October 23, 2007 12:55 PM
Don't judge me by my nails :)
That Southern Women post reminded me of something.
There is so much I like about the South - the manners, the drawl, the sweet tea (though I never make it myself), the slower pace, the waves on the road - but there is one thing I just can't get into: the perfect nails thing.
I can't even imagine having the time or the money or the willingness to spend either on manicures and pedicures.
Most of the time I forget about it, but I just became more conscious last week when I did that TV interview - you know, the pressure to look like the perfect Christian woman. But you know, that just isn't me. I tried once long ago to get into the swing of manicures/pedicures, but it didn't last long - I just kept looking at my hands and feeling like I was looking at an alien's fingers.
Anyone out there know what I mean?
Comments
I know EXACTLY what you mean! I can't do it, either. It's not relaxing for me to give up the time and money and then fret about keeping up the pretty manicure for a week or two.
Posted by: Amanda at SoManyJoys | October 23, 2007 2:01 PM
Oh my goodness! I identify with that feeling. A long time ago when I was going to cosmetology school, we were required to get our nails done. I was excited, since I have never really had nails (because I bite them {blushes}). So, I got them put on and I couldn't stand them. I would look down at my hands and ask myself who I thought I was pretending to be!! It was SOOOO not me. Who has time for that anyway!! :)
~B
Posted by: B | October 23, 2007 2:18 PM
I actually love having my nails done, although have only gotten to a handful of times. I think it makes doing housework and such a lot easier. (although not changing diapers....that was harder). But like previous commenters, can't justify the money spent on nails. If I can someday though, I probably will.
Having recently moved to the south I think you're right Barbara, it is a lot more common and mostly expected for middle class (even lower middle class) and higher economic households to have their nails done.
Posted by: tiffany | October 23, 2007 2:37 PM
True Southern Woman here who can't wear fake nails! I break them, pick at them, etc. Not practical at all for me.
I go without polish most of the time. However, would not dream of leaving them "naked" for special occasions/outings/trips/etc.
If I could afford to, I would have regular manicures!
I always have my toes painted though. Always.
A massage and pedicure is a very typical gift from my husband for my birthday/anniversary. etc.
Fun post!
Posted by: Jenifer | October 23, 2007 5:01 PM
I used to be the same, and I still never have my nails done by anyone else, but a few years ago my teenage daughters and I started doing nails together on Sunday evenings, and it was fun! Now I still do them by myself and on the occasional Sunday evening when one of them is home, we still do it together. It helps to get good enough polish to last all week.
Posted by: Diane | October 23, 2007 7:17 PM
AMEN!
Posted by: Im | October 23, 2007 7:48 PM
Who needs manicured nails? :)
Posted by: Holly | October 23, 2007 8:12 PM
I've been in the South since High school, which is now half my life, but the nails thing is something I can't get myself into. Shoot, I'm lucky if I get my face waxed or hair trimmed as often as it's needed!
I had my very first pedicure this summer, after hubby got me a gift certificate for Mother's Day. I've had 2 professional manicures in my life.... never with fake nails (the plus side of needing to wax= strong nails). And my toes are currently still sporting the remains of the pedicure that they had in early August. Thankfully now it's cool enough to wear socks again and I can keep pretending I don't care that my toes are not up to the Southern Belle standards without anyone else noticing. :-)
Posted by: Lauren | October 23, 2007 8:31 PM
I haveonly had one professional manicure/pedicure done once in my life. A friend paid for it as my 40th birthday gift because she simply could not believe I had never gone.
As I was getting my pedicure a man that worked there walked past the lady doing my pedicure and she spoke to him in a language other than English. I didn't understand what she said, but I did recognize the language and so I said something in that language to the lady doing my feet. You should have seen her mouth drop open. I can only imagine what she might have just said to him about my feet! My feet that had never had a pedicure. Too funny!
Posted by: Shelley | October 23, 2007 8:43 PM
I totally can relate to what you are saying. I'm a teacher, and it seemed the more I invested in my nails the more often they would break from the chalkboard, or would snag on something. I felt as if, for me, it was a sign to ask myself why I was spending money on it if it wasn't working! I was really just doing it to "keep up with the Joneses."
Posted by: KT | October 23, 2007 10:32 PM
Really, its a southern thing? I lived in MO for a long time and before I moved down south it seemed I noticed fake nails more than ever. I seem to notice it on Christian women who are on the mags/book covers or whatever. I wonder about how we are presenting ourselves to the world when EVERYTHING about us looks perfect!
I am all for long nails naturally but I couldn't do the fake nails thing. I gag as I walk pass the nail salon on my way out of Wal Mart. I wonder how they breathe in there!
On a good note, my mother in law bit her nails all the time. She got fake nails for a few months but after they all came off (or removed, she didn't clarify) she was able to stop biting her nails. She loved them long and the fake nails helped her break her habit!
Posted by: Christian Faith | October 24, 2007 8:11 AM
I always have my hands in iodine solution, in the dirt, a sink full of dishes or wrapped around the pitch fork...I don't even do the nail thing. I am a farm girl and nails...well...need I say more? I thought about this very topic last week...I wondered if people would notice my working hands and think I wasn't feminine enough. It lasted a half a second and then I chuckled. I praise God for my life of working with my hands on this farm. It has been healing to my soul. It warms my heart to see others just use their hands for work. Course, I admire those who have beautiful nails too. What is so weird is both my girls love to do their nails. I love to watch them. I just don't have it in me. I do paint my toenails every now and again. It is just painting, no pedicure.
Love ya!!
Posted by: KSMilkmaid | October 24, 2007 10:20 AM
Ha! That is so true! My mom has perfectly manicured nails--short b/c of work but clean and manicured. She always gets onto me about mine, but I just don't have time! Or money!
Posted by: millicent | October 25, 2007 8:49 AM
Hi stranger! Found you through a friend (www.celticpole.blogspot.com) who linked to you.
It's amazing how emotional and close to one's identity these topics can be. I work for a mission agency and have long followed the work of a ministry called "Women of the Harvest" (see www.womenoftheharvest.com) and try to support it though its 'culture' and assumptions make me squirm a bit...
One of their specialties is rounding up missionary women in different parts of the world, taking them to a fancy resort/hotel for a weekend and pampering them. These tough, sometimes burned-out missionary ladies get their hair restyled, manicures and pedicures, massages, color analysis - the works.
Can you imagine the culture shock and mixed emotions? Maybe you spend your days wiping the noses of a hundred orphans, and then suddenly, between Bible-teaching sessions and small-group meetings, you're starring on your own personal edition of Extreme Makeover. I'd like to go just to see what these women feel about the whole thing. Do some push it all away? Do others take the pampering and feel guilty? Do they go home feeling sorry for themselves, or strengthened for the journey?
The weekends are bathed in prayer by the ministry's supporters across the US and the world - and well they should be, with all the conflicting emotions they must bring up!
Posted by: Marti | October 27, 2007 11:50 AM
Really love a pedicure, makes toes and heels so "finished" and clean looking. Also, pedicures done well rarely chip...
UNLIKE manicures. I have such busy hands, and play piano, that I can't abide to slow down and baby my nails or keep polish tidy. Do keep them short, neat, and buffed, though so they don't snag or rip. Takes all of 5 minutes at night and is relaxing.
One of my favorite pair of hands to look at is my friend, an organic gardener with strong beautiful feminine hands and the dirt imbedded that goes along with her lifestyle. Just beautiful.
deb meyers
Posted by: floorplan | October 29, 2007 4:25 PM
