I'm a 21 year old male who started wearing nail polish because my nails would turn dark from chemo treatment. Now I wear polish, all the Holo and effects, because it's fun and I enjoy it. 😄
I genuinely think men who do their nails or wear heavy makeup look even better than when women do the same and they even have better lashes like why *wouldn't* they? It's free real estate
@@Fey3690 lol I think she was taking a shot at how every article is about "millennials killing ______________", because it's a trend for traditional media to constantly whine about how millennials are "ruining" society.
@@Fey3690 definitely a generational thing. I’m a millenial and I literally never have my nails painted and I’ve only been to a nail salon a handful of times in my whole life. My friend is gen x and she feels like she needs to get her nails done for things like job interviews. I’m like no one will notice and it shouldn’t/won’t matter anyway!
I've worked in several industries that generally require women's nails to be painted or professionally done (usually only neutral colors allowed). It does have sexist roots - expecting the women to be "put together" literally 24/7 and any woman that isn't, must not be taken seriously. It has been written into many dress codes from those employers and is seriously ridiculous (coming from a nail polish lover and woman who doesn't wear make-up).
I experienced this exact expectation while working in sales and at a medical office. I think it depends on the field you work in, but there are definitely work places that still expect women to look a certain way. I remember the employee handbooks having a much longer list of requirements for women than men. I also remember reading “natural yet polished appearance”, referring to women’s makeup, hair, and nails.
My industry requires heels and short, gel manicures in neutral colors only. I push back on both. We walk, climb and move around a lot and I have a massive nail polish collection that I’m going to enjoy. Period.
This has been taught to me since the minute I started working retail. We NEED to be wearing at least minimal amounts of makeup so that we never look “tired” (which is terrible as a requirement as is) and our nails need to be taken care of at all times by the manuals. Only neutral colours (I’ve also had red as an option in one particular company) and never too long. It really depends on the employer but it’s been a written rule in every company I’ve worked at. My teams (myself included) have never taken it too seriously and I don’t think it’s ever had any significant impact in the way our jobs worked out if we didn’t follow this 100%, but it definitely places a higher standard onto women walking into the workplace. I love having manicured nails but when I can’t get them done in time for my next shift I definitely feel less confident as a result nowadays 🤷🏻♀️
Here’s another thought about why people wouldn’t paint their own nails: a lot of people feel they don’t have the skill required to paint their own nails. Especially when painting with their ✨other hand✨. My mom in particular went to salons for years for regular polish because she has very shaky hands and can’t paint her own nails without polish pooling around her cuticle. My younger sisters are similar. I often paint their nails for them because they enjoy having nail art on their nails but feel they don’t have the skill to execute nail art themselves. People may not be insecure about the condition of their nails and hands but instead insecure about their ability. Moral of the story: normalize experimentation with nail art!! It’s nail ART and should be treated like every other art form. It takes practice to find techniques that work for everyone and each individual has their own taste. Anyways, just thought I’d introduce a new perspective to the comments section, that’s all!!
petition for ben to try to design and execute nail art on himself. just ben. simply is tea slave for a day and only comes by at the end for the big reveal.
Both my mom, my sister and I all struggle with this. Personally it's hard for me to paint my own nails, just because it's difficult to do it without being messy and it can honestly be a frustrating experience. I have been painting them more in quarantine and am getting better :)
Had this conversation with my coworker who was jealous of my nails just this week. How do I get them so perfect. She gets hers painted. I was like. Girl, I paint my nails 2-3 times a week. It's practice, that's all. I gave her some pointers.
When I started painting my own nails, I had the pooling issue. I had wooden nail polish scrapers for when that happened. Without them, I don't know if I would've kept doing it.
One thing that I think the article fails to look into is how many people now feel like they *can* wear crazier colors of nail polish. My mom has said in the past that one reason she wears mainly ashy pinks, or nude colors is that she feels she may be taken less seriously at her work if she wore a bright sparkly blue color with a design on it.
I was “nail shame” by an old professor in law school because I was wearing some design with a bright turquoise background and salmon starfish. Luckly it was just a comment but I still remember it, even when happen like 5 or more years ago...
THIS! I work at uni and feel like I have to keep up a professional appearance and that older professors would not take me serious if I had colourful nails.
I took a business communications class two semesters ago and this is so true. Its still taught what colors are acceptable to wear in a business setting or not and as someone who enjoys wearing fun colors its quite disheartening.
@@missdeechan I wear whatever I want on my nails and hair color when I have a job interview. What you see is what you'll get. If I get the job, then they are ok with it.
As a male™ living in a heavily conservative area, quarantine has allowed me to go from never painting my nails for fear of judgement to experimenting with all sorts of polishes at home. Hoping to be brave enough to wear them in public at some point. Edit: Wow! I just want to say thank you to everyone for the support! I appreciate all of the messages of your experiences and encouragement! For the few asking, I don't need to share my sexual identity to justify wearing nail polish. This is entirely the problem. Please stop gatekeeping clothing, makeup, nail polish etc. to certain genders and/or sexualities. That should have nothing to do with it. If someone enjoys nail polish they should be able to wear it without being harassed. Unfortunately in many places, including where I live, that's not the case. I do think things are getting better, and I hope one day we'll all be able to express ourselves without the need to worry!
@@recoil53 Me too. It's silly to have to worry about painting your nails when it's such a harmless thing. I just know from past experiences that it's been better to just blend in. Hopefully one day there's no reason to worry about it at all.
as a conservative and registered republican, i’m sorry you feel that way. please know that, although some may not be okay with it, many of us would be happy to see you expressing yourself with nail polish and wouldn’t even think twice. Give people a chance...they may surprise you :)
Hey there fellow male Nail Artist! I started @18 months ago...originally just a Trans flag to support my son, but grew to love all the colours/holo available. and regularly do wonky stuff. I do get the odd look or comment, but so many more compliments. while it's pretty liberal around me, I hope that your experience is similar. Reply with "Fun colours, make me happy. Don't you want me to be happy?" :-P Being cishet doesn't mean we have to be gender conforming.
I both agree with where you're coming from and disagree from my own personal experience. As a women in the military, an airplane mechanic, and a very feminine looking cis women I was told my nails were gross all of the time. It was ridiculous, I'd say to my coworkers, "well yeah my nails are gross, we're mechanics, looks at your own nails." And they would respond with something like, "well yeah but still, you're a girl." SO FRUSTRATING. That's how they were about many issues relating to women. My nails were just short, a little dirty (even with daily cleaning), and had some small skin hanging around the beds. It was stupid.
It's weird how society expect women to be clean, organized, in shape, 'pretty' 24/7 and most of these comes from the mouth of men who doesn't even shower properly it doesn't mean if you're a woman you're supposed to have your nails done
People who expect women to constantly look “perfect” all the time are beyond dumb. Like, how does producing estrogen just magically make your nails look perfect all the time? 🧐 they act like the body we’re born in just gives us magical powers to always smell good or look good, as if we don’t just face societal pressures to buy beauty products and wear them 24/7.
I worked at a hospital for many years - worked in the IV room compounding IVs so nice nails were non-existent for me. Wearing the gloves, sweating in the gloves, washing hands consistently & putting on an alcohol base on my hands would strip any nail polish instantaneously and my nails were always breaking too. The reason why I say that there is some truth to the article is because one guy told me that he "expected" me to have my nails done, painted and kept nice. And I told him, "Buddy, that is not possible because I work in a hospital." It seems like he wanted a "trophy" girlfriend to show off and part of that included having nice, painted manicured nails. So there is a bit of a standard. I obviously dumped him really quickly because that was too controlling for me.
As women who've made hobbies out of our appearances, it's easy to forget that there are women who are just going through the motions when they keep their looks up. That includes makeup, jewelry, cute shoes, nice purses, getting your hair done, wearing eyelashes, and yes *having a fresh mani*. For every person who does their makeup for the art, there's someone else who's afraid to leave the house without it on because they're self-conscious.
I agree! I find it *odd* when someone doesnt get excited over these things like I do They do it to “go through the motions” while I (over)do it for the JOY I get out of it
@@SpyderT22 the "nail shaming" is not so much about having your nails not painted is bad, but about what naked nails represent in certain situations. If you go out in public with naked nails, all good, but if you go out to dinner, a pub or bar, a party with naked nails, it may be seen as "not trying hard enough". In my country, it is painfully common that women paint their nails when they are going out. Or have weekly manicure appointments "just in case" something comes up. I even remember local celebrities being shamed in magazines for having different colour nail polish in their toes and hands. I'm talking from the perspective of a society in which nail shaming does happen.
@@SpyderT22 Women without nail polish is common, but i think having *nice* nails is a bigger deal than some folks are admitting. Back when i bit my nails down to the nub people asked me all the time if I ever painted my nails, or thought about getting them done. Now that my nails are long, people only ever notice them when they’re painted, to say they like the color.
The New York Times: "Is this the end of the manicure?" Me, a nail tech who spent $10,000 to get my nail techs license which arrived in the mail on March 15th: "Holy hell, I hope not! I'd be soooo screwed otherwise."
I’m in the “don’t do my nails at all” crowd. Mainly, the reason I don’t wear nail polish is because I’m too lazy to do it myself and too frugal to pay someone else to do it. But I like to look at it, and I *really* appreciate seeing someone who has a day job doing TH-cam, and it’s a woman who’s in statistics to boot. My husband is into you guys too, and he has zero interest in nails or makeup. He’s a math major, and he likes to see the shop talk episodes.
I like that Christine mentioned older people struggling to do their own nails! My grandmother loves doing her nails but, due to a loss of motor function and an inability to pedicure her own toenails, she goes to the salon often for the convenience of it. Not only does it lift her confidence and her spirits, but it’s also a healthy service she can pay for that will keep her nails and toenails happy and healthy! I’m glad the salon in our town is safe and following Covid-19 guidelines so my grandmother has the chance to get her mani-pedis!
Yes! This is so important as well as noting that it's not only older people who may have a hard time, lots of people with disabilities may need support with this as well!
I do my grandmas nails since I got back into doing them a few months ago she loves having her nails look nice and I feel like it’s a good bonding activity😊
I'm Japanese and I grew up thinking that "If I want to make my nails beautiful, I have to go to the salon." because there is no one doing their nail by themselves around me. Japan values harmony. Sometimes this harmony is even applied to the appearance. There's nothing wrong with respecting harmony, but it's honestly hard to be adapted to the look and feel. Harajuku is probably the most famous place in the world. Harajuku is full of people dressed in their own unique clothes. But if you dress the way you do in Harajuku, you can get some strange looks elsewhere in Japan. Nails are no exception. But I've changed my mind because I started to watch your videos! Thank you, Cristine!
I feel like the japanese/asian harmonic look is too clean and smooth to be achievable, especially with makeup! If I treat my skin for a month and spend 2 hours on my makeup, I can achieve a dewy-skin, "perfect" look but not anymore the next day, and I definetely can't achieve that look for every day of the month. Nothing wrong with appreciating harmony, but people shouldn't expect pinpoint perfection in everyday situations. I used to paint my nails so accurate that no paint was on cuticles, but it usually wore out faster or the layers were opaque. Now it's better to be a little bit messy to achieve the best nail-look, if there is nailpolish on my fingers it wears out the next day and is just perfect after that! You need a little bit of imperfection to achieve a harmonous, "perfect" look :) just be you
I took part in that poll and answered "I don't paint my nails." Here's why: I paint my toenails but not my fingernails for purely practical reasons. I'm constantly in the middle of some home improvement project, so nail polish lasts all of two minutes on me before it gets chipped. Once it gets chipped, I find myself peeling the polish off, which wrecks my nails. That's all. It's not that deep lol
i paint my nails but never take it off... o i only paint my toes once a month with an art and shit. but my hands... they get chipped in day 2. i can't be put with chipped nailpolish. with my toes i can wear snickers. but my hands??? gloves are not socially acceptable yet like in the 1910s.
I sometimes paint my nails, usually don't and I've gotten a pro manicure like 10x in my entire life. Same as you. I ruin them too fast. But painted toenails last forever so Ipaint those for myself
Me too. I work at a grocery store and am constantly sticking my hands in cardboard boxes and ripping them open so nail polish doesnt last, and I have to keep them short so they dont rip/break
I only paint my nails for special occasions. I'm an archivist and you probably wouldn't think this at frist, but I also would destroy my nailpolish at work during the frist few minutes, while removing rusted paper clips from old documents for example. I also keep them short to prevent chipping or ripping when working with heavy boxes and such. Also cooking and washing the dishes would finish them of in no time.
I started painting my nails after covid. I'm amateur and sloppy and my nails are short and weirdly shaped. I love it. However I have ADD and craft and bake a lot. once the polish chips on one nail, its over. I had to stop painting my nails until I could get a peel off base otherwise I was hurting my nails. However! Once my holiday crafting is over I am doing an all out holiday mani on myself!
As a “professional lady,” I’ve always felt the pressure to be sure I am “put together.” I’m in a customer-facing role, and I’ve always felt like I *needed* to wear makeup and have my hair done. Nails are also part of that puzzle. If I ever showed up at the office without makeup, I would get asked if I was sick. Every. Time. Working from home has freed me quite a bit. I only wear makeup for video calls now, or if I want to play with it. My nails are always done, but that’s because I enjoy doing them, no one else really sees them now. Or cares. I will say that pointing to a signature line with a busted manicure was not a good feeling, but that was the before times. Now, I just send electronic signature requests.
Yes to the put together part! Having my nails done when I shake a client's or customer's hand feels more put together than having nakey nails. Also, getting my nails done at the salon makes me less likely to buy them and ruin them because I spent money on them :P
@@somuchluv89 - And if you already wear makeup just start wearing less and less and less over time and after awhile people will forget what you even looked like with makeup on 🤣🤣🤣
@@somuchluv89 that’s something I did. I stopped wearing lipstick on a regular basis because I was always asked whether I feel faint or ill when I didn’t wear it. So now I usually don’t wear make up at all. I only use it when I feel like it or when there’s a special occasion. (But I do enjoy doing my nails 😊)
During the podcast, I thought of a situation similar to yours, Karley. My cousin works at an office and she feels pressured to be well-dressed, wearing high heels and everything. She said no one ever really told her to do those things, but that since everyone else does, she does it too. So I guess it depends on your job too. As a graduate student I don't feel that pressure at all. As a public school teacher, I don't feel the pressure to be pretty or anything, but I feel like my students respect me a little bit more when I am more "put together".
I’m one of your “non-polish wearing” fans. I watch you for your artistry and you make me laugh. Thank you for your honest conversations, I appreciate that they aren’t edited.
I feel like the article is more directed toward those who get acrylics and need to have them constantly filled. There’s some societal expectation for women to have clean looking long nails, which is why something like the French tip acrylic is super popular. I personally hate acrylics because I don’t like how heavy they feel on my nails. I also didn’t like going to the salon in general because they’d always trim my cuticles too much and make me bleed. I never really cared for painting my own until I started watching Cristine back in 2016 or whatever. And now I pretty much always have them painted because I like how they look, different color combos, etc.
Those nail “techs” that you went to did it wrong, if they made your “cuticles,” (or whatever they called “cuticles”) bleed. The cuticles are the dead skin on your nails, not the live part by your skin, also known as the eponychium. The eponychium should NEVER be trimmed, only in extreme cases, but not normally.
@@sweetcanada17 yeah I’m pretty sure they were trimming too much and stuff that wasn’t my actual cuticle. I would even request them to not trim anything but they usually wouldn’t listen so I stopped going. I’m just glad I didn’t get any awful infections or anything. It was awful.
@@SlahVimburg the last time I went years ago she spent 5 min making fun of how much cuticle she had to trim and showing me. That’s why I don’t go!! Also yeah they function to protect germs from getting into your skin idk why they trim them so much
That’s exactly why doing my nails became a hobby to me. It’s also just cheaper to buy nail polish bottles you can reuse instead of just paying to have your nails done each time.
Cause most of nail places are in it for the money 💰 They dont care about holo... Don’t come for me I’m a nail tech I know what I’m talking about ... too bad you not close to me I got all the fun stuff including holo ☺️
In high school I once had a class on “real life skills” where a teacher was giving us tips for job seeking and interviews and I remember he specifically said that in interviews he looks at people’s and especially women’s nails because he can tell a lot from that... wtf right? Maybe that’s what the article meant.
@@CMEPTbOo It sounds like your projecting the problems with your country onto other people who are blameless. If you are talking to a woman and telling them you expect them to just deal with the sexism, you are going go get a negative response. I'm a woman on a good wage with university qualifications. In my circumstances if someone were to judge me by my nails, I have other options and I do not need to accept that insult and many do not need to accept that insult. Don't project your problems onto us. You are talking to us with disrespect.
@@Stettafire The problem is you wouldn't know you were rejected from a job because your nails are less manicured than another applicant. So having someone tell you the tiny things that give you an edge is a big advantage for a well qualified applicant in a sea of other well qualified applicants.
This could make some sense if you think about the hygiene part, for them to be clean could say something about how they present themselves or if they are painted plain or to express their personality 🤷♀️ I think it makes some sense, however i don’t think an employer should judge an employee because of their nails
Yeah, like this weird 1950s attitude towards women. 😬 Also extremely classist if applied towards men. "oh, you work with your hands so you're not a good fit for this job"???
@@DrECLumin Ye, exactly this. It's very common and in both professional and leisure aspects of peoples lives. A manicured hand is far more "professional, competent" ect, the same way red polish is "racy"
I’ve definitely seen people “nail shame” before. For example on my local community Facebook groups. If someone is posting a picture holding something (giving something away or lost and found) and their paint is chipped there’s always someone coming out with a rude comment. It’s honestly so stupid. At least now we have the excuse of quarantine nails/beauty 😹
True!! "Nail shaming" is a big reason I stopped biting my nails. Every time somebody noticed them all chewed down they'd say something about how I "need to get my nails done" lol
It absolutely happens, nail shaming seems more a measure of status/means, and to a lesser degree about grooming habits. I'm absolutely guilty of seeing someone with jagged or dirty unkempt nails and being grossed out.
@@BBoPPo88 No, but they might comment something snarky about someone needing a manicure, if they think the nails are uneven, in the wrong shape and so on
I’m one of those people you’d probably categorize under “doesn’t paint their nails” because the majority of the time mine are not. But I still watch your videos, including polish comparisons and nail art, because they are really entertaining and intriguing! It’s so fun to watch someone talk about something they are passionate about. Plus, your personality is a huge reason I keep watching your content. I love the positivity and messages you put out there on your platforms and the sheer fun it is to watch you no matter what it is about. 😸
Same, I pretty much only paint my nails for special occasions (so like 2-4 times a year). But I love watching Simply's videos because they are fascinating, entertaining, and wholesome. And even if I don't paint my nails often, when I do paint them, I love spending significant time doing fun/pretty nail art and coordinating the colors, so all of the nail polish knowledge I have learned does come in handy. Also, I just love Simply's outlook on life and in my down time I want to watch happy, fascinating videos that either make me laugh or learn something or best of all both, which is exactly what her videos do.
I also only paint my nails for special occasions. Even then, it’s either at a salon or just one colour. I have never done nail art. I watch your content because I think you’re funny. Also, I find it really interesting to watch people do really intricate and different art that I don’t understand how to do at all. Like I watch your nail art channel and cake decorating channels and historical sewing videos and just find it so interesting to watch someone who is so good at something I have no idea how to do.
Same here, the only time my nails are done is when I get them done professionally and even then, it's either for a special occasion or just because I randomly feel like treating myself.
Not “needing” makeup and the embrace of “natural” makeup is also a privilege. The more “natural” we get the more we heighten the expectation of “natural beauty”. I think this trend is more indicative of the insane beauty standard we live in than diversifying and acceptance of natural flaws.
As soon as my classes got cancelled I cut my nails 😂 But I'm letting them grow again now. They're very big already and I file them to make them sharpy ✨
Sameee and I’m actually getting pretty good at nail art now that I have time to practice! And with my holo taco polishes I get more exited to paint my nails lol
So I started painting my nails because I’m overweight and it was one thing I felt comfortable getting complimented on and knowing people were sincere. It makes me happy
When a job requires that people often look to your hands, it is generally implied or told that a woman needs to get her nails done. When I worked at the airport a friend who worked at check in was told by her boss to get her nails done. There is some degree of professional pressure, probably not as much as make up but is out there. And colors have to be neutral so not only pressure but also oppresive for those who wants some art in their nails.
But "done" as in well taken care of, looking clean, etc? Or a full on painted mani? Because I only ever hear of professional requirements being to have clean nails that match your neat appearance overall.
@@glittery_cucumber It definitely varies. It would make sense if they just meant "clean nails," but I grew up with the idea that your nails are ugly/dirty if they aren't painted and wearing a shiny clear coat after getting them manicured is the bare minimum. Kinda like how women are seen as dirty if they don't shave but that has nothing to do with actual hygiene. Of course nails and nail polish will never be to that same degree of expectations for makeup or shaving, but it's definitely out there.
I have very nice natural nails: clean, shiny, good nail shape and I constantly get compliments on them from women. I've absolutely had male bosses tell me that I should be getting my nails done weekly. My response was to tell them I don't have time or money for that and they've dropped it. I've actually had more men in the workplace tell me to get my nails done than I've had tell to wear makeup and at most, I wear concealer to work. Edit: Now I'm wondering if that's because men have learned that they shouldn't tell women to put makeup on so they've shifted their focus to nails 🤔
The article sounds like they are only talking about the "high-class" society and not the rest of society. But I also love painting my nails because I get to try new things and I love using Holo taco!
No, I recognise myself in the article. I like having painted nails when going out or to a party. But I hate doing my nails. I do not do it for any artistic expression. I felt like it’s Cristine who is a little out of touch in his particular area, since she’s so much involved in the nail community. The rest of us, who are not in the nail community, just like to have nice nails, just like you wear nice clothes when you go places. But I’m certainly not painting my nails when staying home.
Here's a point that I was surprised wasn't talked about more. I'm someone who regularly goes to salons to get my nails done with friends, and a big part of going is just the experience. I don't feel any societal pressure to have colored nails, it's more the pampering that I find fun. I've tried doing my nails on my own, and it's incredibly stressful for me, because I want to get it perfect, and it always takes too long and I'm too impatient to wait for one layer to dry before I put another one on. Instead, it's much more relaxing to chat with friends, get a little bit of a hand massage (or foot massage if I'm getting a pedicure) and then have really pretty nails for the next week or so until I go again. I'd liken it to people paying for a massage. Like yes, there are certain areas that you can work on yourself, and you don't *really* need a professional, but it's so much more relaxing and nice to just get one yourself.
I agree! I don't go with friends but I chat to my nail lady all the time, and we've become pretty friendly. Honestly, I love having my nails done because I've always wanted long nails but mine don't grow long and they break, so having acrylics and someone who can properly take care of my nails is so great. And I feel like the implication that I or anyone would do it purely to make others happy is unfounded and stupid, just let me live honestly I'm the same with not being able to do mine the way I want to so paying someone who can od a good job and who can make me happy is a huge benefit of going to a salon. Like I love going because I know it'll be fun for me
I would guess they didn’t go deeper into that because Cristine didn’t do that (pre-COVID) so they probably don’t have enough personal experience to share.
My favorite part of getting my nails done was going with my friend it was our routine every three weeks then we’d go out for lunch afterwards. I’m perfectly capable of painting my nails myself and I’m actually quite good at it but again it’s the experience
I sooo cannot relate to that, I feel extremely uncomfortable with being pampered (ESPECIALLY massages) which is probably why I don't understand people wanting to get their nails professionally done 😅 Plus it saves me a shit ton of money of course, which is also part of the reason, but even if it was something I considered worth investing in I just couldn't bring myself to it
@@KreeZafi somehow I relate to both you and OP 😂 I both hate spending money on services but I also can NOT paint my own nails to save my life. So I just go in and get a mani for special occasions, or a pedi if I can't save my own hobbit toenails 🤣
The reason I could imagine a big chunk of your audience doesn't paint their nails could be because they can't. For example at school or a job, a lot of places expect a high standard of professionalism which means you can't have your nails painted bright green on one hand and yellow on the other
And to add on the job thing, most of the hobbies/classes I’ve taken required me to have short nails/unpainted nails. I used to play viola; need short nails. I then worked at Starbucks which required me to not have painted nails, and now I do ceramics; short nails again. It is what it is
This is a good point. When I worked a fast food counter, we couldn't wear nail polish because there was the risk it would chip and get into the food, or we could but we'd have to wear gloves. Wearing gloves when you're trying to handle money all day gets annoying so bare nails it was.
@@GenericaQwerty yep I worked at Starbucks and I tried to wear gloves so I could keep my color, two hrs into counting money and blenders slipping out of my hands made get a polish remover from target and get it off. Even when I worked clothing retail, it was so rough on my nails that I would have chips by end of shift.
i think a lot of people immediately leap to the defense of “i’m doing it for myself” when the subject of makeup comes up, but that’s not all there is to it. i think cristine’s stance on it is healthy but i’ve definitely known people who don’t leave their house without makeup and still go “i’m doing it for me” and like... there’s a difference between using makeup as creative expression and not being able to function without it, so i do think it’s healthy for most women to not wear it for a while just to get used to seeing your own bare face
I know girls who will not even leave the house to throw out garbage if they are not wearing makeup. Also, in Korea and Japan, there's a really toxic culture for wives to always wear makeup, to the point were they will keep they're makeup on until their husband has come home and fell asleep.
I agree. People get defensive when it comes to these things, but there are lots of people who do feel the pressure to conform to beauty standards. I don’t think the article is about people who paint their nails at home - it’s about a large subset of people, namely women, who constantly get fresh manicures because it’s feminine and it’s a sign of class, sophistication, or wealth. That might sound ridiculous, but it really is a thing. So, it’s always annoying when people dismiss those things because they might not apply to them.
@@minnie7453 I sorta get them being dismissive tho (I had the same initial reaction) I. Since there is a bigger expectation for women to wear makeup than nail polish.
@@lolathetomboy I agree there may be a greater expectation to wear makeup, but I think it’s incorrect to say that nails are not a standard of beauty as well. A woman with a fancy manicure might seem wealthier, more mature, more professional, or more well put together. It may even be a sign of greater femininity, because while more women might wear makeup, a fancy manicure is going above and beyond. It’s definitely a traditionally ultra-feminine display of beauty, I think.
I think this is exactly right. I don't think makeup is inherently bad and it can be fun and even empowering. But I think if you actually feel ashamed to go out in public without makeup, that can't be good.
My mom gets her nails done once a month, I asked her why and she said that she has four kinds and a dog to take care of and she works very hard, so she deserves that one hour break where she gets pampered and gets to relax one her own! For her its very much for herself, where she gets to feel special. (also she bites her nails, and acrylic nails makes it harder and breaks that habbit) :)
Same as well, I guess I discovered @holotaco a little late but I have bought most products from her site. Love the polish tho, my nails are Never naked anymore.
“Nail shaming” is definitely a thing and is rooted in sexism and the societal notion that women always have to at least look put together. 😐However, as part of both the diy nails and salon acrylics group. I personally enjoy the creative process of doing my own nails and watching someone else do my nails and put their touch on it. In addition, many people I know (early 20s) love getting their nails done for them and have personal friendships with their techs, and the techs I follow online have a genuine passion for the creativity that goes into doing nails too; which I think is really cool ☺️
The fun fact about painted nails is that men usually either don't care or don't like them (esp. if nails are too long or sharp or neon colored), so if there are any sexism then it came from women's side
@@incoref in my experience, it's very much like makeup, where men THINK they prefer no product, but actually expect women's neutral to be groomed and with "natural" looking product on
Commenting at about 9 minutes: I think the article is more getting at people who use gel and acrylic rather than standard polish. The reason for using "fake" nail methods or enhanced nail methods, I think, is way more about societal standards than it would be for people who only use polish. I, like Cristine, have very strong nails that grow out a good amount and look decent naked with simple upkeep. For people who have very soft nails or short nails or who bite their nails, there's probably more pressure to have professional manicures. And then, gel and acrylic manicures need professional upkeep. They need to be filled and its very hard to take them off. Also, there's a self-perpetuating cycle. Using gel or acrylic causes your nails to look worse since they have to be soaked off or buffed off. Then your nails look less healthy, so you cover them back up again. In that respect, I agree with the article. Having color on your nails is not something people are pressured to do, but having enhanced nails in the form of gel or acrylic is something people may feel pressured to do.
After I stopped doing gel nails my natural nails were so soft and fragile that it took months for them to be healthy again. You have to let the "damaged" nail grow out. Gel nails can be removed with nail polish remover that has acetone in it. You can also use nail polish on Gel nails but you have to use acetone-free nail polish remover to remove it. That was the first thing my cousin told me to get/ be aware of: acetone-free nail polish remover I don't know about acrylic nails as I never had those. My nails now look a lot like what I had when I had gel nails in terms of form and evenness. It made an impact on me to keep my nails good-looking. For a long time I barely wore nail polish... that changed with the first collection from Holo Taco I got. (unicorn collection) My nails haven't been without polish ever since and I bought on launch day and had within a week. XD I only do it because I like it not because I feel like I have to.
I have very thin nails ever since I was a kid. I get acrylics but I’ve never felt the pressure to constantly get them done. I see it has a nice way to treat myself. It does bother me when I get them taken off but I just suck it up until they grown out.
I have had acrylic first and now acrygel for about a year, sorely to make them stronger. I love long nails and suffered some breaks, as many as Cristine, like twice a year if I was careful. They were normal in strength, but sometimes my long hair would cut into thz sides as I washed my hair, with wet nails. Then they'd start tearing and eventually snap. I needed stronger nails if I wanted length. I too was scared they would become britle or hurt, but I've never felt pain, they've never been buffed or soaked and I haven't broken one due to it (I broke one in may when I hadn't been able to get to the salon for four months due to corona). She just files off the gel color and leaves the hard acryl or acrygel on, and fills in the gap that's grown. Then puts on more color or art. I changed to acrygel because my nail tech believes the acryl dust is harmful to her, when she has to sit in it every day. It hasn't made a difference for me. I think most people are afraid of brittle nails because of gelnails. If you apply only the gel polish straight on the nail, you have to hurt the nail to get it off. Acrylic nails are more expensive but so much healthier for your nails. The myth that nails need to "breathe" or be naked for a while is ungrounded. All long nails need is oil. Because the nailbed tends to grow too far underneath if you always have long nails. That's it. I could stop having them right now, but they'd eventually break from being too long or I'd need to shorten them. They can be filed down, just leave a bit of product on, and cover it with regular polish, never touch the natural nail.
I also go to the salon creatively. They keep comparing salon vs at home nails like going to a salon means your doing it for society, and doing it on your own means your doing for yourself. I go to the salon because I want fun nail for myself but I have no skills what so ever. Also it is actually a very creative process in my experience, I have to tell them what I want, what color, designs, and then they elaborate on that and coming up with new ideas until we have the perfect design that I love. Its more like a conversation than a service. I also think its just fun to hang out with such a talented person, and my nail tech is super nice. :)
I teach teens and am very conscious of both wearing and not wearing makeup. When I do wear make-up, management and parents often comment on it positively. However, I don't want teens to think the only way to appear in public is to have a full face. I want students to see me doing my job effectively both with and without make-up. Also when the students do mention it, we have conversation about how much my appearance does or does not affect my effectiveness as a teacher. I make it clear that sometimes I feel like having red lips and other times I have other things that take priority and thinking about my appearance is low on my list or priorities.
I like this approach. As a teen I felt very self conscious and a teacher that sometimes just didn’t wear makeup would’ve been great. Now as an adult, I usually don’t wear makeup but when I do, I get many compliments. But I also noticed that when I wore makeup a bit more regularly, I was always asked whether I’m feeling ill when I didn’t 🙄 So now, normal modus operandi is no makeup and sometimes when I’m feeling like it, I wear it for fun.
I respect this approach. I'm an adult too long in the tooth now, but back in school it was forbidden for girls to wear makeup but staff always wore full face and had nice nails. It always came across as odd, that the rules around kids were so strict and yet our job market does not apply this same level if scritness (I'm in a pretty ok job and I wear jeans and a hoodie to work)
i would imagine celebrities, women in wealthy social circles, and women in certain careers are expected to wear nail polish by their peers or employees to uphold beauty standards and keep the status quo. also since getting a manicure is a luxury to most people, the wealthy may use it as a way to flaunt wealth and status. i think of it in the same as getting a spray tan. some do it for beauty or an expression of their aesthetic taste while others do it to fit in to the beauty standard or as a status symbol. i think the women we're talking about are a niche group and it doesn't apply to the average woman. that's just my opinion. feel free to disagree. ☺️
No, I agree with this entirely. I was getting manicures pre-pandemic because mine chip horribly where I live now. I'd get a dip powder to get them to last longer. Since pandemic, however, I finally started learning ukulele. Because of that, I don't go in for manicures anymore. To me it seems like a waste of money since I'm beating them up so badly with music. lol
I'm glad someone said it. The perspective of this article (at least the way it's presented here) is a very elitist perspective that doesn't reflect how most people feel.
the article def represents what is prob a real attitude, but a niche one as you say. as much as i'd love to get my nails done on a regular basis, i work with my hands and don't make enough money to justify going to the salon and then immediately get them all beat up. i don't feel pressured by outside factors to have my nails done, but i have an aesthetic for myself i want to uphold ;( i've met a few people who go because they work in a bank and get their nails done because all their coworkers had, but within my own social circles, they didn't mind letting them grow out until they had the time to go again.
I agree with what you said, but I think there is something to add to this. I think there is a group of people who need such services for health care reasons - if I can define them in such a way. For example, I know of people who have extremely fragile nails and need to have gel in order not to have nails break every day. Or worse injuries in the area. Also tanning can be used for health care reasons: sever acne can cause serious injuries to the face, and scarring. In areas with yearly limited sun exposure it can be used to contain acne related problems that would lead to such injuries.
Ive painted my nails more in quarantine then I did before. Because I have the time and I dont mess them up as quickly. I also do it for me, Ive never painted my nails for someone else? I didnt realize people did that.
I also paint my nails more in quarantine because I can wear bright colours without it looking unprofessional. I always feel like my normal naked nails are considered professional.
Just to point out: the audience and writer of a NYT article is its own elitist bubble and is not accurate at representing how most people feel. Like the polls they did for this podcast, the NYT article has its own bias in the data they refer to.
There is an interesting documentary "Nailed It" on America Reframed. Its about how the salon industry got going after the Vietnam War and its links to new levels of disposable income in urban communities among other factors.
"Elitist" sounds like a reactionary dogwhistle, my guy. Choose your words carefully. Edit: my apologies, I got to the part of the video where they themselves characterized the NYT audience as leaning elitist. Been seeing a lot of weirdos trying to derail conversations and plant seeds of antisemitism and anti-intellectualism on YT lately, so I'm a bit primed to feel sus.
@@kitbracadabra It's part of a larger anti-intellectualism movement we're seeing in rich countries with a social conservative streak. But as I said in my edit, I was speaking out of turn.
I'm the type of person who paints their own nails and immediately starts picking and scraping the polish off. My husband's uncle who is, how you sayyy ...privileged🙄... was taking photos of us with our newborn and *huffed* under his breath to his wife about my nails. That was the first time I was insulted over my nails and it completely changed how I feel when around his aunt/uncle.
Going to get nails done at a pricey salon is like wearing high heels: partly a classist expression that the person with perfect nails and high heels are "high class" and don't have to do manual labor. I work in an industry that I use my hands and I am not allowed to wear police and also am on my feet all day. My nails often look awful and I must wear sensible shoes. I would love to hear Cristine and Ben talk about the class aspects of different beauty practices and standards in North America.
I’ve always thought about this too! If someone can have their nails done all the time it often means they don’t have a laborious job and vice versa. It is a sort of class marking. I used to hate not having my nails done for an old barista job I had, but I also recognize I like my natural nails as well
Or you wear heels for the intended purpose of lifting your butt. Look at the difference in your backside when you go from flats to heels. Something I never understood until listening to Drag Queens.
I was hoping they’d go there! It’s so class-related and there’s a lot of pressure to spend big $$$$ on all beauty treatments, and nails are one part of that.
I don't paint my nails because of the dry time. even when it's "dry to the touch" if you even need to do something simple like pull down your pants to go to the bathroom, they get wrinkled/smudged because it's still goopy.
I feel that, I started doing my nails mostly before bed, that way with a decent top coat I would go to sleep and then in the morning my nails are completely set!
@@lelalu101 Gel is so much better! Goes on smoother, you have plenty of time to fix mistakes, doesn't smudge, lasts weeks and less of a horrible smell because its cured so much faster. But I always had trouble removing it and end up peeling it which damages my nails, so I dont do it often. But recently I transitioned to nail stickers + gel topcoat and its amazing! No smell, really neat edges which I could never achieve myself, and super easy removal. The gel topcoat makes the nails look professional and not cheap, and helps it last up to 2 weeks!
I highly recommend shellac! I switched to it for the same reason. It's similar to nail polish without the dry time and it's removed with acetone as well unlike gel!
That usually happens when the polish underneath wasn’t fully dry before you put on the next coat. Their are also certain polish lines from certain brands that seem to never dry so they always get smudged.
"Why would someone who doesn't paint their nails care about the best black nail polish?" hahahaha a couple years ago that was me!! I watched so many nail videos feeling bad about my ugly bitten nails and after a long time it inspired me to stop biting and grow them long so I can paint them pretty :)
I feel like the article refers more to manicures and people getting french tip manis and so on instead of nail art. Having clean, evenly shaped, decently long nails without rills and discoloration and, if painted, without the polish having chipped etc is part of looking 'put together' and professional along with discreete make up and the right way of dressing and so on in a lot of industry sectors. So a lot of women I know go to salons to just maintain an even shape and length of their nails and maybe get them painted in a discreete colour to look what's considered 'presentable' when dealing with clients and costomers and colleagues. It has nothing to do with nail art or with enjoying nail polish for these women. TBH, I just know two females in person who paint their nails for fun and who are older than 14, the other ones either don't paint their nails or do it because it's sort of expected in their job or because it's considered part of looking decent in their social group (or are little girls). At least in my personal environment make up is way more about selfcare and enjoying it than nail polish is.
That's exactly what I thought & when I started working in an office full of women, people would turn up their noses at you if you didn't have acrylic nails & a full face of make up. Luckily I don't care about any of that so I don't do either nails or face 😂😂😂
The writer of the article has consistently fear-mongered and kept saying that beauty routines/products are harmful and how it’s conforming to patriarchal ideals. They claim they are a feminist but have consistently put down women for liking “feminine” activities.
@@LilSweetLolita It may be worth exploring why so many “feminine” activities are about outwardly presenting beauty. It’s a hard thing to navigate as a feminist, because on one hand, these standards are patriarchal in origin, but on the other, many women are reclaiming them for themselves. But there is still some level of expectation to maintain these standards, even if we “do it for ourselves.” 🤷🏽♀️
Wear your nailpolish out( not that we are going out much these days). There's already enough problems to worry about. Wearing nailpolis shouldn't be one.
They are people who nail shame actually... It's part of the same age old women are to be well groomed beautiful all the time narrative ... It's archaic but some people still have the same mentality today
Those are the same people that only like French manicures because everything quirky and colorful is either tacky or childish-.- no matter how nice your manicure is, if it is neon yellow they will judge you loudly🤦♀️
@@hannacosmos i think its a matter of taste, innit? I personally dont like long colorful nails on myself, bc a - Im a rockclimber and b- I play piano, so i would get stuck between the keys xD i dont mind it on other people, personally when I see someone with long mails I just ask them how they can function properly xD but you do you
Think thing about natural makeup or no makeup look is that the expectation is higher in a way. It encourages classism by way of who can afford a dermatologist or elective procedures. Because you have to be natural and PERFECT. if you cant afford these treatments or maybe you cant always have access to fresh fruit and veggies etc it shows a lot more than if you use full coverage makeup
"How can you get anything done with those nails" I installed stone pavement in my backyard this summer with my super long, sparkly nails - both the pavement AND my nails looked great by the end ;) Thanks again for a great podcast!
I'm a hairstylist and tomboy with long nails. My job just started a rule that nails can't be longer than 1 inch total, and I busted out a tool to measure. I do things easier with my nails than without. I've refinished furniture, moved my whole home, and worked shipment processing / floorset for retail companies and maybe broken 1 or 2 nails, and even then they were 2 weeks past fill time.
I've been judged many times by other women before for not having perfect nails (chipped nail polish, broken nails etc.) But I've always brushed it off as ridiculous. But yeah, it is something that exists.
Regarding nail polish for those in the medical professions, it’s not the length of the nails that’s unhygienic (though I personally keep my nails short so I don’t accidentally scratch patients), it’s that chipped polish provides extra surface area to harbor bacteria. And with the amount of hand washing that needs to be done, it’s inevitable that nail polish will chip.
A nurse friend of mine told me nail polish is porous too so bacteria can penetrate the polish itself. Source is admittedly dubious but that was what I heard as an explanation when they were like "I wish I could wear nail polish like you" from them.
Hi, there! 34 year old male here who hasn't had a colored nail since I was a teen and my sister's friends got hold of my hands. I simply (heh) watch your videos because they're enjoyable, smart content and regularly include furbaby cameos. Just happens to come with a side effect that I can instruct my co workers in the ways of nail "hacks" and nail art in ways that surprise them and cause a few friendly jabs about being a guy watching a "nail channel". Thanks for creating content that is so lovely for so many different people.
The thing that gets me is switching from color manicures to "nail health". Like, you don't need nail polish to be beautiful anymore but you still have to put in the effort to keep your natural nails looking beautiful? What exactly is different? It's like switching from makeup to a 10 step skincare routine, you're still putting a ton of effort into complying with beauty standards, just in a different form
@@BiHermitCrab The only thing you need to do is give your nails a trim and moisturise your hands. I agree with Annie, a switch to a complicated and costly routine to get the perfect healthy nail look seems like no progress at all
@@BiHermitCrab my question is if it is, truly, just for your own benefit? what is the point of skin or nail care if it isn't because of a health concern? it's to look beautiful. edit for clarification: even without polish, there is pressure for your nails to be beautiful and well maintained. people who are insecure about their bitten nails aren't insecure just because they aren't painted
This but skin care. I've read stuff from dermatologists and a lot of them don't necessarily recommend a 10 step Korean skin care routine. If you think it's nice then sure but I feel increasing pressure to "do skin care right" and it annoys me. So I can see companies trying to cash in on the same idea but for nails. In general I've seen a lot of insidious marketing hiding "look a certain way" underneath "wellness". I'm not saying all wellness products are useless grabs for vanity but it certainly seems like the term 'wellness' or 'health' has been co-opted by a bunch of companies looking to make money by making you feel as though you "aren't taking care of yourself". There isn't anything wrong with nice nails but if you have turn cuticles you also aren't going to die.
I didn’t paint my nails until the pandemic began. It just wasn’t something I took the time to do before. I got into nail polish as a new hobby during quarantine. It’s been fun to find and collect new polishes as well as attempt nail art. I really enjoy doing this myself now, but I can’t imagine getting them done professionally. The fun of this hobby has been to do it myself. 💅🏻
Same!! My school doesn't allow painted nails, and people have been reprimanded even for clear polish. Even long-ish nails are against the rules. Now, since there's no in-person school, I've been painting my nails quite regularly, and my nails are doing much better, because I have a reason to be careful with them
I have probably doubled my polish collection in the last 9 months. Started discovering awesome Indie brands and venturing out into other colors, finishes and nail art. It's totally self-care.
@@laceym3662 Same! I’ve found some great new Indy brands through the Polish Pickup website and Hella Handmade Creations. They both feature a wide variety of Indy brands.
Hahaha, even though im a guy who don't paint my nails, I still really like the nail videos. I think its really more of art and crafts similar to acrylic pour videos or just drawing videos. Also, something about comparison videos is just satisfying. Seeing Cristine roast brands who is bad and being amazed by good brands is really rewatchable and entertaining
The judgment where I grew up used to be the other way around. A woman with manicured hands was traditionally seen as a lazy one who never does anything.
What I've seen and heard is if you have short bare nails, you have "man hands", and if you have very long nails and well taken care of, you're a lazy ass who can't even wipe your own ass. According to society a "normal woman" needs a boring "natural" looking manicure + medium size nails.
I see women judged for both constantly. Its one of those things (granted this isn’t such a big deal) where it seems you can’t win either way. If you have natural nails/short nails, then you don’t look pulled together or professional and you don’t care about taking care of yourself or don’t have the means to. However, if you have long nails or get professional acrylic manicures then you are frivolous, lazy/must not work hard (“how do you do anything with those nails!?”), and vapid.
@@misslinguinni there's a very small grey area in which you look "professional" and "put together", and that goes for other things to, fashion, make up, hair styles, etc, which is bullshit.
I've experienced that, too. I remember an older female relative complimenting my nails one Christmas and then immediately saying, "I guess you don't do much housework." 🙃 As someone who also gets really bad anxiety about messes and cleans constantly because of that, it took all my willpower to just politely say I wear gloves when I do.
@@astraeagames Oh yeah, the old classic backhanded compliment. I used to enjoy answering "actually, I'm a medical doctor, but thanks, they do look very cute, don't they?"
Ok I’m one of those people who selected “don’t wear nail polish” and in my defense I’ve been watching you for years. I loved doing my nails but due to my job (healthcare worker here) I need to have them plain. I work with chemicals. I haven’t done my nails in years but I still watch you cause I love your personality, Ben, and the cats 😘 I subscribed for the nail art but stayed for Cristine 😂
just started med school and looking forward to everything but its gonna be a bit sad not to be able to have my nails colourful with stickers and stamps
I agree with you and I don't think that's necessarily just women. I work at a bank and my male coworkers are just as expected to keep their nails tidy, too.
It's super interesting to hear you say that you've never felt a judgement around your nails-I've absolutely felt this judgement in certain workplaces. And the problem is that the expectation isn't just that I have my nails painted, but that they be painted in a boring way. Like a pale pink basically. I *love* painting my nails in crazy ways-glitter, colorful, complicated colorful french manicures, etc. But those aren't "work appropriate" in places I've worked in the past.
I was required to have styled hair, nice makeup and nails at my last job and even having all those things done when I would go into work wasn't enough. My employer fellow employees, and the occasional guest wanted more makeup, trendier hair. Being in quarantine (and losing that job as a result) has been an immense weight lifted from me.
I've only seen "nail shaming" when it comes to engagement photos featuring hetero couples. There was one viral tweet of a couple who got engaged, but the engaged woman used her friend's hand to show off the engagement ring, because her friend had prettier nails.
I’m a man and I’m turning 20 soon 😂 i love to paint my nails! It’s just for me not anyone else. I just like sitting down and listening to music and painting my nails it feels so calming.
I feel like there is a cultural element to the importance of getting nails done. I'm an African American woman, and there is an aspect to having nails done as a "complete package," pretty, polished, and amazing nail design is culturally prevalent and significant, and for me, it has felt important to have my nails done in they same vein as it is important to have my hair in good shape and done. However, feeling like there is a societal expectation to maintain that sort of image has crumbled a lot in quarantine. You see people adopting press on nail designs as a safe, socially distanced alternative to maintaining a level of appearance, or doing their nails at home. Edit: this doesn't eliminate the "societal pressure" aspect of this - black/brown social media influencers, celebrities and the like are influential over style and grooming decisions of many young girls that look just like them. Take Megan Thee Stallion - incredibly talented, smart, influential young black woman, many people (including myself) see her as iconic to some degree (even just style wise). A prominent thing she displays on her social media is her nail designs and having a "fresh set." Even from a positive perspective, seeing her having new, fresh, creative nail designs makes me also want new, fresh, creative nail designs. There are probably other women who feel similarly upon seeing this, and so the importance of finding alternative means to do so does exist. Hell, I have friends who absolutely make the decision still to go to a nail salon that's open to keep up with the current trends they see their faves wearing. All for the positive reason of pampering yourself, or the more negative reason of feeling the need to keep up with trends, FOMO, personal pressure to keep up a standard of appearance that IS expected from you as a black woman, etc. The latter half of those reasons is a more difficult and nuanced conversation to have, since its so dependent on subcultures and regional differences
On rewatching this 10 months later, I realized a statistic anomaly: If DIY is 200 times cheaper, but the salon economy is only 8 times the home market, then 25 times more nails are done at home.
I personally think a majority of the viewers that said "neither" for painting their nail is those who can't have their nails done at their jobs. I, in food service, would get a write up having my nails done. I'm honestly surprised that this wasn't said. On another note, kids who don't have the money to get nail polish and the parents don't want to spend money on it. Boys who are "not allowed" to paint their nails from societal standard (which are so so so wrong, paint your nails if you want) If I wasn't for my job I would paint my nails at home ALL the time.
Yes! I watch a lot of TH-camrs who are into gaming/sewing/reptiles because they are just so passionate about those topics! I'm not a gamer, can do very basic sewing and would never consider owning a reptile. I still love all their content.
I feel like the perspective of manicures as "compliance to beauty" is one held by women who are part of the New York/LA fashion & beauty set. You know, the ones who work for fashion or women's magazines and so are perpetually ensconced in the beauty industry and forget that most women are not as constantly aware of how they're conforming to trends and current beauty standards. This article just feels kind of out of touch with the "normal" or "average" woman
I mean, that's definitely part of it, but there are lots of people for whom regular nail care is part of their professional attire, not just a fashion statement. Are those people mostly working in fashion/fashion-adjacent industries? Maybe, but there are also many that work in the service industry that have to make sure their nails look as put-together as the rest of them.
@@kohlinoor I think you're confusing yourself with the term "put together". Most of the time like 99%, it meant appropriate nail length / no bright polish if you really want to wear nail polish. Tbh, i've never in my life been asked to wear nail polish when i work part time in service industry, nor heard it from my friends and people i know in real life.
@@elenaravenwood9851 No, that's you not understanding that "put together" often means made up to look like you're not made up. Neutral skin tone or sheer polishes, "no makeup makeup" looks, etc. Just because you haven't had experience with it doesn't mean it's not out there. I've seen it happen with front desk jobs more than anything else, but that's just my experience.
@@micheal2458 exactly. It can also be a cultural thing. I used to work in a bank and they warned me about always having my nails manicured and to only use soft colors, no bright colors or designs, because it wouldn’t look professional.
@@micheal2458 Did someone tell you that or it's just came from your own interpreration because you grew up in a place where people wear polishes every day. Because in my area, nail polish is really a rare thing when compared to makeup. In fact, I've heard some occupation prohibit appliance of nail polish like teacher and nurse.
I feel so insecure about my nails that I would never go to a salon just because I don't want them judging me. However I was determined to wear Holo Taco and actually like how it looks on me so I've actually stopped chewing my cuticles and nails. It's taken a long time - with a lot of setback - but they're finally starting to look nice. I actually can't wait to go to a nail salon and get a manicure without feeling insecure! So I feel like I'm going the opposite way. hahaha
As someone who naturally has soft nails that break easily, I can tell you right now the nail tech has probably seen it all, and they're there to make you feel good, not to judge you, I promise they won't. When I first got mine done professionally I was scared they would think my nails were ugly, but I promise you they don't care at all, and they will be there to help you get what you want out of the experience
I can totally imagine the super rich people judging each other when they don't have their nails done. Saying you are untamed and not keeping up. And movie stars aren't super rich.
That wouldn't be a surprise with old money, trust fund babies. But keeping up every superficial detail is not only an expression of money, but a way to fill time. For those who make their money, from hedge fund managers to software developers, I wouldn't be surprised if they don't notice that stuff at all or only learned to when they reached the 1% of the 1%.
I don’t paint my nails because, first, my shaky hands and my lack of skills don’t allow me to paint them properly (so, if I “have to” I prefer going to the salon); I don’t have the patience for the nails to dry without them getting all wrecked; and as I’m used having naked nails whenever I paint them (once a year or so) I always can feel the nail polish in the edges, and that feels like I have my hands dirty or something... idk; and lastly when do paint them every time I look at my hand it doesn’t look as my hand (and I like the way my naked nails look anyway).
Ahh, that weird feeling of having nail polish in the edges is so relatable. I'm also someone who doesn't really wear polish that often so on the rare occasions I do it's hard to get used to haha
I remember being in my early twenties, and starting a job where my direct coworkers were older, affluent women. They were all sweet for the most part but I vividly remember them all (on separate occasions) at some point commenting on my bare nails. They were confused why I didn’t spend an obscene amount of money on acrylics and designs like they did. I was young and wanted to fit in and so I ended up falling into the peer pressure. I religiously got my nails done for 5-6 years. The amount of money I spent, looking back, is totally appalling. I wound up moving away from that job and still continuing my trips to the nail salon, until my then fiancé asked one day if I knew how much money I had spent that year at the salon alone. In the end, I think I grew out of the insecurity I had to always keep up with the next girl. I’m a lot more laid back now, I do my nails at home again and will on occasion go into the salon for a pedicure to pamper myself. So I can kind of see where this article is coming from. I’m not in that headspace anymore but I could see it being an “issue” if this pandemic had happened to the twenty-something version of me.
"You don't have to paint your nails, no one is forcing you to!" I definitely stopped painting my nails out of laziness but my sister who is on the autism spectrum LOVES getting her nails painted as a reward... and since she's been home for most of the year I've been forced to paint nails... ALOT lol.
I go get my nails professionally done because having nice, clean hands is an extremely important part of my job. I'm a makeup artist so having my fingernails look professional and clean is extremely important since my fingers are close to peoples faces. Unfortunately I have very weak nails and I'm prone to biting them, so gel extensions are the only option for me. I would love it if I could just have my natural nails, but they wouldn't reflect well on me
"I understand how a person that doesn't wear nail polish doesn't care like what's the best black nail polish..." Me who has watched all of her videos comparing different nail polishes/ base coats even though I don't wear nail polish:
“Vanity and pride and different things, though the words are often synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our feelings of ourselves; vanity, to what we would have others think of us.” - Mary Bennet
I enjoy going to the nail salon and see it as a “self care” thing. I stopped going since corona because I think public safety is more important than getting my nails done. I have never gotten my nails done to please anyone else other than myself
I see the people around me that go to salons in primarily two camps: one are my sisters, who go get their nails done as an indulgence/treat. I personally think it’s because it was normal or expected to go get acrylics for school dances, so now it feels special (and they enjoy it and the outcome). The second is a group of women in the professional world (primarily a bit older), that it does seem like just something they do. I think it might be something they started being young in a male dominant field, where everyone wore suits and having manicured nails was a part of the over all professional look. While the suits are less common, maybe the habit of having a manicure has persisted without much thought other than “that’s what I do.”
I’ve just always loved having cat claws... my real nails just break and die no matter what I do once their past a certain length. Being trans my hands hold a lot of gender dysphoria for me personally, and having long pointy cat like nails help.... so although sometimes it feels like a chore and not a luxury pampering feeling to get my nails filled, but the effect brings me happiness.
Another reason people go to salons. Society has made people think they can’t learn skills themselves. When things break or need doing we doubt our own ability.
i think that nail salons are popular because the nail tech equipment is on the expensive side and needs more place in your house that a set of regular nail polish bottles and a buff also many of nail techs are great artists and not everyone can draw and create something cute-looking on a daily basis
@@ЖеняЩедрин-ю7х I work at a salon supply store. Professional lamps for curing gels start around $100 and go up to $400. Pedicure stations cost $1,000 minimum! All that equipment and supplies is super expensive
I think people are just inherently lazy and if someone can do something for you then you get them to do it. Like you could also make your own yoghurt and bread but it’s just easier to buy them and have someone else do it for you.
I'm a 21 year old male who started wearing nail polish because my nails would turn dark from chemo treatment. Now I wear polish, all the Holo and effects, because it's fun and I enjoy it. 😄
I genuinely think men who do their nails or wear heavy makeup look even better than when women do the same and they even have better lashes like why *wouldn't* they? It's free real estate
you dropped this: 👑
As a fellow lover of nail polish: rock on my guy
Lol I wonder what the author of the article would say to this comment. It refutes their argument in like every way 😂
Fuck yes - you're awesome!
Kind of shocked it wasn’t about millennials killing the manicure.
Good point. I am curious of the age group demographics on this topic.
@@Fey3690 lol I think she was taking a shot at how every article is about "millennials killing ______________", because it's a trend for traditional media to constantly whine about how millennials are "ruining" society.
@@ninaasf-ck it is still a good point. Idk about anyone else here, but I am still curious to see the age groups reflect by the numbers.
@@Fey3690 definitely a generational thing. I’m a millenial and I literally never have my nails painted and I’ve only been to a nail salon a handful of times in my whole life. My friend is gen x and she feels like she needs to get her nails done for things like job interviews. I’m like no one will notice and it shouldn’t/won’t matter anyway!
@@lizalove91 and heres me painting my nails just to stare at them because its cool
“I’ve never gotten my nails done at a salon” what about the super expensive golden manicure you got with Safiya? EXPOSED
That’s exactly what I thought
That one was so ugly though, I felt bad they had to spend money on it, although they recovered in ad revenue I presume
It's for a video though and i believe she meant for personal purpose she has always done it at home. 😊
@@crystalgale15 I know haha dw I was just joking 💖
Simply Nailogical EXPOSED (OMG) (I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE DID THIS) (SCREENSHOTS AND RECIEPTS) (TEA)
I've worked in several industries that generally require women's nails to be painted or professionally done (usually only neutral colors allowed). It does have sexist roots - expecting the women to be "put together" literally 24/7 and any woman that isn't, must not be taken seriously. It has been written into many dress codes from those employers and is seriously ridiculous (coming from a nail polish lover and woman who doesn't wear make-up).
I feel like they just don't have experience working in these kinds of industries.
I experienced this exact expectation while working in sales and at a medical office. I think it depends on the field you work in, but there are definitely work places that still expect women to look a certain way. I remember the employee handbooks having a much longer list of requirements for women than men. I also remember reading “natural yet polished appearance”, referring to women’s makeup, hair, and nails.
My industry requires heels and short, gel manicures in neutral colors only.
I push back on both. We walk, climb and move around a lot and I have a massive nail polish collection that I’m going to enjoy. Period.
This is very true. Most hairstylists are told "nice polished nails maintained, or no polish at all."
This has been taught to me since the minute I started working retail. We NEED to be wearing at least minimal amounts of makeup so that we never look “tired” (which is terrible as a requirement as is) and our nails need to be taken care of at all times by the manuals. Only neutral colours (I’ve also had red as an option in one particular company) and never too long. It really depends on the employer but it’s been a written rule in every company I’ve worked at. My teams (myself included) have never taken it too seriously and I don’t think it’s ever had any significant impact in the way our jobs worked out if we didn’t follow this 100%, but it definitely places a higher standard onto women walking into the workplace. I love having manicured nails but when I can’t get them done in time for my next shift I definitely feel less confident as a result nowadays 🤷🏻♀️
I think Ben would have his own drama channel by now, if it weren't for Cristine worried they'd have a new scandal every week lol
The best thing is that I love how real Ben is, and I also agree with so many things he says. So many TH-camrs are so fake
He always has a spicy take and it’s so fun seeing a different side of him 😂
so true lmao keep this comment on top
It would be just him laughing at how ridiculous he thinks a lot of the drama is 🤣🤣🤣🤣
He should join Trisha and Ethan’s podcast
Here’s another thought about why people wouldn’t paint their own nails: a lot of people feel they don’t have the skill required to paint their own nails. Especially when painting with their ✨other hand✨. My mom in particular went to salons for years for regular polish because she has very shaky hands and can’t paint her own nails without polish pooling around her cuticle. My younger sisters are similar. I often paint their nails for them because they enjoy having nail art on their nails but feel they don’t have the skill to execute nail art themselves. People may not be insecure about the condition of their nails and hands but instead insecure about their ability. Moral of the story: normalize experimentation with nail art!! It’s nail ART and should be treated like every other art form. It takes practice to find techniques that work for everyone and each individual has their own taste. Anyways, just thought I’d introduce a new perspective to the comments section, that’s all!!
petition for ben to try to design and execute nail art on himself. just ben. simply is tea slave for a day and only comes by at the end for the big reveal.
Both my mom, my sister and I all struggle with this. Personally it's hard for me to paint my own nails, just because it's difficult to do it without being messy and it can honestly be a frustrating experience. I have been painting them more in quarantine and am getting better :)
I relate to this so hard. My opposite hand always end up fine and the other one trash. Always.
Had this conversation with my coworker who was jealous of my nails just this week. How do I get them so perfect. She gets hers painted. I was like. Girl, I paint my nails 2-3 times a week. It's practice, that's all. I gave her some pointers.
When I started painting my own nails, I had the pooling issue. I had wooden nail polish scrapers for when that happened. Without them, I don't know if I would've kept doing it.
One thing that I think the article fails to look into is how many people now feel like they *can* wear crazier colors of nail polish. My mom has said in the past that one reason she wears mainly ashy pinks, or nude colors is that she feels she may be taken less seriously at her work if she wore a bright sparkly blue color with a design on it.
I was “nail shame” by an old professor in law school because I was wearing some design with a bright turquoise background and salmon starfish. Luckly it was just a comment but I still remember it, even when happen like 5 or more years ago...
THIS! I work at uni and feel like I have to keep up a professional appearance and that older professors would not take me serious if I had colourful nails.
This because I have business school interviews coming up and I am freaking out about my nail color 🙃
I took a business communications class two semesters ago and this is so true. Its still taught what colors are acceptable to wear in a business setting or not and as someone who enjoys wearing fun colors its quite disheartening.
@@missdeechan I wear whatever I want on my nails and hair color when I have a job interview. What you see is what you'll get. If I get the job, then they are ok with it.
As a male™ living in a heavily conservative area, quarantine has allowed me to go from never painting my nails for fear of judgement to experimenting with all sorts of polishes at home. Hoping to be brave enough to wear them in public at some point.
Edit: Wow! I just want to say thank you to everyone for the support! I appreciate all of the messages of your experiences and encouragement! For the few asking, I don't need to share my sexual identity to justify wearing nail polish. This is entirely the problem. Please stop gatekeeping clothing, makeup, nail polish etc. to certain genders and/or sexualities. That should have nothing to do with it. If someone enjoys nail polish they should be able to wear it without being harassed. Unfortunately in many places, including where I live, that's not the case. I do think things are getting better, and I hope one day we'll all be able to express ourselves without the need to worry!
I hope the people around your community learns to relax about things that don't affect them.
@@recoil53 Me too. It's silly to have to worry about painting your nails when it's such a harmless thing. I just know from past experiences that it's been better to just blend in. Hopefully one day there's no reason to worry about it at all.
@@kittstarr I don't doubt it's better for you when going around. Sadly.
as a conservative and registered republican, i’m sorry you feel that way. please know that, although some may not be okay with it, many of us would be happy to see you expressing yourself with nail polish and wouldn’t even think twice. Give people a chance...they may surprise you :)
Hey there fellow male Nail Artist!
I started @18 months ago...originally just a Trans flag to support my son, but grew to love all the colours/holo available. and regularly do wonky stuff. I do get the odd look or comment, but so many more compliments.
while it's pretty liberal around me, I hope that your experience is similar.
Reply with "Fun colours, make me happy. Don't you want me to be happy?" :-P
Being cishet doesn't mean we have to be gender conforming.
I both agree with where you're coming from and disagree from my own personal experience.
As a women in the military, an airplane mechanic, and a very feminine looking cis women I was told my nails were gross all of the time. It was ridiculous, I'd say to my coworkers, "well yeah my nails are gross, we're mechanics, looks at your own nails." And they would respond with something like, "well yeah but still, you're a girl." SO FRUSTRATING. That's how they were about many issues relating to women.
My nails were just short, a little dirty (even with daily cleaning), and had some small skin hanging around the beds. It was stupid.
Oof, there is no hope for males then 🤣
It's weird how society expect women to be clean, organized, in shape, 'pretty' 24/7
and most of these comes from the mouth of men who doesn't even shower properly
it doesn't mean if you're a woman you're supposed to have your nails done
People who expect women to constantly look “perfect” all the time are beyond dumb. Like, how does producing estrogen just magically make your nails look perfect all the time? 🧐 they act like the body we’re born in just gives us magical powers to always smell good or look good, as if we don’t just face societal pressures to buy beauty products and wear them 24/7.
I worked at a hospital for many years - worked in the IV room compounding IVs so nice nails were non-existent for me.
Wearing the gloves, sweating in the gloves, washing hands consistently & putting on an alcohol base on my hands would strip any nail polish instantaneously and my nails were always breaking too.
The reason why I say that there is some truth to the article is because one guy told me that he "expected" me to have my nails done, painted and kept nice. And I told him, "Buddy, that is not possible because I work in a hospital." It seems like he wanted a "trophy" girlfriend to show off and part of that included having nice, painted manicured nails. So there is a bit of a standard. I obviously dumped him really quickly because that was too controlling for me.
As women who've made hobbies out of our appearances, it's easy to forget that there are women who are just going through the motions when they keep their looks up. That includes makeup, jewelry, cute shoes, nice purses, getting your hair done, wearing eyelashes, and yes *having a fresh mani*.
For every person who does their makeup for the art, there's someone else who's afraid to leave the house without it on because they're self-conscious.
totally agree!
I agree! I find it *odd* when someone doesnt get excited over these things like I do
They do it to “go through the motions” while I (over)do it for the JOY I get out of it
Add dieting and exercise to this list...
@@SpyderT22 the "nail shaming" is not so much about having your nails not painted is bad, but about what naked nails represent in certain situations. If you go out in public with naked nails, all good, but if you go out to dinner, a pub or bar, a party with naked nails, it may be seen as "not trying hard enough". In my country, it is painfully common that women paint their nails when they are going out. Or have weekly manicure appointments "just in case" something comes up. I even remember local celebrities being shamed in magazines for having different colour nail polish in their toes and hands. I'm talking from the perspective of a society in which nail shaming does happen.
@@SpyderT22 Women without nail polish is common, but i think having *nice* nails is a bigger deal than some folks are admitting.
Back when i bit my nails down to the nub people asked me all the time if I ever painted my nails, or thought about getting them done.
Now that my nails are long, people only ever notice them when they’re painted, to say they like the color.
The New York Times: "Is this the end of the manicure?"
Me, a nail tech who spent $10,000 to get my nail techs license which arrived in the mail on March 15th: "Holy hell, I hope not! I'd be soooo screwed otherwise."
we need nail techs!
Right!!
Omg ;-; Y'all don't have scholarships or other reward funding to help with that?? 😭
A nail tech has to be one of those high in demand jobs right? Like people are always going to need nail techs.
I’m in the “don’t do my nails at all” crowd. Mainly, the reason I don’t wear nail polish is because I’m too lazy to do it myself and too frugal to pay someone else to do it. But I like to look at it, and I *really* appreciate seeing someone who has a day job doing TH-cam, and it’s a woman who’s in statistics to boot. My husband is into you guys too, and he has zero interest in nails or makeup. He’s a math major, and he likes to see the shop talk episodes.
Yes! I love listening to them talk about business.
I like that Christine mentioned older people struggling to do their own nails! My grandmother loves doing her nails but, due to a loss of motor function and an inability to pedicure her own toenails, she goes to the salon often for the convenience of it. Not only does it lift her confidence and her spirits, but it’s also a healthy service she can pay for that will keep her nails and toenails happy and healthy! I’m glad the salon in our town is safe and following Covid-19 guidelines so my grandmother has the chance to get her mani-pedis!
Having a good pedicure is huge for people who might not have mobility to do that self-care.
My mother gets manicures and pedicures for the same reason 🥰
Yes! This is so important as well as noting that it's not only older people who may have a hard time, lots of people with disabilities may need support with this as well!
I never saw my grandma without polish, even in her late 90’s. It always just looked nice and tidy.
I do my grandmas nails since I got back into doing them a few months ago she loves having her nails look nice and I feel like it’s a good bonding activity😊
"The art of excess is part of the art" - the woman who started the 100 layer challenge on youtube
Underrated comment
😂💗
😀great comment!
Pĺ
Philosophytube right here! 😁
I'm Japanese and I grew up thinking that "If I want to make my nails beautiful, I have to go to the salon." because there is no one doing their nail by themselves around me. Japan values harmony. Sometimes this harmony is even applied to the appearance.
There's nothing wrong with respecting harmony, but it's honestly hard to be adapted to the look and feel.
Harajuku is probably the most famous place in the world. Harajuku is full of people dressed in their own unique clothes. But if you dress the way you do in Harajuku, you can get some strange looks elsewhere in Japan. Nails are no exception.
But I've changed my mind because I started to watch your videos! Thank you, Cristine!
:o that's such a cool perspective!
Cool! Me too, I’m not Japanese but have very similar POV and aesthetic/mannerisms.
I feel like the japanese/asian harmonic look is too clean and smooth to be achievable, especially with makeup! If I treat my skin for a month and spend 2 hours on my makeup, I can achieve a dewy-skin, "perfect" look but not anymore the next day, and I definetely can't achieve that look for every day of the month. Nothing wrong with appreciating harmony, but people shouldn't expect pinpoint perfection in everyday situations. I used to paint my nails so accurate that no paint was on cuticles, but it usually wore out faster or the layers were opaque. Now it's better to be a little bit messy to achieve the best nail-look, if there is nailpolish on my fingers it wears out the next day and is just perfect after that!
You need a little bit of imperfection to achieve a harmonous, "perfect" look :) just be you
I took part in that poll and answered "I don't paint my nails." Here's why: I paint my toenails but not my fingernails for purely practical reasons. I'm constantly in the middle of some home improvement project, so nail polish lasts all of two minutes on me before it gets chipped. Once it gets chipped, I find myself peeling the polish off, which wrecks my nails. That's all. It's not that deep lol
i paint my nails but never take it off... o i only paint my toes once a month with an art and shit. but my hands... they get chipped in day 2. i can't be put with chipped nailpolish. with my toes i can wear snickers. but my hands??? gloves are not socially acceptable yet like in the 1910s.
I sometimes paint my nails, usually don't and I've gotten a pro manicure like 10x in my entire life. Same as you. I ruin them too fast. But painted toenails last forever so Ipaint those for myself
Me too. I work at a grocery store and am constantly sticking my hands in cardboard boxes and ripping them open so nail polish doesnt last, and I have to keep them short so they dont rip/break
I only paint my nails for special occasions. I'm an archivist and you probably wouldn't think this at frist, but I also would destroy my nailpolish at work during the frist few minutes, while removing rusted paper clips from old documents for example. I also keep them short to prevent chipping or ripping when working with heavy boxes and such. Also cooking and washing the dishes would finish them of in no time.
I started painting my nails after covid. I'm amateur and sloppy and my nails are short and weirdly shaped. I love it. However I have ADD and craft and bake a lot. once the polish chips on one nail, its over. I had to stop painting my nails until I could get a peel off base otherwise I was hurting my nails. However! Once my holiday crafting is over I am doing an all out holiday mani on myself!
As a “professional lady,” I’ve always felt the pressure to be sure I am “put together.” I’m in a customer-facing role, and I’ve always felt like I *needed* to wear makeup and have my hair done. Nails are also part of that puzzle. If I ever showed up at the office without makeup, I would get asked if I was sick. Every. Time.
Working from home has freed me quite a bit. I only wear makeup for video calls now, or if I want to play with it. My nails are always done, but that’s because I enjoy doing them, no one else really sees them now. Or cares. I will say that pointing to a signature line with a busted manicure was not a good feeling, but that was the before times. Now, I just send electronic signature requests.
Yes to the put together part! Having my nails done when I shake a client's or customer's hand feels more put together than having nakey nails.
Also, getting my nails done at the salon makes me less likely to buy them and ruin them because I spent money on them :P
Lifehack!! Never wear makeup so you never get asked if you are tired 😊😂
@@somuchluv89 - And if you already wear makeup just start wearing less and less and less over time and after awhile people will forget what you even looked like with makeup on 🤣🤣🤣
@@somuchluv89 that’s something I did. I stopped wearing lipstick on a regular basis because I was always asked whether I feel faint or ill when I didn’t wear it. So now I usually don’t wear make up at all. I only use it when I feel like it or when there’s a special occasion. (But I do enjoy doing my nails 😊)
During the podcast, I thought of a situation similar to yours, Karley. My cousin works at an office and she feels pressured to be well-dressed, wearing high heels and everything. She said no one ever really told her to do those things, but that since everyone else does, she does it too. So I guess it depends on your job too. As a graduate student I don't feel that pressure at all. As a public school teacher, I don't feel the pressure to be pretty or anything, but I feel like my students respect me a little bit more when I am more "put together".
I’m one of your “non-polish wearing” fans. I watch you for your artistry and you make me laugh. Thank you for your honest conversations, I appreciate that they aren’t edited.
I feel like the article is more directed toward those who get acrylics and need to have them constantly filled. There’s some societal expectation for women to have clean looking long nails, which is why something like the French tip acrylic is super popular. I personally hate acrylics because I don’t like how heavy they feel on my nails. I also didn’t like going to the salon in general because they’d always trim my cuticles too much and make me bleed. I never really cared for painting my own until I started watching Cristine back in 2016 or whatever. And now I pretty much always have them painted because I like how they look, different color combos, etc.
Those nail “techs” that you went to did it wrong, if they made your “cuticles,” (or whatever they called “cuticles”) bleed. The cuticles are the dead skin on your nails, not the live part by your skin, also known as the eponychium. The eponychium should NEVER be trimmed, only in extreme cases, but not normally.
@@sweetcanada17 yeah I’m pretty sure they were trimming too much and stuff that wasn’t my actual cuticle. I would even request them to not trim anything but they usually wouldn’t listen so I stopped going. I’m just glad I didn’t get any awful infections or anything. It was awful.
@@SlahVimburg the last time I went years ago she spent 5 min making fun of how much cuticle she had to trim and showing me. That’s why I don’t go!! Also yeah they function to protect germs from getting into your skin idk why they trim them so much
@@lizalove91 I only push them back before painting my nails. Even, when my cousin did gel nails on my nails, she only pushed them back.
I found that I prefer painting my nails at home because most nail places don't have HOLO!
Never a truer word spoken
That’s exactly why doing my nails became a hobby to me. It’s also just cheaper to buy nail polish bottles you can reuse instead of just paying to have your nails done each time.
Umm... bring your Holo nail polish to the salon
I took my Holo Taco linear holo topcoat to the nail salon with me. It opened up a conversation with the nail tech about holo and why I love it.
Cause most of nail places are in it for the money 💰 They dont care about holo...
Don’t come for me I’m a nail tech I know what I’m talking about ...
too bad you not close to me I got all the fun stuff including holo ☺️
In high school I once had a class on “real life skills” where a teacher was giving us tips for job seeking and interviews and I remember he specifically said that in interviews he looks at people’s and especially women’s nails because he can tell a lot from that... wtf right? Maybe that’s what the article meant.
@@CMEPTbOo It sounds like your projecting the problems with your country onto other people who are blameless. If you are talking to a woman and telling them you expect them to just deal with the sexism, you are going go get a negative response. I'm a woman on a good wage with university qualifications. In my circumstances if someone were to judge me by my nails, I have other options and I do not need to accept that insult and many do not need to accept that insult. Don't project your problems onto us. You are talking to us with disrespect.
@@Stettafire The problem is you wouldn't know you were rejected from a job because your nails are less manicured than another applicant. So having someone tell you the tiny things that give you an edge is a big advantage for a well qualified applicant in a sea of other well qualified applicants.
This could make some sense if you think about the hygiene part, for them to be clean could say something about how they present themselves or if they are painted plain or to express their personality 🤷♀️ I think it makes some sense, however i don’t think an employer should judge an employee because of their nails
Yeah, like this weird 1950s attitude towards women. 😬 Also extremely classist if applied towards men. "oh, you work with your hands so you're not a good fit for this job"???
@@DrECLumin Ye, exactly this. It's very common and in both professional and leisure aspects of peoples lives. A manicured hand is far more "professional, competent" ect, the same way red polish is "racy"
I’ve definitely seen people “nail shame” before. For example on my local community Facebook groups. If someone is posting a picture holding something (giving something away or lost and found) and their paint is chipped there’s always someone coming out with a rude comment. It’s honestly so stupid. At least now we have the excuse of quarantine nails/beauty 😹
True!! "Nail shaming" is a big reason I stopped biting my nails. Every time somebody noticed them all chewed down they'd say something about how I "need to get my nails done" lol
It absolutely happens, nail shaming seems more a measure of status/means, and to a lesser degree about grooming habits. I'm absolutely guilty of seeing someone with jagged or dirty unkempt nails and being grossed out.
That happens, true, but I don't think anyone would ever comment "why dont you paint your nails" if they're not wearing polish you feel me
@@BBoPPo88 No, but they might comment something snarky about someone needing a manicure, if they think the nails are uneven, in the wrong shape and so on
@@BBoPPo88 I've been asked multiple times in a judgy way why I don't get my nails done. Not because they were dirty, just short and unpainted.
I’m one of those people you’d probably categorize under “doesn’t paint their nails” because the majority of the time mine are not. But I still watch your videos, including polish comparisons and nail art, because they are really entertaining and intriguing! It’s so fun to watch someone talk about something they are passionate about. Plus, your personality is a huge reason I keep watching your content. I love the positivity and messages you put out there on your platforms and the sheer fun it is to watch you no matter what it is about. 😸
Same, I pretty much only paint my nails for special occasions (so like 2-4 times a year). But I love watching Simply's videos because they are fascinating, entertaining, and wholesome. And even if I don't paint my nails often, when I do paint them, I love spending significant time doing fun/pretty nail art and coordinating the colors, so all of the nail polish knowledge I have learned does come in handy. Also, I just love Simply's outlook on life and in my down time I want to watch happy, fascinating videos that either make me laugh or learn something or best of all both, which is exactly what her videos do.
I also only paint my nails for special occasions. Even then, it’s either at a salon or just one colour. I have never done nail art. I watch your content because I think you’re funny. Also, I find it really interesting to watch people do really intricate and different art that I don’t understand how to do at all. Like I watch your nail art channel and cake decorating channels and historical sewing videos and just find it so interesting to watch someone who is so good at something I have no idea how to do.
I've literally only painted my nails a handful of times in my life. But I enjoy listening to a good podcast :)
Same here, the only time my nails are done is when I get them done professionally and even then, it's either for a special occasion or just because I randomly feel like treating myself.
10000% agreed
Not “needing” makeup and the embrace of “natural” makeup is also a privilege. The more “natural” we get the more we heighten the expectation of “natural beauty”. I think this trend is more indicative of the insane beauty standard we live in than diversifying and acceptance of natural flaws.
I'd love to hear Suzie weigh in on this topic. She runs a salon and, I'm sure, has clients across the spectrum of nail enthusiasm.
I think because suzie is premium i dont think people unenthusiastic about nails would pay for expensive service
⁰
I could listen to hours of Ben and Cristine talking about practically anything
Honestly
I listen to these podcasts to fall asleep lol
Yep 😂 their grocerylist is good enough 😎
This one is kinda boring tho lol
@@myamazingscreenname same most of the time ✨☺️
I'm like 2 minutes in but has anyone else started painting their nails in quarentine? Like I have more time to paint my nails now. XD
A makeup youtuber I follow taught herself to do acrylics 🤣
@@kagitsune I myself have started doing polygel nails XD
As soon as my classes got cancelled I cut my nails 😂
But I'm letting them grow again now. They're very big already and I file them to make them sharpy ✨
Sameee and I’m actually getting pretty good at nail art now that I have time to practice! And with my holo taco polishes I get more exited to paint my nails lol
So I started painting my nails because I’m overweight and it was one thing I felt comfortable getting complimented on and knowing people were sincere. It makes me happy
When a job requires that people often look to your hands, it is generally implied or told that a woman needs to get her nails done. When I worked at the airport a friend who worked at check in was told by her boss to get her nails done. There is some degree of professional pressure, probably not as much as make up but is out there. And colors have to be neutral so not only pressure but also oppresive for those who wants some art in their nails.
But "done" as in well taken care of, looking clean, etc? Or a full on painted mani? Because I only ever hear of professional requirements being to have clean nails that match your neat appearance overall.
@@glittery_cucumber It definitely varies. It would make sense if they just meant "clean nails," but I grew up with the idea that your nails are ugly/dirty if they aren't painted and wearing a shiny clear coat after getting them manicured is the bare minimum. Kinda like how women are seen as dirty if they don't shave but that has nothing to do with actual hygiene.
Of course nails and nail polish will never be to that same degree of expectations for makeup or shaving, but it's definitely out there.
I have very nice natural nails: clean, shiny, good nail shape and I constantly get compliments on them from women. I've absolutely had male bosses tell me that I should be getting my nails done weekly. My response was to tell them I don't have time or money for that and they've dropped it. I've actually had more men in the workplace tell me to get my nails done than I've had tell to wear makeup and at most, I wear concealer to work.
Edit: Now I'm wondering if that's because men have learned that they shouldn't tell women to put makeup on so they've shifted their focus to nails 🤔
The article sounds like they are only talking about the "high-class" society and not the rest of society.
But I also love painting my nails because I get to try new things and I love using Holo taco!
Yeah, the article seemed very out of touch.
No, I recognise myself in the article. I like having painted nails when going out or to a party. But I hate doing my nails. I do not do it for any artistic expression. I felt like it’s Cristine who is a little out of touch in his particular area, since she’s so much involved in the nail community. The rest of us, who are not in the nail community, just like to have nice nails, just like you wear nice clothes when you go places. But I’m certainly not painting my nails when staying home.
Here's a point that I was surprised wasn't talked about more. I'm someone who regularly goes to salons to get my nails done with friends, and a big part of going is just the experience. I don't feel any societal pressure to have colored nails, it's more the pampering that I find fun. I've tried doing my nails on my own, and it's incredibly stressful for me, because I want to get it perfect, and it always takes too long and I'm too impatient to wait for one layer to dry before I put another one on. Instead, it's much more relaxing to chat with friends, get a little bit of a hand massage (or foot massage if I'm getting a pedicure) and then have really pretty nails for the next week or so until I go again.
I'd liken it to people paying for a massage. Like yes, there are certain areas that you can work on yourself, and you don't *really* need a professional, but it's so much more relaxing and nice to just get one yourself.
I agree! I don't go with friends but I chat to my nail lady all the time, and we've become pretty friendly. Honestly, I love having my nails done because I've always wanted long nails but mine don't grow long and they break, so having acrylics and someone who can properly take care of my nails is so great. And I feel like the implication that I or anyone would do it purely to make others happy is unfounded and stupid, just let me live honestly
I'm the same with not being able to do mine the way I want to so paying someone who can od a good job and who can make me happy is a huge benefit of going to a salon. Like I love going because I know it'll be fun for me
I would guess they didn’t go deeper into that because Cristine didn’t do that (pre-COVID) so they probably don’t have enough personal experience to share.
My favorite part of getting my nails done was going with my friend it was our routine every three weeks then we’d go out for lunch afterwards. I’m perfectly capable of painting my nails myself and I’m actually quite good at it but again it’s the experience
I sooo cannot relate to that, I feel extremely uncomfortable with being pampered (ESPECIALLY massages) which is probably why I don't understand people wanting to get their nails professionally done 😅 Plus it saves me a shit ton of money of course, which is also part of the reason, but even if it was something I considered worth investing in I just couldn't bring myself to it
@@KreeZafi somehow I relate to both you and OP 😂 I both hate spending money on services but I also can NOT paint my own nails to save my life. So I just go in and get a mani for special occasions, or a pedi if I can't save my own hobbit toenails 🤣
I have absolutely had people ask me if I'm OK when not wearing undereye concealer/mascara at work. Thanks - that's just my face.
My favorite part about painting my nails is staring at them after. When they catch the light just right and the holo shines 😍🤩
I feel this, for days after I find myself checking my nails out at every opportunity 😂
The reason I could imagine a big chunk of your audience doesn't paint their nails could be because they can't. For example at school or a job, a lot of places expect a high standard of professionalism which means you can't have your nails painted bright green on one hand and yellow on the other
And to add on the job thing, most of the hobbies/classes I’ve taken required me to have short nails/unpainted nails. I used to play viola; need short nails. I then worked at Starbucks which required me to not have painted nails, and now I do ceramics; short nails again. It is what it is
This is a good point. When I worked a fast food counter, we couldn't wear nail polish because there was the risk it would chip and get into the food, or we could but we'd have to wear gloves. Wearing gloves when you're trying to handle money all day gets annoying so bare nails it was.
@@GenericaQwerty yep I worked at Starbucks and I tried to wear gloves so I could keep my color, two hrs into counting money and blenders slipping out of my hands made get a polish remover from target and get it off. Even when I worked clothing retail, it was so rough on my nails that I would have chips by end of shift.
true, my mom cant wear at work or more like she want to because she thinks that its unprofesional
Honestly Cristine dancing to the intro music and it not being in sync is the most wholesome thing ever 🥺💗
It gives me serious dink fam vibes
@@Jesskellyn yeesssss
Haha they edit it in after! It reminds me of jenna Julien 😭
Can I just say - I appreciate the use of the section breaks in the bottom bar; its so helpful!
i think a lot of people immediately leap to the defense of “i’m doing it for myself” when the subject of makeup comes up, but that’s not all there is to it. i think cristine’s stance on it is healthy but i’ve definitely known people who don’t leave their house without makeup and still go “i’m doing it for me” and like... there’s a difference between using makeup as creative expression and not being able to function without it, so i do think it’s healthy for most women to not wear it for a while just to get used to seeing your own bare face
I know girls who will not even leave the house to throw out garbage if they are not wearing makeup.
Also, in Korea and Japan, there's a really toxic culture for wives to always wear makeup, to the point were they will keep they're makeup on until their husband has come home and fell asleep.
I agree. People get defensive when it comes to these things, but there are lots of people who do feel the pressure to conform to beauty standards. I don’t think the article is about people who paint their nails at home - it’s about a large subset of people, namely women, who constantly get fresh manicures because it’s feminine and it’s a sign of class, sophistication, or wealth. That might sound ridiculous, but it really is a thing. So, it’s always annoying when people dismiss those things because they might not apply to them.
@@minnie7453 I sorta get them being dismissive tho (I had the same initial reaction) I. Since there is a bigger expectation for women to wear makeup than nail polish.
@@lolathetomboy I agree there may be a greater expectation to wear makeup, but I think it’s incorrect to say that nails are not a standard of beauty as well. A woman with a fancy manicure might seem wealthier, more mature, more professional, or more well put together. It may even be a sign of greater femininity, because while more women might wear makeup, a fancy manicure is going above and beyond. It’s definitely a traditionally ultra-feminine display of beauty, I think.
I think this is exactly right. I don't think makeup is inherently bad and it can be fun and even empowering. But I think if you actually feel ashamed to go out in public without makeup, that can't be good.
My mom gets her nails done once a month, I asked her why and she said that she has four kinds and a dog to take care of and she works very hard, so she deserves that one hour break where she gets pampered and gets to relax one her own! For her its very much for herself, where she gets to feel special. (also she bites her nails, and acrylic nails makes it harder and breaks that habbit) :)
This, I do it for me because it's something I love and enjoy having done. I love having beautiful sparkly nails, they bring me lots of joy
I do the same! I do feel naked without them, but not to the dramatic extent that this article made it.
I bought some Holo Taco and STARTED painting my nails during the pandemic.
Same
Me, too! I've gotten back into painting my nails after many years away. If it weren't for the pandemic, I would never have re-discovered it.
Same as well, I guess I discovered @holotaco a little late but I have bought most products from her site. Love the polish tho, my nails are Never naked anymore.
Same
“Nail shaming” is definitely a thing and is rooted in sexism and the societal notion that women always have to at least look put together. 😐However, as part of both the diy nails and salon acrylics group. I personally enjoy the creative process of doing my own nails and watching someone else do my nails and put their touch on it.
In addition, many people I know (early 20s) love getting their nails done for them and have personal friendships with their techs, and the techs I follow online have a genuine passion for the creativity that goes into doing nails too; which I think is really cool ☺️
P. S. I love your podcast and I look forward to it every week! 🤍💿
The fun fact about painted nails is that men usually either don't care or don't like them (esp. if nails are too long or sharp or neon colored), so if there are any sexism then it came from women's side
@@incoref in my experience, it's very much like makeup, where men THINK they prefer no product, but actually expect women's neutral to be groomed and with "natural" looking product on
@@micheal2458 Well then we have different experience
Commenting at about 9 minutes: I think the article is more getting at people who use gel and acrylic rather than standard polish. The reason for using "fake" nail methods or enhanced nail methods, I think, is way more about societal standards than it would be for people who only use polish. I, like Cristine, have very strong nails that grow out a good amount and look decent naked with simple upkeep. For people who have very soft nails or short nails or who bite their nails, there's probably more pressure to have professional manicures. And then, gel and acrylic manicures need professional upkeep. They need to be filled and its very hard to take them off. Also, there's a self-perpetuating cycle. Using gel or acrylic causes your nails to look worse since they have to be soaked off or buffed off. Then your nails look less healthy, so you cover them back up again. In that respect, I agree with the article. Having color on your nails is not something people are pressured to do, but having enhanced nails in the form of gel or acrylic is something people may feel pressured to do.
After I stopped doing gel nails my natural nails were so soft and fragile that it took months for them to be healthy again. You have to let the "damaged" nail grow out. Gel nails can be removed with nail polish remover that has acetone in it. You can also use nail polish on Gel nails but you have to use acetone-free nail polish remover to remove it. That was the first thing my cousin told me to get/ be aware of: acetone-free nail polish remover
I don't know about acrylic nails as I never had those.
My nails now look a lot like what I had when I had gel nails in terms of form and evenness. It made an impact on me to keep my nails good-looking. For a long time I barely wore nail polish... that changed with the first collection from Holo Taco I got. (unicorn collection) My nails haven't been without polish ever since and I bought on launch day and had within a week. XD
I only do it because I like it not because I feel like I have to.
I have very thin nails ever since I was a kid. I get acrylics but I’ve never felt the pressure to constantly get them done. I see it has a nice way to treat myself. It does bother me when I get them taken off but I just suck it up until they grown out.
I have had acrylic first and now acrygel for about a year, sorely to make them stronger.
I love long nails and suffered some breaks, as many as Cristine, like twice a year if I was careful. They were normal in strength, but sometimes my long hair would cut into thz sides as I washed my hair, with wet nails. Then they'd start tearing and eventually snap. I needed stronger nails if I wanted length.
I too was scared they would become britle or hurt, but I've never felt pain, they've never been buffed or soaked and I haven't broken one due to it (I broke one in may when I hadn't been able to get to the salon for four months due to corona).
She just files off the gel color and leaves the hard acryl or acrygel on, and fills in the gap that's grown. Then puts on more color or art.
I changed to acrygel because my nail tech believes the acryl dust is harmful to her, when she has to sit in it every day. It hasn't made a difference for me.
I think most people are afraid of brittle nails because of gelnails. If you apply only the gel polish straight on the nail, you have to hurt the nail to get it off. Acrylic nails are more expensive but so much healthier for your nails.
The myth that nails need to "breathe" or be naked for a while is ungrounded. All long nails need is oil. Because the nailbed tends to grow too far underneath if you always have long nails. That's it. I could stop having them right now, but they'd eventually break from being too long or I'd need to shorten them. They can be filed down, just leave a bit of product on, and cover it with regular polish, never touch the natural nail.
I taught myself, through lots of trial and error, to do my own home polygels. I type very fast; I need tough nails that don't chip. :)
I also go to the salon creatively. They keep comparing salon vs at home nails like going to a salon means your doing it for society, and doing it on your own means your doing for yourself. I go to the salon because I want fun nail for myself but I have no skills what so ever. Also it is actually a very creative process in my experience, I have to tell them what I want, what color, designs, and then they elaborate on that and coming up with new ideas until we have the perfect design that I love. Its more like a conversation than a service. I also think its just fun to hang out with such a talented person, and my nail tech is super nice. :)
I teach teens and am very conscious of both wearing and not wearing makeup. When I do wear make-up, management and parents often comment on it positively. However, I don't want teens to think the only way to appear in public is to have a full face. I want students to see me doing my job effectively both with and without make-up. Also when the students do mention it, we have conversation about how much my appearance does or does not affect my effectiveness as a teacher. I make it clear that sometimes I feel like having red lips and other times I have other things that take priority and thinking about my appearance is low on my list or priorities.
I like this approach. As a teen I felt very self conscious and a teacher that sometimes just didn’t wear makeup would’ve been great. Now as an adult, I usually don’t wear makeup but when I do, I get many compliments. But I also noticed that when I wore makeup a bit more regularly, I was always asked whether I’m feeling ill when I didn’t 🙄
So now, normal modus operandi is no makeup and sometimes when I’m feeling like it, I wear it for fun.
I respect this approach. I'm an adult too long in the tooth now, but back in school it was forbidden for girls to wear makeup but staff always wore full face and had nice nails. It always came across as odd, that the rules around kids were so strict and yet our job market does not apply this same level if scritness (I'm in a pretty ok job and I wear jeans and a hoodie to work)
Me: *shocked at how many people don't wear nail polish and watch simply nailogical.*
Also me: *never wears nail polish.*
Same 🤣
lol same, the only reason I BARELY do now is because of simply
I am the opposite, I just STARTED painting my nails in quarantine. I love painting them, and I have never felt pressured to paint them.
i would imagine celebrities, women in wealthy social circles, and women in certain careers are expected to wear nail polish by their peers or employees to uphold beauty standards and keep the status quo. also since getting a manicure is a luxury to most people, the wealthy may use it as a way to flaunt wealth and status. i think of it in the same as getting a spray tan. some do it for beauty or an expression of their aesthetic taste while others do it to fit in to the beauty standard or as a status symbol. i think the women we're talking about are a niche group and it doesn't apply to the average woman. that's just my opinion. feel free to disagree. ☺️
No, I agree with this entirely. I was getting manicures pre-pandemic because mine chip horribly where I live now. I'd get a dip powder to get them to last longer. Since pandemic, however, I finally started learning ukulele. Because of that, I don't go in for manicures anymore. To me it seems like a waste of money since I'm beating them up so badly with music. lol
I'm glad someone said it. The perspective of this article (at least the way it's presented here) is a very elitist perspective that doesn't reflect how most people feel.
the article def represents what is prob a real attitude, but a niche one as you say.
as much as i'd love to get my nails done on a regular basis, i work with my hands and don't make enough money to justify going to the salon and then immediately get them all beat up. i don't feel pressured by outside factors to have my nails done, but i have an aesthetic for myself i want to uphold ;( i've met a few people who go because they work in a bank and get their nails done because all their coworkers had, but within my own social circles, they didn't mind letting them grow out until they had the time to go again.
I agree with what you said, but I think there is something to add to this. I think there is a group of people who need such services for health care reasons - if I can define them in such a way.
For example, I know of people who have extremely fragile nails and need to have gel in order not to have nails break every day. Or worse injuries in the area.
Also tanning can be used for health care reasons: sever acne can cause serious injuries to the face, and scarring. In areas with yearly limited sun exposure it can be used to contain acne related problems that would lead to such injuries.
Ive painted my nails more in quarantine then I did before. Because I have the time and I dont mess them up as quickly. I also do it for me, Ive never painted my nails for someone else? I didnt realize people did that.
I also paint my nails more in quarantine because I can wear bright colours without it looking unprofessional. I always feel like my normal naked nails are considered professional.
Just to point out: the audience and writer of a NYT article is its own elitist bubble and is not accurate at representing how most people feel. Like the polls they did for this podcast, the NYT article has its own bias in the data they refer to.
There is an interesting documentary "Nailed It" on America Reframed. Its about how the salon industry got going after the Vietnam War and its links to new levels of disposable income in urban communities among other factors.
"Elitist" sounds like a reactionary dogwhistle, my guy. Choose your words carefully.
Edit: my apologies, I got to the part of the video where they themselves characterized the NYT audience as leaning elitist. Been seeing a lot of weirdos trying to derail conversations and plant seeds of antisemitism and anti-intellectualism on YT lately, so I'm a bit primed to feel sus.
@@kagitsune elitism is a serious problem. Using that word is not a dogwhistle afaik
@@kitbracadabra It's part of a larger anti-intellectualism movement we're seeing in rich countries with a social conservative streak. But as I said in my edit, I was speaking out of turn.
I'm the type of person who paints their own nails and immediately starts picking and scraping the polish off. My husband's uncle who is, how you sayyy ...privileged🙄... was taking photos of us with our newborn and *huffed* under his breath to his wife about my nails. That was the first time I was insulted over my nails and it completely changed how I feel when around his aunt/uncle.
Going to get nails done at a pricey salon is like wearing high heels: partly a classist expression that the person with perfect nails and high heels are "high class" and don't have to do manual labor. I work in an industry that I use my hands and I am not allowed to wear police and also am on my feet all day. My nails often look awful and I must wear sensible shoes. I would love to hear Cristine and Ben talk about the class aspects of different beauty practices and standards in North America.
I’ve always thought about this too! If someone can have their nails done all the time it often means they don’t have a laborious job and vice versa. It is a sort of class marking. I used to hate not having my nails done for an old barista job I had, but I also recognize I like my natural nails as well
Or you wear heels for the intended purpose of lifting your butt. Look at the difference in your backside when you go from flats to heels. Something I never understood until listening to Drag Queens.
As an anthropologist, this would be SO COOL to explore. =D
I was hoping they’d go there! It’s so class-related and there’s a lot of pressure to spend big $$$$ on all beauty treatments, and nails are one part of that.
I don't paint my nails because of the dry time. even when it's "dry to the touch" if you even need to do something simple like pull down your pants to go to the bathroom, they get wrinkled/smudged because it's still goopy.
That's why I switched to gel polish. Once it's cured it's done. There is a learning curve but I'm thrilled with the results now
I feel that, I started doing my nails mostly before bed, that way with a decent top coat I would go to sleep and then in the morning my nails are completely set!
@@lelalu101 Gel is so much better! Goes on smoother, you have plenty of time to fix mistakes, doesn't smudge, lasts weeks and less of a horrible smell because its cured so much faster. But I always had trouble removing it and end up peeling it which damages my nails, so I dont do it often.
But recently I transitioned to nail stickers + gel topcoat and its amazing! No smell, really neat edges which I could never achieve myself, and super easy removal. The gel topcoat makes the nails look professional and not cheap, and helps it last up to 2 weeks!
I highly recommend shellac! I switched to it for the same reason. It's similar to nail polish without the dry time and it's removed with acetone as well unlike gel!
That usually happens when the polish underneath wasn’t fully dry before you put on the next coat. Their are also certain polish lines from certain brands that seem to never dry so they always get smudged.
"Why would someone who doesn't paint their nails care about the best black nail polish?" hahahaha a couple years ago that was me!! I watched so many nail videos feeling bad about my ugly bitten nails and after a long time it inspired me to stop biting and grow them long so I can paint them pretty :)
Gorl ur literally judging bitten nails and calling then ‘ugly’ and labeling long grown painted nails ‘pretty’ u defeated the whole point of the video
@@ducksquackz4999 I don't think so. I never judged anyone else for their nails, I just felt super insecure about my own.
I feel like the article refers more to manicures and people getting french tip manis and so on instead of nail art. Having clean, evenly shaped, decently long nails without rills and discoloration and, if painted, without the polish having chipped etc is part of looking 'put together' and professional along with discreete make up and the right way of dressing and so on in a lot of industry sectors. So a lot of women I know go to salons to just maintain an even shape and length of their nails and maybe get them painted in a discreete colour to look what's considered 'presentable' when dealing with clients and costomers and colleagues. It has nothing to do with nail art or with enjoying nail polish for these women. TBH, I just know two females in person who paint their nails for fun and who are older than 14, the other ones either don't paint their nails or do it because it's sort of expected in their job or because it's considered part of looking decent in their social group (or are little girls). At least in my personal environment make up is way more about selfcare and enjoying it than nail polish is.
i agree! getting manicures to just look more "neat/clean" even though they might not like getting manicures is super common from what i can see
That's exactly what I thought & when I started working in an office full of women, people would turn up their noses at you if you didn't have acrylic nails & a full face of make up. Luckily I don't care about any of that so I don't do either nails or face 😂😂😂
The writer of the article has consistently fear-mongered and kept saying that beauty routines/products are harmful and how it’s conforming to patriarchal ideals. They claim they are a feminist but have consistently put down women for liking “feminine” activities.
@Regenbogen Very well said.
@@LilSweetLolita It may be worth exploring why so many “feminine” activities are about outwardly presenting beauty. It’s a hard thing to navigate as a feminist, because on one hand, these standards are patriarchal in origin, but on the other, many women are reclaiming them for themselves. But there is still some level of expectation to maintain these standards, even if we “do it for ourselves.” 🤷🏽♀️
There’s also lots of people who can wear nail polish now who couldn’t previously because of work!
As a closeted gay guy, painting my nails in my home alone is soooo liberating (I'll probably get arrested if I wear them in public).
LET THOSE NAILS SHIIINNE 😍🥺💅🏽
YESSSSSSS YOU GO GUY 💕✨💅
I hope one day you get to let the world see how you paint your nails 💕
Wear your nailpolish out( not that we are going out much these days). There's already enough problems to worry about. Wearing nailpolis shouldn't be one.
@@mani_m97 they may live in a country where acts of self expression like that may get them in a dangerous situation.
They are people who nail shame actually... It's part of the same age old women are to be well groomed beautiful all the time narrative ... It's archaic but some people still have the same mentality today
No matter if youre a woman, a man or any other human being, i think you should take of yourself. It benefits you and your surroundings xD
Those are the same people that only like French manicures because everything quirky and colorful is either tacky or childish-.- no matter how nice your manicure is, if it is neon yellow they will judge you loudly🤦♀️
Ik that is so weird..... Although I do get uncomfortable when people have dirty nails...you know.
@@hannacosmos i think its a matter of taste, innit? I personally dont like long colorful nails on myself, bc a - Im a rockclimber and b- I play piano, so i would get stuck between the keys xD i dont mind it on other people, personally when I see someone with long mails I just ask them how they can function properly xD but you do you
Think thing about natural makeup or no makeup look is that the expectation is higher in a way. It encourages classism by way of who can afford a dermatologist or elective procedures. Because you have to be natural and PERFECT. if you cant afford these treatments or maybe you cant always have access to fresh fruit and veggies etc it shows a lot more than if you use full coverage makeup
"How can you get anything done with those nails"
I installed stone pavement in my backyard this summer with my super long, sparkly nails - both the pavement AND my nails looked great by the end ;) Thanks again for a great podcast!
Yay great!!
My long nails doing things : i'm an archaeologist and have had a total number of ZERO nail breaks in my 4 years of excavating 💪
@@cuicui3532 💪🏻💅🏻
I'm a hairstylist and tomboy with long nails. My job just started a rule that nails can't be longer than 1 inch total, and I busted out a tool to measure. I do things easier with my nails than without. I've refinished furniture, moved my whole home, and worked shipment processing / floorset for retail companies and maybe broken 1 or 2 nails, and even then they were 2 weeks past fill time.
@@IrishWhiskeyMUA How do you do it? I always chip mines badly doing physical manual labour. What sort of polish do you use?
@@randomliciousable I have polygel or acrylic overlay, and gel polish. My nail designs have to be filed off.
I've been judged many times by other women before for not having perfect nails (chipped nail polish, broken nails etc.) But I've always brushed it off as ridiculous. But yeah, it is something that exists.
I literally had one of my best friends out of nowhere tell me “you always look like you have your life together because your nails are always done”
Ben: "We're seeing a broader trend..."
Cristine: "Of people giving up"
Also, my boyfriend watches your podcast because of the cats
We stan your boyfriend
Regarding nail polish for those in the medical professions, it’s not the length of the nails that’s unhygienic (though I personally keep my nails short so I don’t accidentally scratch patients), it’s that chipped polish provides extra surface area to harbor bacteria. And with the amount of hand washing that needs to be done, it’s inevitable that nail polish will chip.
A nurse friend of mine told me nail polish is porous too so bacteria can penetrate the polish itself. Source is admittedly dubious but that was what I heard as an explanation when they were like "I wish I could wear nail polish like you" from them.
Hi, there! 34 year old male here who hasn't had a colored nail since I was a teen and my sister's friends got hold of my hands. I simply (heh) watch your videos because they're enjoyable, smart content and regularly include furbaby cameos. Just happens to come with a side effect that I can instruct my co workers in the ways of nail "hacks" and nail art in ways that surprise them and cause a few friendly jabs about being a guy watching a "nail channel". Thanks for creating content that is so lovely for so many different people.
The thing that gets me is switching from color manicures to "nail health". Like, you don't need nail polish to be beautiful anymore but you still have to put in the effort to keep your natural nails looking beautiful? What exactly is different? It's like switching from makeup to a 10 step skincare routine, you're still putting a ton of effort into complying with beauty standards, just in a different form
I think the idea is that the skin care or nail care routine is for your own benefit or self care rather than like "pretending" with makeup.
@@BiHermitCrab The only thing you need to do is give your nails a trim and moisturise your hands. I agree with Annie, a switch to a complicated and costly routine to get the perfect healthy nail look seems like no progress at all
@@BiHermitCrab my question is if it is, truly, just for your own benefit? what is the point of skin or nail care if it isn't because of a health concern? it's to look beautiful.
edit for clarification: even without polish, there is pressure for your nails to be beautiful and well maintained. people who are insecure about their bitten nails aren't insecure just because they aren't painted
This but skin care. I've read stuff from dermatologists and a lot of them don't necessarily recommend a 10 step Korean skin care routine. If you think it's nice then sure but I feel increasing pressure to "do skin care right" and it annoys me. So I can see companies trying to cash in on the same idea but for nails.
In general I've seen a lot of insidious marketing hiding "look a certain way" underneath "wellness". I'm not saying all wellness products are useless grabs for vanity but it certainly seems like the term 'wellness' or 'health' has been co-opted by a bunch of companies looking to make money by making you feel as though you "aren't taking care of yourself". There isn't anything wrong with nice nails but if you have turn cuticles you also aren't going to die.
I didn’t paint my nails until the pandemic began. It just wasn’t something I took the time to do before. I got into nail polish as a new hobby during quarantine. It’s been fun to find and collect new polishes as well as attempt nail art. I really enjoy doing this myself now, but I can’t imagine getting them done professionally. The fun of this hobby has been to do it myself. 💅🏻
Same!! My school doesn't allow painted nails, and people have been reprimanded even for clear polish. Even long-ish nails are against the rules. Now, since there's no in-person school, I've been painting my nails quite regularly, and my nails are doing much better, because I have a reason to be careful with them
I have probably doubled my polish collection in the last 9 months. Started discovering awesome Indie brands and venturing out into other colors, finishes and nail art. It's totally self-care.
@@laceym3662 Same! I’ve found some great new Indy brands through the Polish Pickup website and Hella Handmade Creations. They both feature a wide variety of Indy brands.
Also, it’s definitely not for vanity because quite often I’m the only person who sees them!
@@hollyj4529 just discovered both of these sites this month! It's so much fun!
Hahaha, even though im a guy who don't paint my nails, I still really like the nail videos. I think its really more of art and crafts similar to acrylic pour videos or just drawing videos.
Also, something about comparison videos is just satisfying. Seeing Cristine roast brands who is bad and being amazed by good brands is really rewatchable and entertaining
The judgment where I grew up used to be the other way around. A woman with manicured hands was traditionally seen as a lazy one who never does anything.
What I've seen and heard is if you have short bare nails, you have "man hands", and if you have very long nails and well taken care of, you're a lazy ass who can't even wipe your own ass. According to society a "normal woman" needs a boring "natural" looking manicure + medium size nails.
I see women judged for both constantly. Its one of those things (granted this isn’t such a big deal) where it seems you can’t win either way. If you have natural nails/short nails, then you don’t look pulled together or professional and you don’t care about taking care of yourself or don’t have the means to. However, if you have long nails or get professional acrylic manicures then you are frivolous, lazy/must not work hard (“how do you do anything with those nails!?”), and vapid.
@@misslinguinni there's a very small grey area in which you look "professional" and "put together", and that goes for other things to, fashion, make up, hair styles, etc, which is bullshit.
I've experienced that, too. I remember an older female relative complimenting my nails one Christmas and then immediately saying, "I guess you don't do much housework." 🙃 As someone who also gets really bad anxiety about messes and cleans constantly because of that, it took all my willpower to just politely say I wear gloves when I do.
@@astraeagames Oh yeah, the old classic backhanded compliment. I used to enjoy answering "actually, I'm a medical doctor, but thanks, they do look very cute, don't they?"
Simply and Ben: talking about the end of the manicure😖
Menchie: licks paws calmly
I can’t paint my nails for infection control reasons as a student midwife but I love nail art. So I watch to live vicariously through Cristine!
Ok I’m one of those people who selected “don’t wear nail polish” and in my defense I’ve been watching you for years. I loved doing my nails but due to my job (healthcare worker here) I need to have them plain. I work with chemicals. I haven’t done my nails in years but I still watch you cause I love your personality, Ben, and the cats 😘 I subscribed for the nail art but stayed for Cristine 😂
just started med school and looking forward to everything but its gonna be a bit sad not to be able to have my nails colourful with stickers and stamps
You can always have some holo on your toes :)
@@myafigs6065 that is a good point
I feel like the only standard is not having dirty nails, otherwise I don't notice. I can appreciate artful/crazy ones
I agree with you and I don't think that's necessarily just women. I work at a bank and my male coworkers are just as expected to keep their nails tidy, too.
It's super interesting to hear you say that you've never felt a judgement around your nails-I've absolutely felt this judgement in certain workplaces. And the problem is that the expectation isn't just that I have my nails painted, but that they be painted in a boring way. Like a pale pink basically. I *love* painting my nails in crazy ways-glitter, colorful, complicated colorful french manicures, etc. But those aren't "work appropriate" in places I've worked in the past.
I was required to have styled hair, nice makeup and nails at my last job and even having all those things done when I would go into work wasn't enough. My employer fellow employees, and the occasional guest wanted more makeup, trendier hair. Being in quarantine (and losing that job as a result) has been an immense weight lifted from me.
I've only seen "nail shaming" when it comes to engagement photos featuring hetero couples. There was one viral tweet of a couple who got engaged, but the engaged woman used her friend's hand to show off the engagement ring, because her friend had prettier nails.
I never had to worry about getting my nails manicured because I always had the perfect excuse ready. *laughs in violinist*
I’m a man and I’m turning 20 soon 😂 i love to paint my nails! It’s just for me not anyone else. I just like sitting down and listening to music and painting my nails it feels so calming.
So glad you're enjoying yourself outside of society's expectations! Good luck:)
I feel like there is a cultural element to the importance of getting nails done. I'm an African American woman, and there is an aspect to having nails done as a "complete package," pretty, polished, and amazing nail design is culturally prevalent and significant, and for me, it has felt important to have my nails done in they same vein as it is important to have my hair in good shape and done. However, feeling like there is a societal expectation to maintain that sort of image has crumbled a lot in quarantine. You see people adopting press on nail designs as a safe, socially distanced alternative to maintaining a level of appearance, or doing their nails at home.
Edit: this doesn't eliminate the "societal pressure" aspect of this - black/brown social media influencers, celebrities and the like are influential over style and grooming decisions of many young girls that look just like them. Take Megan Thee Stallion - incredibly talented, smart, influential young black woman, many people (including myself) see her as iconic to some degree (even just style wise). A prominent thing she displays on her social media is her nail designs and having a "fresh set." Even from a positive perspective, seeing her having new, fresh, creative nail designs makes me also want new, fresh, creative nail designs. There are probably other women who feel similarly upon seeing this, and so the importance of finding alternative means to do so does exist. Hell, I have friends who absolutely make the decision still to go to a nail salon that's open to keep up with the current trends they see their faves wearing. All for the positive reason of pampering yourself, or the more negative reason of feeling the need to keep up with trends, FOMO, personal pressure to keep up a standard of appearance that IS expected from you as a black woman, etc. The latter half of those reasons is a more difficult and nuanced conversation to have, since its so dependent on subcultures and regional differences
On rewatching this 10 months later, I realized a statistic anomaly: If DIY is 200 times cheaper, but the salon economy is only 8 times the home market, then 25 times more nails are done at home.
I personally think a majority of the viewers that said "neither" for painting their nail is those who can't have their nails done at their jobs. I, in food service, would get a write up having my nails done.
I'm honestly surprised that this wasn't said.
On another note, kids who don't have the money to get nail polish and the parents don't want to spend money on it. Boys who are "not allowed" to paint their nails from societal standard (which are so so so wrong, paint your nails if you want)
If I wasn't for my job I would paint my nails at home ALL the time.
This: "People like watching content from people who are passionate about things, even if they're not interested in doing those things themselves".
Yes! I watch a lot of TH-camrs who are into gaming/sewing/reptiles because they are just so passionate about those topics! I'm not a gamer, can do very basic sewing and would never consider owning a reptile. I still love all their content.
Yes! 40:00
@@No-ue5pi Like me with watching game and movie theories about media I will never consume myself! It's just interesting to hear people's perspectives.
painting my nails is my favorite thing to do. i literally paint my nails at least twice a week. love your content and polish line!
I’m part of team ‘I like nail polish but can’t wear it because of my job’. I will instead live vicariously through Cristine’s nail art 😂
True!!!! Like I hope they allow us to wear them! I want to flex my nail polish too
I've never once felt "forced by society " to have painted nail. I paint them because I like it and it makes me feel good.
Thank you Christine for always considering us who would like to counter Ben's points.
I feel like the perspective of manicures as "compliance to beauty" is one held by women who are part of the New York/LA fashion & beauty set. You know, the ones who work for fashion or women's magazines and so are perpetually ensconced in the beauty industry and forget that most women are not as constantly aware of how they're conforming to trends and current beauty standards. This article just feels kind of out of touch with the "normal" or "average" woman
I mean, that's definitely part of it, but there are lots of people for whom regular nail care is part of their professional attire, not just a fashion statement. Are those people mostly working in fashion/fashion-adjacent industries? Maybe, but there are also many that work in the service industry that have to make sure their nails look as put-together as the rest of them.
@@kohlinoor I think you're confusing yourself with the term "put together". Most of the time like 99%, it meant appropriate nail length / no bright polish if you really want to wear nail polish. Tbh, i've never in my life been asked to wear nail polish when i work part time in service industry, nor heard it from my friends and people i know in real life.
@@elenaravenwood9851 No, that's you not understanding that "put together" often means made up to look like you're not made up. Neutral skin tone or sheer polishes, "no makeup makeup" looks, etc. Just because you haven't had experience with it doesn't mean it's not out there.
I've seen it happen with front desk jobs more than anything else, but that's just my experience.
@@micheal2458 exactly. It can also be a cultural thing. I used to work in a bank and they warned me about always having my nails manicured and to only use soft colors, no bright colors or designs, because it wouldn’t look professional.
@@micheal2458 Did someone tell you that or it's just came from your own interpreration because you grew up in a place where people wear polishes every day. Because in my area, nail polish is really a rare thing when compared to makeup. In fact, I've heard some occupation prohibit appliance of nail polish like teacher and nurse.
I feel so insecure about my nails that I would never go to a salon just because I don't want them judging me. However I was determined to wear Holo Taco and actually like how it looks on me so I've actually stopped chewing my cuticles and nails. It's taken a long time - with a lot of setback - but they're finally starting to look nice. I actually can't wait to go to a nail salon and get a manicure without feeling insecure! So I feel like I'm going the opposite way. hahaha
As someone who naturally has soft nails that break easily, I can tell you right now the nail tech has probably seen it all, and they're there to make you feel good, not to judge you, I promise they won't. When I first got mine done professionally I was scared they would think my nails were ugly, but I promise you they don't care at all, and they will be there to help you get what you want out of the experience
That's really great! I hope you will get the confidence to do things you like!
As someone who is currently 39 weeks pregnant... It is difficult to reach your toenails Ben 😂
I can totally imagine the super rich people judging each other when they don't have their nails done. Saying you are untamed and not keeping up. And movie stars aren't super rich.
That wouldn't be a surprise with old money, trust fund babies. But keeping up every superficial detail is not only an expression of money, but a way to fill time.
For those who make their money, from hedge fund managers to software developers, I wouldn't be surprised if they don't notice that stuff at all or only learned to when they reached the 1% of the 1%.
I don’t paint my nails because, first, my shaky hands and my lack of skills don’t allow me to paint them properly (so, if I “have to” I prefer going to the salon); I don’t have the patience for the nails to dry without them getting all wrecked; and as I’m used having naked nails whenever I paint them (once a year or so) I always can feel the nail polish in the edges, and that feels like I have my hands dirty or something... idk; and lastly when do paint them every time I look at my hand it doesn’t look as my hand (and I like the way my naked nails look anyway).
Ahh, that weird feeling of having nail polish in the edges is so relatable. I'm also someone who doesn't really wear polish that often so on the rare occasions I do it's hard to get used to haha
I remember being in my early twenties, and starting a job where my direct coworkers were older, affluent women. They were all sweet for the most part but I vividly remember them all (on separate occasions) at some point commenting on my bare nails. They were confused why I didn’t spend an obscene amount of money on acrylics and designs like they did. I was young and wanted to fit in and so I ended up falling into the peer pressure. I religiously got my nails done for 5-6 years. The amount of money I spent, looking back, is totally appalling. I wound up moving away from that job and still continuing my trips to the nail salon, until my then fiancé asked one day if I knew how much money I had spent that year at the salon alone. In the end, I think I grew out of the insecurity I had to always keep up with the next girl. I’m a lot more laid back now, I do my nails at home again and will on occasion go into the salon for a pedicure to pamper myself.
So I can kind of see where this article is coming from. I’m not in that headspace anymore but I could see it being an “issue” if this pandemic had happened to the twenty-something version of me.
Cristine, you look incredible without makeup. Not even a little tired.
Younger too!, right?
She really does!
I wish I would have that amazing bone structure!
@@CastiMomentum she looks the same age to me.
Cristine: I’ve never gotten my nails done
Me: *remembers the $130k manicure she got with Safiya* 🤔🤔🤔
This! I literally slammed the pause button, threw my finger at the screen and yelled "Liar!!!! You got a gold manicure!!!"
Maybe its the reason she doesnt do it, she basically paid for like 5+ years worth of manicures in one sitting 🤣
She actually didn’t pay 130k, the nail polish bottle was worth 130k
@@igdotfaign yeah but she still got one 🤷♀️
@@IrishWhiskeyMUA 🤣🤣🤣
"You don't have to paint your nails, no one is forcing you to!"
I definitely stopped painting my nails out of laziness but my sister who is on the autism spectrum LOVES getting her nails painted as a reward... and since she's been home for most of the year I've been forced to paint nails... ALOT lol.
I go get my nails professionally done because having nice, clean hands is an extremely important part of my job. I'm a makeup artist so having my fingernails look professional and clean is extremely important since my fingers are close to peoples faces. Unfortunately I have very weak nails and I'm prone to biting them, so gel extensions are the only option for me. I would love it if I could just have my natural nails, but they wouldn't reflect well on me
"I understand how a person that doesn't wear nail polish doesn't care like what's the best black nail polish..."
Me who has watched all of her videos comparing different nail polishes/ base coats even though I don't wear nail polish:
Same!
Same
We hate milky white even if we've never had it on our nails 😤
Same! 😂
“Vanity and pride and different things, though the words are often synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our feelings of ourselves; vanity, to what we would have others think of us.” - Mary Bennet
I enjoy going to the nail salon and see it as a “self care” thing. I stopped going since corona because I think public safety is more important than getting my nails done. I have never gotten my nails done to please anyone else other than myself
I see the people around me that go to salons in primarily two camps: one are my sisters, who go get their nails done as an indulgence/treat. I personally think it’s because it was normal or expected to go get acrylics for school dances, so now it feels special (and they enjoy it and the outcome). The second is a group of women in the professional world (primarily a bit older), that it does seem like just something they do. I think it might be something they started being young in a male dominant field, where everyone wore suits and having manicured nails was a part of the over all professional look. While the suits are less common, maybe the habit of having a manicure has persisted without much thought other than “that’s what I do.”
I’ve just always loved having cat claws... my real nails just break and die no matter what I do once their past a certain length. Being trans my hands hold a lot of gender dysphoria for me personally, and having long pointy cat like nails help.... so although sometimes it feels like a chore and not a luxury pampering feeling to get my nails filled, but the effect brings me happiness.
Another reason people go to salons. Society has made people think they can’t learn skills themselves. When things break or need doing we doubt our own ability.
i think that nail salons are popular because the nail tech equipment is on the expensive side and needs more place in your house that a set of regular nail polish bottles and a buff
also many of nail techs are great artists and not everyone can draw and create something cute-looking on a daily basis
And another one is, if i can pay someone to do it to avoid personal stress, is money well invested.
@@ЖеняЩедрин-ю7х I work at a salon supply store. Professional lamps for curing gels start around $100 and go up to $400. Pedicure stations cost $1,000 minimum! All that equipment and supplies is super expensive
@@naomilovenpeace yeah that's what i meant.... even if you end up buying all that from chinese rip-off stores such as aliexpress it won't be cheap
I think people are just inherently lazy and if someone can do something for you then you get them to do it. Like you could also make your own yoghurt and bread but it’s just easier to buy them and have someone else do it for you.