Nails

I haven’t painted my nails in over two years.

Peeling polish was always a big pet peeve so I was constantly apply and reapplying paint. Using the remover to take off when I was bored and starting again with whatever shade I felt represented my mood for the season.

I did dabble in acrylics for a bit as well. But I was honestly too lazy for that to be a regular habit for me to keep up with.

After listening to a podcast about common household toxins I was terrified by the fact that a majority were in the products I was regularly applying directly to my body.

For the sake of both my sanity and my wallet- which is a huge factor because products that contain less toxins are usually more expensive than their counterparts- I started with one change at a time. Saying goodbye to nail polish seemed to be the easiest and would actually save me money so I began there.

Yes, at first it was tough for aesthetic reasons.  Colored nails to me were a form of expression and an accessory. My ring collection has since expanded.

I do not take anything specifically for my nails to grow. No supplements, no gummy bears, nada. These babies have broken countless times and will continue to do so, I just have to suck it up and resist the urge to cut all of them off when one starts to tear at the base. It really does challenge my perfectionism. But they grow back faster and stronger every time it seems.

You can still find creative ways to wear them that doesn’t involve added chemicals. Filing them in this shape requires a bit of effort/ attention and shows that they are still taken care of.

I still get manicures and pedicures occasionally just without polish. It is a nice ritual and an indulgent self care practice that doesn’t have to be sacrificed. Now it just doesn’t take as long or cost as much.

People ask about my nails often, I am sharing to show that as a woman not painting your nails is an option because truthfully I didn’t know that it was.