My BIAB journey

This post is a bit different from my others. It’s not a political rant for a start or a frustrated stream of consciousness. 

It’s about my journey into manicures!

Before you turn away, this is a story about empowerment and women - so it’s still on brand!

For a long time I struggled with weak nails. They were so brittle and snapped at any chance. I couldn’t open anything or use them as a tool! I tried everything, supplements, my own nail routine and just cutting them so short I couldn’t itch anything! Selotape was a nightmare!

My sister started getting her nails done and they looked awesome. But I was resisting the power of the nail.

I’m a 90s baby, and I have always felt ashamed of embracing anything feminine. I felt like I was letting down the feminist movement by loving sparkles (which I do, I freaking love sparkles). Whether it’s a part of the laddette culture, or a hangover from my days as a greebo when we weren’t allowed to care about how we looked, I saw ‘girly’ things almost as a failure to my inner girl power - cheers 90s! 

However, one day I had just had enough. I booked to get my nails done as a small salon in the village. I was so nervous that they were going to ask me loads of girly questions I couldn’t answer, or that they would smell my ignorance when it comes to terms for nail shapes and send me packing! 

I couldn’t have been more wrong. I told them about my struggles with my nails, that I really wanted them to be stronger (than yesterday - Britney) and they recommended BIAB, which is a strengthen coat over the top of your nails. I looked at the sea of pink base colours and managed to find a rebellious chocolate tone - I wasn’t quite ready to relinquish myself to the pink blushes yet. 

And the journey began.

I now get my nails done once a month. Not only are they stronger and longer than ever, I have learnt a few other things along the way too. 

1. Women dominated spaces - I have worked in male dominated spaces for a long time and my husband is my best friend. This means I forget how important and wonderful it is to step into a space that is filled with women. Women working, chatting, relating, celebrating and laughing together. Not only are the women at the salon wonderful and welcoming, but the women (usually older) who I have also chatted with have the best stories. It’s a beautiful exchange sitting there having nails done and hearing all about a woman’s life story. I always come away fizzing with feminine power when I leave.

2. Nail Strength - Yes my nails are now mega strong. Hercules comes to me to open in can of coke! But it’s not only the strength of the physical nails that empowers me, it’s the mental nails too! Bare with! Every time a nail used to break, not only did it hurt, but it made me angry and annoyed. It was almost like a nagging reminder of an inner weakness I couldn’t fully identify. Now I don’t have to battle with those sore split nails that just made me feel that little bit weaker. Now my strong almond shaped nails make me feel strong inside and out.

3. Expression - I struggle with my body image. Feeling comfortable in my own skin has gotten harder as I get older. I love colour, but sometimes I just want to hide in a sea of black. My nails now act as a form of self expression. I can play with colour that will burst though when I wear muted tones. I never choose neutral tones when I get my nails done. My nails are for joy, similar to my tattoos. They express things I can’t communicate through clothes. 

After growing up during a ‘feminine is weak’ century, I am now finally unpicking that and finding joy in the fem

inine. It’s not about vanity, it’s about expression and strength. I love tattoos and jewellery, they have always been how I express my ‘look’ and now my nails are a part of that too. I am always excited for my nail appointments, who I’ll meet, what colour I’ll choose, or even just the comforting silence that I can relax into. The feminine judgement we have been brainwashed with is a deep rooted misogyny making us believe women are lesser than. 

Now I look at my nails as feminine rebellion, a tool of anti-repression. And as an added bonus, they look pretty! 

Love is power