Self care. Much like we are embracing the word NO as being a full sentence, I’m hoping the broken record like mentions of self care in our mom spaces will eventually help us to understand that the mere level of such abilities to juggle like a million things at once will make us understand how important it is to find that one thing for ourselves and do it. Often.
This year I pondered over what would be my non negotiable when it came to self care in 2016. I don’t care for the hair salon, I love clothes but I’m not a big shopper so I pondered and pondered on that one thing that would be affordable and convenient and I came up with keeping my nails done. As a reformed nail polish hoarder, I no longer have a desire to do my own nails so I decided to sign up for bi-weekly visits to the nail salon. My sister visits Hyannis nail salon all the time and her nails always look great, so I thought I’d try it for myself.
At just a month in I am hooked. Something about looking down at my nails as I type or drive makes me happy. After having tried manicures with my real nails that barely lasted for a few days and having gel done in the past and not caring for the light used to dry them or the thickness I decided to try the SNS nails option at the recommendation of a mom at the kids school. SNS stands for Standard Nail System
Got in the nail salon and didn’t have a clue what the process looked like for SNS nails but I liked hers so decided to give it a whirl and I am hooked.
Basically SNS is supposed to be a natural and healthy alternative to gels and acrylics. It overlays over your real nails no matter how short and consists of putting a clear top coat on your nails and then dipping them in a colored powder, that process is repeated twice. Your nails are then filed and evened out before a gel coat seals in everything.
The end result lasts for two weeks with amazing shine and no lifting. Sure you could stretch to 3 weeks but how my self care regimen is set up I’m on a bi weekly schedule….for now.
I love this process so much, here is a little more on my pros and cons.
SNS Pros:
- Two minute drying time with no light
- End product is very thin. Feels like your real nails
- Minimal filing down of your real nails
- The vitamin E and calcium in the powder strengthens your real nails
SNS Cons:
- More expensive. Unlike gels or acrylic there is no such thing as a fill in, the color has to be soaked off every time. I pay $25 each time.
- Takes longer than other nail options
- It is hard to gauge how the color will turn out as it is in a powder form. You have to rely on the nail dummy instead of seeing the actual color in a nail polish bottle.
I hope you are practicing some form of self care this year. If you are not please find that thing or things to satisfy yourself.
Do you keep your nails done?