My nails were long overdue for a refresh. The last time I got them done was right before my KL trip in February this year. During the past month, I had been biting them so short and so often that my nail beds were starting to bleed. I decided to get a gel manicure with extensions as a temporary solution to the nail-biting problem.
I hadn’t really thought about what design I wanted, just that I wanted new nails, stat. I couldn’t bear to look one second longer at my stubby, chewed-up, uneven nails. These were not the nails of a self-assured woman. Their appearance and upkeep (or lack thereof…) betrayed my inner state which was essentially a merry-go-round of adrenaline, anxiety, and stress since I’m pretty much running on fumes at work at the moment. I felt like I was falling behind in the grooming department, hence the last-minute decision to get my nails done so that I could feel a little more put-together.
Anyway, I knew for certain that I wanted red nails, but hadn’t yet decided on the design I wanted, even by the time I showed up at the nail salon. In the end, I borrowed my inspiration from past nail designs and good old Google, and decided the main theme would be crystals, because apparently I’m a magpie with a love for shiny things. I chose heart-shaped crystals for my first/second/pinky fingers (they just look circular in these pictures), round crystals for my ring fingers, and diamond-shaped ones for my thumbs.
The entire process took two hours today and I dropped by a cafe to get a strawberry matcha before heading home.
^ Pictured with flash.
^ Pictured without flash.
It means I won’t be able to play violin for about two or three weeks, but we’ll see how it goes. I usually cave after the first week of a manicure and end up cutting my left hand nails because I need to play violin. I think I can still sort of manage with the cello for the meantime.
[Photo Credit: De’ Nail Lounge Salon Brunei]
Tomorrow is a public holiday in lieu (Royal Brunei Armed Forces Day), and I’m not sure yet what my plans are. I’ll just play it by ear as usual, I guess.