you to vote yes or no on getting a manicure.
Hurry up though, I could get a stroke or break my neck trying to tie my shoes (which you can just see in the left-hand corner of George’s beautiful nails.)
if you get one get an organic one where they don’t do acrylics and pay lots of money for it! that solves some of your problems. I don’t like getting manicures at all. i think it is a waste of time- like many things- but i like the look of professionally manicured nails. i am no help at all i can tell already. i love the way your nails looks too. ok so don’t get one!
I bet you’ll hate it unless you go to the right person the first time. So go to george’s person or don’t do it.
marya – Okay, so, No. Thank you for your well-thought-out verdict!
Ali – ah, good advice, thank you!
I guess I am hopelessly bougie. I get a mani pedi at one of those “sweat shop” nail salons, every three weeks. I turned 65 this year and it’s like, why not, it’s kind of fun.
As I have gotten older, especially after turning 65, which I am still trying to process, I figure, fuck it, I will be dead soon anyway.
However, your nails are gorgeous and if you enjoy doing them, do them yourself. Fuck it.
I do tip well, because, fuck it.
I don’t suppose, Big Sis, that you could arrange to pop over and see to my toe nails which, in my arthritic old age, are impossible to reach let alone trim ‘n’ shape?
Jes’ askin’!
Your nails are perfectly gorgeous, you keep right on doing what you’re doing all by yourself. Why bring someone else into the situation who might possibly make your nails much less than perfect and crush your soul? And then try to repair whatever damage yourself, and the horrible downward spiral that could trigger? Save your money for chocolate and tacos and fine bourbon.
Your nails look better than George’s.
Every time I get a manicure I end up regretting it because, as I’m sure you’re well aware, if you want something done well then do it yourself.
They also have a terrible tendency to file the actual nail bed – is that to weaken them so you have to come back and eventually resort to gels and acrylics? Am I paranoid? Yes to both.
When I first moved to LA my boss from hell told me to go to pamper. I was broke and ended up spending north of $120 on a manicure alone.
Pass!
I’ve been quietly reading for about 10 years now. I like to think that if we ever met you’d want to adopt me as one of your own. Indignation is my default emotion, I’m not afraid to let it be known, I wear red lipstick daily, and I do my own nails.
Go get the manicure! I’m dying for ultra sleek stilleto nails! Life is getting shorter Sister!
Marla Griffith – Yep, fuck it. I’m going to take this as a No.
David Duff – Can the memsahib do this for you? Can you wait until October?
Bevitron – OH NO, I can’t afford a downward spiral. Okie doke.
Giorgia – I’m glad you wrote! No need to keep quiet! This is a persuasive No, thank you, and let’s hear more about your lipstick.
Dj – Shit. This is a strong Yes. Life is both too short and too long, I’m thinking.
I’d have to start a whole blog to list all the shades and brands of red I have. However, I recently decide to forgoe all the old favorites and search for a cruelty free alternative (since animals are better than 99.9% of people.) I found a brand called luscious cosmetics that makes matte lipstick. I got an orangey red and a blue red, and so far so good. I hate the packaging, though. Why can’t these hippies do luxury? Slap some gold on there! I still want to feel elegant while not contributing to blinding rabbits.
Don’t do it. I say this because I have never had a manicure either.
Your nails look fantastic.
Giorgia – Start a lipstick blog! For the utmost in luxury, I think Pat McGrath is the best. The box is so ornate, I hate to throw it away. I don’t know about the rabbits on this though.
Scoutio – Okay. We are the only ones alive, probably.
Um, no, never had a manicure either.
Your nails are perfect darlin’.
Totally better than George’s.
NO!
Your nails look great and you know you’ll pay a fortune and they’ll fuck them up!
Then you’ll want to use them for violence.
Get the manicure. You can always go back to not-getting manicures.