It’s a curious thing, the amount of attention we pay to our fingernails and, to a lesser extent, toenails. Nowadays even the smallest village will have a nail bar of some sort, or at least someone who will come to your house and do them for you. Go into a larger town or suburb and you’ll probably see half a dozen salons in operation, their masked nail technicians busily preparing nails no longer just for weddings and nights out but also on a more routine basis. Having your nails done is now as everyday as visiting the hairdresser’s. It’s a phenomenon that has really taken root since the turn of the millennium. That’s not to say there were no nail bars, of course. But women would probably just do it themselves rather than pay for the service.

Male manicuring is a different beast. It’s probably fair to say that at the moment it is most common among company executives, worshipers of the body beautiful and presenters on shopping channels. Some manicurists report working for months before they get their first man in their salons. But you only have to look at other beauty industries, most notably skin care, to see that where women lead, men will usually follow, sometimes with a little prodding. It is now easier to get hold of products, particularly scented ones, that are definitely designed with the man in mind. Oh, and let’s be clear on one thing. Men don’t like it to be called beauty treatment. With men, it’s strictly grooming.

There’s no suggestion that women have only just discovered their finger nails. Varnishes, polishes, gels, softeners, cuticle treatments and various manicure implements have always been available, not to mention the vast array of false nails available. Perhaps the bar has been raised when it comes to the quality of our manicures, or maybe we’re just suckers for a little bit of pampering every now and again. For the most part, we will still do our own manicuring; it is something we can do while we’re watching the TV or after a bath.

And there’s a big difference between having a really professional looking nail job and being adequately manicured to face the day. The fact that we’re using our hands to treat our hands can lead to one or five problems, especially among those of us whose left or right hand simply refuses to do what our brains tell them. How many people are there out there with one perfectly manicured hand and one that looks like it was done on a roller coaster?

As with most things in life a happy compromise is probably the best option when it comes to nail care. Pop down to the nail bar for a wholesome experience every so often, but keep costs down with some DIY in between. With a little practice most of us can pull off a passable set of talons as long as nobody looks too closely, and if your wrong hand really is useless, that’s where friends and maybe even boyfriends and husbands can step up to the plate. Just imagine his face if it turns out he’s rather good at it.

Author Bio: Sally is a beauty and nail treatment professional and offers advice on good nailcare practice and more generally on the benefits of proper nail and skin care methods.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
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