"I don't even look at this as luxury," she said. "It's basic cleanliness."
Cleanliness? I'm sure that painting your nails every week with toxic chemicals is terrific hygiene. How about using a nailbrush and some soap and water?
The things some women decide they must spend money on... Amazing.
Nailtiques has made my inability to afford a manicure anymore a little less painful. my nails are brittle, and split without tons of polish to hold them together. but nailtiques made them stronger. they dont look great, but they aren't all busted up.
however, nothing is making my pedicure abstinence less painful. i suck with a brush--get that shit everywhere--so i am just doing without until sandal weather comes, and then i am going to suck it up and forgo something else for a pedicure once every two weeks.
I've never had acrylics until yesterday. For her birthday, my roommate and best friend wanted to get her nails done and wanted me to come. I've been scrabbling ineffectually at everything for the past two days, trying to open things, close things, twist things off, ziplock and plastic wrap and apply makeup... I understand why mostly well off people get these damn things because I can't do shit. I woke up this morning, scratched my face, and freaked the fuck out because I was half awake and couldn't figure out what the fuck was on my hands.
@danista: I get gel, and keep them at just above my fingertips. That way, when I go back 2 weeks later, they have only just then reached the point at which I cannot stand them.
It's been documented for some time that the U.S. is overretailed. It was inevitable, and the crisis has increased the pace of retail failures exponentially. I'm not surprised independent businesses catering to personal services are among the fastest to drop.
But after I shovel my dirt this weekend I'm definitely getting a mani/pedi. Can't go into the office looking like the farmhand I secretly am.
heh, the only reason i can post this now is because I decided not to go to the salon, and try to hold out a few more days. Plus I'm going to do my own feet and eyebrows.
The hair, however.....I will not eat so that I can get my hair done every two weeks. I even have a line item for it in my budget.
@laddibugg: I've always done my own eyebrows and feet, and I've always gotten crazy compliments on my eyebrows. And I find that when I do my own feet, the polish actually lasts longer. I keep them scraped and stuff too, with my giant collection of foot maintenance stuff. And I pluck my eyebrows every other day, just about. But I started getting gel nails last year, and I love the pretty colors that last 2 weeks. I gave it up for a couple of months, but it just made me sad to look down at my colorless, chipped, breaking nails. So I started up again, and now I get cheered up a little every time I look down at the pretty colors on my hands!
@Dictator for Life: it lasts longer because salons always use too much polish plus topcoat and even the slightest chip in the polish can cause all the polish on the nail to fall off.
i used to do mani pedis at salons for fun...it felt good and i felt like i looked a little better. i could easily do them at home, but chose to go to a salon. last year, i stopped because i'm not moneybags malone. i don't go to a nail salon for anything anymore, and i and use training nights at salons to get my hair either touched up or colored for either a discount price or for free. i don't feel bad about it one solitary bit. there is no shame in 'falling on your wallet'. i'm looking out for myself at this point, and when it comes to retirement, it's not like the ladies at the nail salon are going to pool a fund to take care of me.
Finally after 20 years of acrylic nails i took them off recently. Now i have nubs for fingers. I hate to say it but i would rather go out to a movie or dinner than get nails. Have to enjoy life while we can i guess.
Topical! I've been a life-long nervous nail-biter, chewer, knuckle-cracker, whatevah. My new years resolution in 2008 was to stop the nail chompin'. Anyway, for over a year I've been getting a monthly manicure (during, you know, the recession), because it's a cheap thrill ($15 + tip!) that makes me feel good about something that I usually feel anxious about (the grubby state of my hands) or take my general anxiety out on. And, I figure, I don't want to mess up something I've spent money on.
However, I haven't gotten may hair cut by a pro in 11 months. Over the sink bang trims afford my new nail habit... :)
@cantstopwontstop: I feel you on this. Life-long biter, cuticle picker, fidgeter here. I will periodically go abbout 6 months with great nails, but the thing is, I have to be getting frequent manicures. If they don't look nice I will "round them out/even them" to the point where they just go back to being the little nubs I have always had. I find manicures last longer than when I polish myself, so if I can do once a week I have some hope of keeping my hands nice. It is almost a necessity for me if I don't want to have gross, eaten fingertips.
@cantstopwontstop: Well, you know also if you are job hunting, having your nails already taken care of is one less thing to stress about. You know your hands look great and you can focus on other stuff.
I love pedicures because the arthritis and fibromyalgia that have taken my feet over makes them hurt so bad all the time. But a nice warm footbath, followed by a wax dip w/booties, followed by a foot massage feels so unbelievably gooooodddd....
I do go an extra week between nail appointments, though. Oh, and yes, I can and do bite my acrylics, even though I keep them very short and natural. So I usually have one to replace!
Well after the ice storm here left me without cable or internet for the last 16 days I am finally back yeaa!
I go without pedicures and I do my own color at home. I also only get my hair cut when I absolutely have to but I refuse to give up getting my nails done. After more years than I care to count of nail biting I finally started wearing acrylic nails. I quit biting them but no matter what I do my nails break and look horrible. Wearing the acrylic also makes my hands not look as crooked and deformed from the rheumatoid arthritis.
I'm going to preface this by saying that I'm having a really rotten day.
That being said: I'm already so sick of these news bits about what people are beginning to give up because of the economy. I don't need NYT to tell me what goods and services are non-necessities.
I'm a broke-ass college student who is facing a post-graduation job search this spring, in this economy.
So no, I'm not particularly interested in stories about people giving up manicures, or daily lattes, or staying in on Friday night to watch a movie, as ways to save money. This to me, is common sense.
@CandyColoredFrown: I am sorry you are having a bad day. But please don't everyone give up lattes because my broke ass already graduated daughter was finally able to find a job that she can barely afford to support herself on as a barista.
@CandyColoredFrown: sad for you, but you want the whole world to stop and be sensitive to YOUR plight? Some of us have been working for years and these little luxuries were our rewards for our hard work and climbing the ladder of success. It's frustrating to give them up. So, I feel for you, but I'm not going to apologize about being bummed out that I have to do without now. And yes, I am aware that I'm privileged to even have a job in this economy, even tho i recently got a paycut-but you are coming from a place of privilege too, as a college student. So, let's all try and be a little more understanding, and not demand the world revolve around our point of view.
@CandyColoredFrown: I agree x100. I couldn't afford manicures before this shit went down. And even if I could they seemed frivolous. 50 cent nail files, people.
For me it isn't even so much the money (although at $30 a pop for a spa mani pedi maybe it should be) but the time.
I just don't find myself with an hour to camp out at the salon and watch E! and drink tea and then wear my flip flops home in the cold. So I did my own the other day with a bucket and a towel... watching E! and drinking tea, of course.
@Uncommon Whore: I totally agree. I got some money for my birthday that I swore I was going to use for a pedicure, but it's been sitting in my wallet. For two months. I occasionally look at it and think, "Wow, I should do that....someday."
Somewhere along the way I just stopped biting my nails one day without realizing it. Now, I sort of need manicures because a lifetime of nail biting has left me clueless about how to correctly trim, file, and shape my nails. But in my currently unemployed state, I think I may spend some time learning how to do it myself.
@disco2000: I've done fake nails, but I use my hands for too many rough things to make them worthwhile. But I do like to get a basic manicure now and then and let them trim the cuticles and get everything nice and then I maintain that until I feel I "need" to go back and have them reshape it.
I do that with my eyebrows, too. I get them done and then keep them up myself for awhile until I get more than I want to tweeze and I go back.
Both paras above are sort of my "ideal" 'cause I don't do either of those things as regularly as I would if I had a job and needed to present myself out of the house every day. Nowadays I leave the house to go to the barn. yesterday I fell in the pasture trying to outwait Ms. Mare...so the whole eyebrow nail thing isn't a priority. Although I do know women who come to the barn and ride and groom their won horses who have fake nails.
I've given up on pedis ever since I started running and Muay Thai last year. I wouldn't wish my tatter, blistered feet w/ bruised, thickened toenails on anyone.
@amsci: Actually, says former dancer and current yogini, the more you beat your feet up the more you really need the pedi IMO.
For srs. I do my own hands - and own exfoliating facials blah blah - so I can afford to have my feet done. I'd rather not deal with the ramifications of doing otherwise.
02/13/09
Cleanliness? I'm sure that painting your nails every week with toxic chemicals is terrific hygiene. How about using a nailbrush and some soap and water?
The things some women decide they must spend money on... Amazing.
02/13/09
Budget version, for all you recessionistas: a quick soak in Ti-D-Bol and you're on your way! Fabulous!
02/12/09
however, nothing is making my pedicure abstinence less painful. i suck with a brush--get that shit everywhere--so i am just doing without until sandal weather comes, and then i am going to suck it up and forgo something else for a pedicure once every two weeks.
02/12/09
02/12/09
02/12/09
But after I shovel my dirt this weekend I'm definitely getting a mani/pedi. Can't go into the office looking like the farmhand I secretly am.
02/12/09
The hair, however.....I will not eat so that I can get my hair done every two weeks. I even have a line item for it in my budget.
02/12/09
02/13/09
i used to do mani pedis at salons for fun...it felt good and i felt like i looked a little better. i could easily do them at home, but chose to go to a salon. last year, i stopped because i'm not moneybags malone. i don't go to a nail salon for anything anymore, and i and use training nights at salons to get my hair either touched up or colored for either a discount price or for free. i don't feel bad about it one solitary bit. there is no shame in 'falling on your wallet'. i'm looking out for myself at this point, and when it comes to retirement, it's not like the ladies at the nail salon are going to pool a fund to take care of me.
02/12/09
02/12/09
02/12/09
However, I haven't gotten may hair cut by a pro in 11 months. Over the sink bang trims afford my new nail habit... :)
02/12/09
02/12/09
02/12/09
I do go an extra week between nail appointments, though. Oh, and yes, I can and do bite my acrylics, even though I keep them very short and natural. So I usually have one to replace!
02/12/09
I go without pedicures and I do my own color at home. I also only get my hair cut when I absolutely have to but I refuse to give up getting my nails done. After more years than I care to count of nail biting I finally started wearing acrylic nails. I quit biting them but no matter what I do my nails break and look horrible. Wearing the acrylic also makes my hands not look as crooked and deformed from the rheumatoid arthritis.
02/12/09
That being said: I'm already so sick of these news bits about what people are beginning to give up because of the economy. I don't need NYT to tell me what goods and services are non-necessities.
I'm a broke-ass college student who is facing a post-graduation job search this spring, in this economy.
So no, I'm not particularly interested in stories about people giving up manicures, or daily lattes, or staying in on Friday night to watch a movie, as ways to save money. This to me, is common sense.
02/12/09
02/12/09
02/12/09
02/13/09
02/12/09
I just don't find myself with an hour to camp out at the salon and watch E! and drink tea and then wear my flip flops home in the cold. So I did my own the other day with a bucket and a towel... watching E! and drinking tea, of course.
02/12/09
02/12/09
I have no pedicure to give up, because I don't like folks touching my feet.
02/12/09
02/12/09
I do that with my eyebrows, too. I get them done and then keep them up myself for awhile until I get more than I want to tweeze and I go back.
Both paras above are sort of my "ideal" 'cause I don't do either of those things as regularly as I would if I had a job and needed to present myself out of the house every day. Nowadays I leave the house to go to the barn. yesterday I fell in the pasture trying to outwait Ms. Mare...so the whole eyebrow nail thing isn't a priority. Although I do know women who come to the barn and ride and groom their won horses who have fake nails.
02/12/09
02/12/09
For srs. I do my own hands - and own exfoliating facials blah blah - so I can afford to have my feet done. I'd rather not deal with the ramifications of doing otherwise.