Hey collegiettes, my name is Edel and I got my nails done for the first time. Thanks to the Bare Naked Ladies, an organization at JMU that promotes self-love and body positivity, my friend Christy and I won a $20 gift card to get our nails done!
Getting them done
I never have gotten my nails done before so this was an exciting experience. Personally it’s not only the cost but I tend to paint my nails, mess them up, and call it a day. Since I had a gift card I decided to go all out and get acrylic nails.
My nails when I normally paint them on a (very) good day
I love having my nails long and square shape but as usual I always break my nail so it never lasts long. I was really excited to get acrylic nails. The process was super interesting and very relaxing for the most part. I never knew how much went into getting fake nails. The tools went beyond a nail file and remover.
The whole time I felt so out of place because I didn’t know what was going on, while  everyone else there seemed to have it on lock down.  Despite that, once I got them on and painted all I could think about is how pretty my nails looked.
First dilemma
Within the first few minutes under the nail dryer I managed to screw up the nail polish on my thumb. Sheer panic overcame me and all I could think was “Wow, I’m such a clutz.”
Luckily, I gained the guts to tell the manicurist that I messed up my nail and he fixed it up in a giffy. Â I came out of the nail salon feeling like a whole new person.
After one week
The first few days were difficult because I never knew how much of a difference long nails made. It was a weird sensation. I felt like a dog with socks on. Every day tasks that I used my hands for felt strange, such as:
Texting
It was weird to hear the tapping of my nail on my phone and feel my nail touch the screen even when I used the palm of my fingers.
Showers
Lathering my hair felt weird when I didn’t use my nails. I never noticed how much I used the tips of my fingers to lather.
Opening bags of chips
This task was near impossible for me. I felt like I forgot how to use my hands. I had to have my friend open the small but mighty bag of chips for me.
Typing on a keyboard Â
With my fake nails, typing felt more strenuous on my hand joints.
Conclusion
I ended up overcoming most of the obstacles I ran into. Overall, I enjoyed having fake nails and honestly I’d do it again if it didn’t cost so much to maintain. They made me feel like a boss a** b*tch.