My general conclusion now is this: If you're going to wear acrylic nails, please keep it simple. Make them look natural. You'll get all the benefits without the distraction from your overall appearance.
Now commences the original post, with some changes to reflect my change in opinion. I'm okay with changing my mind, and I hope you are too.
Let's take a trip back in time. Back to when I was an awkward preteen. During those times, I would have worn anything if I thought it was cool. I remember taking hints from my friends' fashion choices to inform my own. At one point I contemplated getting acrylic nails because many of the girls in my class were getting them.
Back then, I thought it would make me so cool to attach fake nails to my already pretty nice ones. About ten years later I have the wisdom and fashion sense to know better.
I believe that over-the top acrylic nails fall into the same category as wife beaters, exposed bra straps, and mullets. That category, friends, is trashy. They scream tacky and cheap. There is nothing positive about them.
When a woman (or some men) wear crazy acrylic nails, so many questions regarding their health and fashion sense come to mind. Here are some:
1) What are they covering under those fake nails? Fungal infections?
2) Is their neighborhood so dangerous that they need wolverine claws for protection?
3) Are they going for a Guinness World Record for longest nails?
4) Is Kate Middleton doing this? Then why should you?
That last question leads me to this point. Ladies and gents, you should always strive for class. You're swimming in that river in Egypt if you think that crazy, brightly covered, acrylic
Try to look natural, as I said before. You will reap so many benefits if you go with natural rather than really obviously fake nails. I understand now that people require acrylics for various reasons, but like anything that has its benefits, it must be done in moderation. :)
I applaud you for having your own opinion, but unfortunately most people don't agree with you. I work with specialty foods (selling, not making) and the majority of my customers are upper class and very particular about their food. I and all of my coworkers have fake nails. Most of us have French manicures, not ten thousand colors, and all of us have short tips (long are impractical in our line of work). Our customers look closely at our hands when we handle their food. Fake nails never show dirt under the nails- a huge no-no when working with food, but an unfortunate by-product of working on your feet all day. Furthermore, they show our (again, mostly upper-class) customers that we care about ourselves and our appearance enough to spend regular time and money looking professional and well-groomed. I'm sorry, honey, but where I'm from well-done nails (along with, you know, brushed hair and clean clothes) say that you're refined and professional, not trashy. I think you're confusing two-inch acrylic tips with zebra stripes with what the majority of American women with fake nails actually have... a gel covering with maybe a short acrylic tip, in either a solid color or a French manicure... And if you're so grown and wise now, why are you so judgemental and rude?
ReplyDeleteYour argument, while sound, has one major flaw: The results you talk about achieving through acrylic nails can also be achieved using nail polish. I understand that impressing your customers is important, but a simple coat of color or a french tip could achieve those results you mention. It would cover up dirt and communicate that you take care of yourself. Plus, you'd avoid the extra cost and time you use to maintain what I'm sure are very good looking nails. Unless of course your trips to the salon are tax deductible, in which case, I guess time and money don't matter with regard to getting fake nails. If they are tax deductible, please let me know. I'd really like a career where I can write off all of my fashion investments.
ReplyDeletemeghan you need to realize that some peoples nails simply dont grow at all and just break off. some people honestly look cleaner and more beautiful with their nails done. but as said. basic. I think your being a bit stereotypical in your assumption about nails and nail culture. a wide range of women are open to getting nails, and i have never heard anyone in my life have your opinion. congratulations for coming off as really unique and very ignorant.
ReplyDeleteAmigas y amigos, I appreciate your opinions and I hope you can respect mine. I also hope that we can all be friends, sing Kumbaya, and talk about how awesome Saturday Night Live was this weekend instead of debating over acrylic nails. In fact, I recommend you watch it right now and take your mind off of my silly blog. ¿Vale?
ReplyDeleteHere's the link.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hulu.com/watch/243609/saturday-night-live-justin-timberlake
If you'd like, I'll write an article about how great I think Justin Timberlake is, which I'm sure is something we can all agree on. Unless of course you think that he cheated on Jessica Biel, in which case we might disagree again. If that is the way it is, I'll talk about Lady Gaga, unless you think she is a wackadoo. Then I might just have to say, as Mother Monster taught me, "Eh, eh, there's nothing else I can say."