After Spending $25,000 on Nail Art, I Can’t Sleep Because I Feel Ugly

As the New Year approaches, even the most dedicated workaholics have to pause and prepare for the festivities. For urban girls who love beauty, finding the perfect look is essential. It seems that if you don’t pamper yourself from head to fingertips, you can’t face your hometown relatives.

One crucial step in this beauty routine is getting your nails done. But little do you know, the moment you step into a nail salon, your love-hate relationship with nail art is just beginning.

“Nail Technicians, Are You Awake? I Can’t Sleep Because I Feel Ugly!”

There’s a saying in the beauty world: “Hands without nail art have no soul.” While we might suspect this is just a ploy by nail salons to boost their income, there are always girls who rush in, eager to get their nails done.

Armed with a stunning picture from a social media influencer, you confidently hand over your hands to the nail technician, dreaming of beautiful nails that will make your fingers look fabulous.

But this is just the beginning of a nightmare.

You pull out that gorgeous image, imagining that after your appointment, all ten fingers will be a work of art. Yet, the nail technician calmly tells you, “Beauty is subjective; it’s not always what you think.”

You envisioned a “blush nail” that looks as fresh and natural as a peach. Instead, you get the distant cousin of that look—the “highland red nail.”

You thought you were getting a chic gradient, something that would dazzle everyone. But the technician’s idea of a gradient has morphed into something entirely different—a “mutation” nail design.

If you want to know the farthest distance in the world, it might just be the gap between what you want and what the nail technician thinks you want.

This is why some say getting your nails done is a gamble for beauty lovers. It’s much like getting a perm or dye job. Choosing the right salon, the right technician, and the right color is a risky adventure.

After all, if the result is just “not pretty,” who knows how your hands will end up looking in ways you never imagined?

When you opt for a bold red, you might find yourself in the kitchen, preparing dinner, only to realize your hands resemble a particular ingredient from your recipe.

And if you go for a youthful style, you might find yourself craving protein for dinner, only to feel hungrier as you admire your freshly done nails.

The most shocking part? You might even end up with nails that resemble your grandfather’s beloved dentures!

If you think all of this is still within the realm of acceptability, wait until a nail technician gets creative and takes artistic liberties.

We’re still trying to figure out who invented the “raw egg nail” look. The realism is so striking that it could easily be mistaken for a real egg from the supermarket.

And let’s not forget the bizarre designs—egg yolk zongzi nails, mosquito nails, toilet nails, and even toilet paper nails. There’s truly no limit to what a nail technician can create in that tiny space of less than one square centimeter.

It’s hard to disagree with the commenters who suggest, “Call the police; this isn’t a small matter.”

“$25 for a Checkerboard Nail? More Expensive Than Housing Prices!”

Nothing is more heartbreaking than the disparity between the beauty of nail art and its price tag.

Walking down the street, you might casually step into a nail salon, unaware that every choice you make comes with a hidden price.

When the technician examines your hands closely, the air is thick with an unspoken warning: “Expensive.”

Some staff might skip the pricing discussion altogether, cheerfully asking, “What kind of nails are you thinking of today? Let’s take a look at some pictures. Just so you know, different styles come with different prices.”

You start the process, but once you’re in, there’s no turning back.

You might not even know which part of the service is the most expensive, but when it comes time to pay, the total can be so outrageous that you wonder if they accidentally added an extra zero.

Can you even tell if it’s worth $500?

Of course, reputable nail salons usually have clear pricing. But even if you walk in with the mindset of “If it’s too expensive, I won’t do it,” you may find yourself naïve.

Getting your nails done is like buying a phone; you initially aim for the most cost-effective basic model. But before you know it, the enthusiastic staff has upsold you on all the extras, and you leave with a set of nails that cost a fortune.

Even if that trendy $1,000 nail design turns out to be utterly hideous.

After the technician applies the base coat, they often won’t seal it right away. Instead, they casually ask, “How about we add this year’s hottest checkerboard design on your ring finger?”

You might think, “Why not? If I’m going to be a stylish girl, I should go all out!”

But a simple checkerboard is just the beginning. Soon, you’ll be adding pearls, rhinestones, bows, and hand-painted designs, not to mention a hand massage and whitening treatment.

By the time the technician tallies up the costs, you’re in for a shock:

“Darling, we used premium ‘reusable accessories’—that’s $100 each, and you got five!”

They’ve expertly played on your “I’m already here” weakness.

You might find yourself lost in basic math, feeling overwhelmed as you hand over your money, even though you once excelled in higher math.

After all, you can comfort yourself with the thought that you’re contributing to the training costs of the nail technician and the high rent of a trendy salon.

We may never know how much “intelligence tax” nail salons collect, but doing your own nails can be just as time-consuming and frustrating, with little savings to show for it.

For those who love beauty, it’s baffling that something as simple as getting your nails done can be so complicated.

“After Getting My Nails Done, My Hands Feel Like They’re Under a Spell”

Spending hundreds on nails doesn’t just end when you walk out of the salon.

Nail art has a way of inserting itself into your life, constantly reminding you to “mind your image.” Now, your hands are no longer just hands; they’re beautifully manicured.

From now on, you need to be like a cute little squirrel, always on guard against anything that might damage your nails.

You can’t pry at hard objects, including unbuttoning shirts, plunging toilets, or cracking nuts.

What? Crack nuts? A princess doesn’t need to eat nuts, nor do they need to eat chestnuts, pecans, or anything with a hard shell.

You’d best avoid peeling fruits too, because the moment you do, you’ll question your basic human skills.

After a fierce battle, it’s clear that you can only keep either the orange or your nails.

Oranges are delicious, but maybe it’s best to skip them next time.

As a princess who only needs to sip dew, mundane tasks like laundry, washing hair, using the restroom, or doing chores are now off-limits.

You won’t be able to pull the tab on a soda can or pick up a ruler from the table.

In this digital age, your phone and keyboard have become extensions of your body, creating a strange distance between you and them.

You might find traces of the pre-keyboard era in your own hands.

So next time you see a young woman carefully bending down to tie her shoes with her dainty fingers, you’ll instantly understand—she’s not reacting to something terrifying; she’s just trying to lace her shoes after getting her nails done.

If the princess from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales were to time travel to today, she would be utterly amazed by modern nail art.

Because mastering the use of beautifully manicured hands is now the ultimate test of a princess’s worth.

These challenges don’t align with our “modern princess” status.

Thus, we can reasonably suspect that the sloth named “Flash” in “Zootopia” isn’t necessarily slow; she’s just recently had her nails done and hasn’t yet adjusted to controlling her human shell.

And while getting your nails done can make you feel less grounded, it can also lead to other real-life frustrations.

Before applying nail polish, the technician will usually buff your nails to remove the natural oils, making it easier for the polish to adhere.

However, aggressive buffing can thin your nails, making them brittle and prone to breaking.

When the technician uses a small file and scissors to remove cuticles, they’re not just removing dead skin; they’re also taking away the protective layer that helps shield your nails.

Frequent pushing and cutting can lead to infections and nail malnutrition, and in severe cases, it can cause ingrown nails.

Additionally, prolonged exposure to UV light from nail lamps can darken and age your fingers; unclean tools can harbor bacteria; and some low-quality nail polishes and hardeners contain harmful formaldehyde.

These factors constantly remind you that nail health is crucial, and choosing a reputable salon is essential.

But even if mishaps are common and getting your nails done comes with its inconveniences, beauty-loving girls will still find themselves back in the salon months later.

They might say they’re done with nail art, but their bodies seem to crave it.

With each season, new trends emerge—autumn sweaters, black-and-white checkerboards, and festive red velvet designs adorn the fingertips of eager girls .

After all, with so many uncontrollable things in the world, having control over the tiny space on your fingertips can be a joy.

And if it brings you happiness, no matter the cost in money or time, it’s worth it.

Good news: Beauti8 is here to make your nail art dreams come true with our press-on nails! With easy application and a wide range of styles, you can be a modern princess without the hassle. Visit our website to explore the collection and find your perfect match. Beauti8—where beauty meets convenience.