Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Lovely Natural Nails

Photo: colorful.bigbangfish.com

When I was in my early 20s, I polished my nails twice a week in my (then) signature shade, Revlon's All That Jazz. The color was a dark, plum red with shimmer. No one ever saw me without polished nails because well ... I always took the time to polish them. Now that I'm no longer in my early 20s, I don't have the time or inclination for the upkeep.

All That Jazz - my old signature color
My new signature color is Nicka's Sea Shell, a more forgiving off-white color with shimmer. (See the image below, it's the left, bottom bottle.) Chips are less noticeable in lighter shades, so nails can be polished once a week. But you know what? Most of the time, I don't polish my nails, period.

My newest fetish is groomed, short, all natural nails. I don't even buff them unless I get an ink stain on a fingerenail.


Healthy, natural nails are beautiful just the way they are. When you ponder it, your 10 fingernails and 10 toenails are a marvel. A natural wonder. How does Mother Nature grow a lovely nail? The hard part of the nail is made out of Keratin protein. Layers of dead, compacted cells cause your nails to be strong, yet flexible. 


So why do we spend years covering them up with nail polish? Why is red, pink, blue, purple, black or white considered more attractive then the color of flesh? Could it be what it represents? A person of leisure, who has the time and money to color her nails? I don't know the answer. Do you?


Lately I mainly polish my nails in the summer. And I am fine with that. 


There are many things we don't know in our early 20s ...


When I was one-and twenty
I heard a wise man say,
“Give crowns and pounds and guineas
       But not your heart away;
Give pearls away and rubies
       But keep your fancy free.”
But I was one-and-twenty,
       No use to talk to me.

When I was one-and-twenty
       I heard him say again,
“The heart out of the bosom
       Was never given in vain;
’Tis paid with sighs a plenty
       And sold for endless rue.”
And I am two-and-twenty,
       And oh, ’tis true, ’tis true.
   
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2 comments:

  1. I enjoyed reading this post, Debra. I can't remember what it was like to be in my early twenties, but I do remember taking excellent care of my nails even as a teenager. I also remember how I loved red nail polish and still do, but, like you, I now opt for natural colors that don't require the upkeep. There are just too many other wonderful things to do out there.

    Cheers, M-T

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    1. I agree with everything you say, Marie-Thérèse! There are too many other wonderful things to engage in then fussy grooming upkeeps of any kind! I went to nail salons 4 - 5 times to have my nails done. I did so for the experience, but decided that even that took too much time. So now its clean, simple grooming and DIY at home!

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