As most long-time readers know, I don't care for fashion. I have zero interest in clothes, and in fact suffer from severe clothing blindness.
But once upon a time, back in about 1986, I got a manicure. At the time, I was working as a legal secretary in a law firm in downtown Sacramento, and manicures were both common and (to some extent) expected among the upwardly mobile class, which I fancied myself to be back then. So I got a manicure.
I remember it cost $10, and I gave the nice manicurist a $5 tip. The results were okay, I guess, but I distinctly remember thinking, "Well, that was a waste of money." I've never gotten a manicure since.
Now, of course, manicures are pointless when living a homesteading lifestyle. Can you imagine milking a cow with fancy nails?
This little anecdote is by way of introducing a post I saw from a woman named Jenny who was apparently unable to grasp why any woman would not want a manicure. She wanted to know the reasons why.
Well, I must say poor Jenny got a huge response. She heard from loads of women in a wide variety of careers, chiming in with their reasons why they don't get manicures. Among them:
• "Because I work in the operating room and it's against policy, Jenny."• "Because I'd rather spend my money traveling, Jenny."
• (From a logger) "Can't find a shade to match my chainsaw, Jenny."
• "I can't crochet at normal speed if my nails are done, Jenny."
• "Because I'm a heavy-duty mechanic, Jenny."
• (From a mother of baby twins) "Because I'm tired, Jenny."
• "Because I'm a freaking surgeon, Jenny."
• (From an airline pilot) "Because I press buttons for a living, Jenny."
• (From a wildlife biologist) "Bears don't seem to care, Jenny."
• (From a musician) "Because then I wouldn't be able to press the strings on my cello, Jenny."
• "Because I’m an archaeologist, Jenny."
• "Because I conduct cancer research as a PhD candidate, Jenny, and wearing long nails gets in the way of the lab experiments."
• "Because I'm an EMS, Jenny."
• "Because I'm a paratrooper, Jenny."
• (From a construction worker) "Because power tools are more fun, Jenny."
• "Because I'm a cultural heritage conservator, Jenny."
• "Because I'm an electrician, Jenny."
• "Because I'm a landscaper, Jenny."
• "Because I'm a registered veterinary technician, Jenny."
• (From a doctor) "Too busy saving lives, Jenny."
• (From an MMA fighter) "Too busy hitting people, Jenny."
• "Because I'm a pediatric nurse and long nails are against policy. Might hurt the kids and they're not hygienic, Jenny."
• "Because I'm a goldsmith, Jenny."
• (From a pediatric dentist) "Because I take care of tiny teeth, Jenny."
• "Because I work in trauma surgery, Jenny."
• "Because I am a busy plumbing field technician, Jenny."
• "Because I'm a freediver, Jenny. Nails make putting on a wetsuit way too difficult."
• "Because I'm a mineral processing engineer, Jenny."
• "Because I'm an offshore mechanical tech, Jenny."
• "Because I'm a potter. People don't like it when their mugs leak, Jenny."
• "Because I'm a marine and environmental scientist, Jenny."
• (From a dentist) "Because I work in patients' mouths, Jenny."
• (From a chef) "I'm sure you wouldn't appreciate finding a press-on nail in your food, Jenny."
• "Because I ride and race dirt bikes, Jenny."
• "Because I'm an auto electrician, Jenny."
• "Because I just spent my money buying a house, Jenny."
• "Because I'm a geologist, Jenny."
• (From a doctor) "Because I'm not popping holes in my gloves, Jenny."
• "Because I'm a professional football player, Jenny."
• "Because I'm a hair dresser, Jenny."
• (From a mechanic) "Because I have a show car to wrench on, Jenny."
• (From a devout Muslim woman) "Because I'd rather spend my money on umrah, Jenny."
• (From a welder) "Because the arc will break my nails, Jenny."
• "Because I am a diving instructor, Jenny. Salt water and nails don't get along."
• (From a competitive skier) "Because I'm ratcheting down my bindings on the mountain, Jenny."
• (From a forester) "Because I'm busy planting trees for research, Jenny."
• "Because I'm in martial arts, Jenny."
• "Because I am a cosmetic formulator, Jenny."
And, perhaps the most blunt and truthful reason from a rock climber:
• "Because there's no point, and honestly think it's a waste of money, Jenny."
I didn't see "Because I milk cows, Jenny" in the list ... but it's as good a reason as any.
So there, Jenny.
A girl like Jenny just shouts high maintenance to any guy. Everything will be about her. She has a lot to learn about life. As far as dating is concerned, real men don't want to date girls done up like fishing lures looking for a richer catch.
ReplyDeleteManicures are just plain silly! I'm a real woman, busy working with my hands all day. I don't have time to baby my hands. My husband would rather have my help and have real homemade meals cooked than a trophy wife. My hair has been naturally turning silver and white for years, though still quite a bit of brown in the back. I often receive compliments from women who wish they never started dying their hair. I proudly chose gray for my driver's license renewal last Fall. Just be yourself!
This highlights one of the divides among the people of our nation. You have do'ers, and watchers. Country folks and city dwellers, blue collars and white ones... but it's the same divide. People that do things, and people that watch other people do things. That's why some women cannot understand why the other one's don't have manicures. They don't DO anything, so the idea of fashion taking 2nd fiddle to their career... pshaw! What a backwards life you live. LOL!
ReplyDeleteThere are people whose lives focus on "verbs".
ReplyDeleteAnd then there are people who want to be nouns.
I prefer those who DO to those who aspire to becoming a show-piece or graven idol.
I will be smiling from the grave if my obit reads "He may have been ugly, but he got a lot done and helped a lot of people."
What awesome responses! I'm with you. Had a manicure once, with my sister the morning before our wedding (we had a double wedding), and it was like meh. There's so much else I'd rather be doing, and they're not exactly homestead-friendly.
ReplyDeleteLong nails have always grossed me out. Nothing but collectors for baceria...
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Nothing wrong with giving yourself a manicure for special occasions! Nothing wrong with paying someone else to give you one if you can afford it (for weddings and other fancy events). I’ve never gotten fake nails because I don’t like the look and because I was in the Army, but making your nails look nice isn’t a bad thing. I will say that I have more often splurged and gotten a pedicure because that’s more difficult. But no sense in ascribing value judgements to those who do OR don’t, if they can afford it. It takes all kinds!
ReplyDelete-MV
I find mani/pedis really relaxing but they're not cheap. My favorite part is where they pound my shoulders. I don't like long nails so mine are always short but I don't mind some polish.
DeleteLoved seeing this. I have gotten very occasional manicures but never really saw the point.
ReplyDeleteI have to confess…I sometimes get a pedicure. I only get these because now that I’m older it is very awkward for me to trim my own toe nails. Not as limber as I used to be, too much bulk up front, and arms too short😂. When I do trim my own toe nails, I get accused by my chiropractor of going at them with a hack saw! I don’t get polish on them as that is definitely not my thing. In Florida, you frequently see older males getting them because they have a hard time trimming their nails too. Other than that, mani pedis are a waste of time to me.
ReplyDeleteI dislike people touching me, especially my hand and feet. I rahter go ty gynecologist than let someone do my nails.
ReplyDeleteAlso I don't think fancy nails would look nice with my scars and callus on my palms, which I got for doing all sorts of fun things. (Scars are from puppies, mostly.)
I've managed to acquire scars on my arms from puppies, too. Yeesh.
DeleteRetired, recently widowed, just turned 68 with major life changes (I won't go into to shorten this post) and wanting to support a new endeavor of a young lady starting her own nail salon business. Plus, it makes my short somewhat brittle nails look nice and makes me happy to be pampered just a little every few weeks. With the passing of my husband; raising a large garden, digging in the dirt, splitting, loading and stacking firewood are just a few changes in my lifestyle. So yes, things change over time and I hope you hard working ladies find a little something to treat yourselves, regardless of what it might be. So, just another perspective. Warmest wishes for you all!
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I've learned recently is that nine times out of ten the original poster is only posting a seemingly harmless but divisive comment like this to get people to respond to it. The poster knows full well that some people like manicures and some do not and that there are various reasons behind people's decision to get one or not. They also know by posting this kind of statement people will be triggered to respond and create a dialogue among commenters, which equals clicks and cash to them. I don't think anyone of us really cares if someone else gets a manicure, including the original poster. Nor should we; what other people choose to do with their nails is not our concern. Better for us to acknowledge and recognize these posts for what they are, and let it go. :)
ReplyDeleteAs I tend to my large flock of chickens I can only imagine the pecking I would get with bright red finger nails, as it is their favorite color to go for. As a consummate saver I can only gag at the cost.
ReplyDelete