02.16.05
Goodbye nails
I have weak fingernails. After flaking, chipping, splitting, breaking, bending, and tearing for many years in ugly and painful ways, several years ago I started getting acrylic nails applied by a manicurist on a regular basis. Well, no more, at least for now.
With my trip to Japan in the works, I have been researching the elements in my current lifestyle that will be affected by my transition. Sky, my manicurist actually brought it up after I told her about my intent to travel. She said a customer came in one day on a trip from Japan. This Japanese woman asked about the cost of an acrylic set. Sky told her $23. The woman asked, “per nail?” “No, all together,” Sky replied. The woman was amazed. She said acrylic nails were very expensive in Japan. So I set out to do research and my findings confirmed it: acrylic nails are too expensive for me to upkeep in Japan, so I had to take them off. It’s quite an adaption.
My research included asking Diana, a woman in my Japanese class, who spent a year in Japan. I noticed one day that she had well manicured nails, so I asked her. She said that it was expensive, perhaps $10 per nail.
Next, of course, was the internet. I am slooowwly getting better at doing advanced Google searches for Japanese websites, but I’m still not great. It would be easier if I knew more kanji. I did find a couple of salons that offer acrylic nails in Tokyo. Most had no prices, which always makes me nervous. Generally if they don’t list it, they’re afraid it will scare you off. One side did, and the cost was $12 per nail. $12! That’s $120 for a full set! Waaayyyy too pricey.
So I talked it over with Sky, and she said that before I left, we would take off the acrylic, so I could get used to having no nails, and have manicures instead. But she kept putting it off. Finally today, I mentioned it again, and mentioned my trip was only 6 weeks away. It took a couple minutes for it to sink in (with me, too, 6 weeks! ack!), but she decided today was the day to make the change.
The process wasn’t too painful, but now I really have no nails, because Sky trimmed them to the quick. The top layer of my nails came off with the acrylic (not in a painful way), so they’re extra thin. She’ll let them grow out slowly over time. I need to have weekly manicures before I go so that she can keep them neat and strong until the thicker nail grows out. She also gave me the bottle of nail polish she had blended for me, so I can do touch-ups during the week if necessary. Nail polish doesn’t stick to natural nails as well as it does to the acrylic.
So far, it’s weird. I hadn’t realized how much I used my strong, thick, acrylicly enhanced fingernails. My fingertips are tender from having been sheltered all this time. It’s harder to pick things up or open things or push buttons. Scratching is a whole new experience. I have to learn to use my fingertips instead of my nails for scratching, or once my thin, sharp nails grow out, I will go back to accidentally slashing myself (and others) with them.
Also, my lack of nails emphasizes my short, stubby fingers and square hands, which looked a little better with longer (although not long) nails.