Why Nail Art Is Ephemeral Art And Why That Makes It Worth It
I don’t often get my nails done professionally. It’s not really part of my usual routine - between skincare and hair care, nails have always been the thing I quietly skip over. But recently, I had an upcoming event that felt like the perfect excuse to finally treat myself.
So I did it. And I’m so glad I did.
The Experience
I’ll be honest - I was a little nervous walking in. I wasn’t sure what to expect, and was a bit out of my comfort zone. Anyways, the nail technician did an amazing job and she was very patient, resulting in an absolutely awesome outcome. It’s one of those times when you look at your hands and feel really together. Now, I totally understand why people get their nails done at a salon if you found the perfect nail technician. It is definitely an investment to get their nail done consistently.
That is why, it also made me realize something I hadn’t really thought about before - how much prep and nail care actually goes into getting a good gel polish result. There’s a reason people say that good prep goes a long way, and seeing it firsthand made me think about investing a little more time into nail care as part of my regular routine, right alongside skincare and hair care.
Ephemeral Art
While I was wondering how long my nails would actually last before I get bored - one week? two weeks? three? Then, I came across something on Reddit that stuck with me some time ago. Someone described nail art as ephemeral art, meaning it’s beautiful precisely because it’s temporary.
A word that I don’t often hear. So I looked it up and I just loved that framing after learning it. It reframed the whole “but it won’t last forever” concern into something almost poetic. Of course it won’t last forever. That’s kind of the point. You enjoy it while it’s there, and then it’s gone - just like most beautiful things.
By the time that I published this blog, my nails will be a little over a week old and hope they will still be looking good. By then, maybe I should keep them on for a little longer. Who knows. At the same time, the next test for me will be to find out a way to safely remove the gel from my nails without damaging them. Good luck to me! 💅
Anyways, that’s all my reflection for the day, and thank you for reading it.
See you all next time.