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Unnecessary Yet Still Necessary: Mani’s and Pedi’s

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCF chapter.

Having freshly painted fingers and toes is not a necessity. Yet somehow the female species seems to have made it one. About every week and a half we make our way to the nearest nail salon to relax and get glammed up. Personally, I feel as though having my nails done makes me at least feel more gorgeous and classy. That’s only after my mind clears out all the methyl methacrylate from its pores.

Manicures and pedicures are not cheap. They are one of our biggest beauty investments because they are quite pricey and unfortunately, require a tip. So why do we keep this on our weekly routine? There are hundreds of nail polish options at the store for a mere two bucks. Are we that lazy?

The biggest reason is that we can never paint our right hand as well as our left (Switch if you’re a lefty). It’s too frustrating to attempt it at all. The act of going to the nail salon is relaxing. We know it will be comforting to have someone else do the work to make us even more beautiful.

Painted nails have become a trend seen all over the fashion world. With new options of styles to paint our nails, it’s exciting to try something new. Either with mismatched colors or a subtle design, manicured nails are part of the wardrobe. It’s similar to buying a new outfit or the latest must-have accessories. Some daring gals even get images of the latest trends painted onto their nails.

Also, every group of girlfriends needs a Girl’s Night Out. This is our time to talk about how clueless our men are or how we can’t figure out why going on the elliptical isn’t helping us drop pounds. Some nail salons have even begun offering a whole spa experience by supplying wine, cheese and fruit trays. Relaxation is key at the end of the week, so why not spend it with our gals and glam up our nails for that weekend’s events while letting loose at the same time.

So once you get over the raging winds of acetone fumes and the fact that all the employees are talking about you in a foreign language, we realize that getting our nails done is an experience – not just an excuse to spend our paychecks. We leave the salon feeling sassy and we’re boosted with a little bit more confidence. So don’t feel bad with this unnecessary purchase; it’s totally necessary.  

 Keegan is a sophomore at UCF majoring in Environmental Studies and is part of the HCUCF team as an editorial writer. Keegan is obsessed with all things Disney and is currently training for a marathon. If she survives, she will attend law school and dedicate her life to making the hospitality industry as environmentally friendly as possible. 
Nicholas Osler graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2014 with a degree in Interpersonal/Organizational Communication. Connect with him on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasosler