What draws you to this hobby? What about it captures your attention and brings you joy?
For me, it’s a vehicle for self expression and self care. I am taking much better care of my nails than ever before and investing time in myself more than I have in years (I have three children). I also have a desk job, so it makes me feel happy and free to look down at my beautiful nails. The colors bring me joy—it’s art, and it’s my art.
What about you?
Nails — Mooncat Getting Even nail primer, 2 coats of Mooncat Boa Constrictor, Mooncat Speed Demon top coat
by Wingless_Gnome
26 Comments
Probably adhd or autism.
Mostly the same reasons as you! Self expression and looking at pretty colors brings me joy 💖
I used to be a horrific nail biter growing up so I never really got to enjoy nail polish. So I love it because it gives me pride that I was able to kick the habit and have pretty nails. Also enjoy the self care and self expression aspect. I’m at a desk job too and I love being able to look down at my nails for a little boost of serotonin
I love pretty colours and starring at them at work. I also like the painting process, which I use to unwind. Bonus that it is so much cheaper than going to a salon which costs $100 per trip while I have only spent $300 till date (started earlier in the year) with a spending ban till next year Easter 🤞
Self expression, self care, doing a hobby, all of it! I bite my cuticles but won’t do it if my nails are painted. So that’s a big reason. I get so much joy seeing how nicely my nails are polished, how smooth they feel even. It is my favorite accessory by far!
Even as a little girl, I was captivated by the idea of nail polish. I felt SO grown up and pretty when I was allowed to start wearing it.
I still do it because I like to make my nails fancy, but it’s also a connection to that younger version of myself. My growing up was very hard on me in some ways, and I started struggling with my mental health when I was still young. I lost a lot of years to that shit, and now that I’m older, I’m enjoying reconnecting with that more innocent part of my past. 🙂
Because pretty colours tickle my brain – pretty colours on my nails at all times? WIN
Honestly though, at the time I learned of indie nail polish I was frequently tempted by buying nice stone or resin dice for D&D, which is VERY expensive (thankfully I resisted mostly, but still). I feel like i redirected all my ‘Ooooh pretty colours” energy from dice to nails, which is more practical at least.
I’ve also always had short nails and can’t stand the feeling of long nails, and I always thought nail painting was something only people with long nails could/should do. I threw that idea out and just went for it and am so glad i did!
For me it’s a few things-
1. Since I’ve gotten sober 2yrs ago it’s become a really meditative way to fill my time
2. As someone born looking very much male it’s a small way for me to express gender nonconformity, alongside thrifting clothes from both the men and women’s sections.
3. Pretty nail fun to look at
All the same reasons as you, but also I love that my nails are so strong now and I love the satisfaction of improving my technique with each mani! I’ve always been someone who has my nails painted or done and it’s nice to save money instead of going to salons to get manis I’m not as hyped about.
I definitely think it is a way of self expression as well as a way to unwind. Getting to see all the pretty colors and getting all giddy because one shimmers.
But also I love the fact that taking care of my nails gives me joy. I love watching as they grow and being able to have control over the type of shape I want. It is very satisfying and brings me happiness.
I used to be obsessed with going to get nails and acrylics but now I’m obsessed with having long natural and healthy nails. Having long natural and healthy nails is worth waaaaaay more than a $300 acrylic set in my opinion.
And I’m able to change the colors as many times as I want instead of waiting 2 weeks or more for a change. And if I don’t like my manicure I have all the tools I need to change it when I want and don’t have to blame a nail tech for a terrible manicure. I can just blame myself.🤣
So yeah… that’s why I love this hobby.
Same as you. I am now actually caring for my nails and expressing myself in the color choices I make. It also functions a nice distraction and I can focus on the painting process while I shut out the issues I face that day. It also makes me feel a little prettier and joy when I look down and have the pretty color on my nails, especially now that I have a desk job.
for me, it’s an easy creative to do! but also helped me feel more in tuned to my femininity when i felt “unworthy” of like makeup and having my nails done
Looking at pretty colours, COLLECTING said pretty colours in little glass bottles 😂 also it can be self-care and an extra hobby that’s not screen-focused is always nice. For me it’s also another way I bond with my sister with our shared love of polish 💞
Btw this shade is so pretty, I was eyeing it on the Mooncat site ngl 👀 Browns are underrated
Being a normal guy in my 50’s I enjoy getting my nails done. I started painting my nails in order to help me stop biting them and picking at my cuticles. Now I love having them long (about 20mm past the tips of my fingers) and always painted. I change the color every month. My nails and cuticles have never been healthier and I love the compliments I get. I have received a few questions as to why I do it, and I just answer with “it’s cheaper and easier to change out than a tattoo” 😂
Because it makes me happy.
For me there’s something really meditative about doing my nails, I find it so relaxing and enjoyable. And also being able to look at the pretty colors on my hands throughout the week when I have them on.
Beautiful nails btw!
I don’t like or wear jewelry, but nail polish to me feels like jewelry for my hands and I love it
Because color is my drug of choice and each stroke of polish is a micro dose of bliss.
I enjoy the process of painting my nails – it is very relaxing. I love the beautiful colors and finishes of my nail polishes, especially the indie and boutique brands.
I started doing my nails when I felt like everything in life was outside of my control BUT!!!! I could control whether or not my nails looked good. and frankly that’s still a little bit of it lol. I’m a big pack rat, so I love that it’s a collection that doesn’t take up space, and I love that I can spend $10 and get a new, pretty, non-plastic-crap thing to look at that boosts my mood for days. I also have a desk job, so being able to look at my pretty nails really, really adds to my day. I get bored easily and like to be able to change colors; I’m a perfectionist and like being able to get really good at applying polish; I’m an acts of service person and I love being able to paint other people’s nails or just give them a new color to try. I honestly find it kind of meditative, too. It’s like an adult coloring book lol. Plus you know how time passes more slowly when you experience new things? I like to think that applies to nail polish. And you can get a new polish at the grocery store on a whim or find a really tiny cool indie brand with colors you’ve never seen before. The more I think about it the more I believe that this hobby was designed in a lab to appeal to Me Specifically haha
Crow brain say shiny=good
I have the opposite of a desk job and work a stressful job around mostly men and I love the small joy having sparkly nails brings me. It’s a form of self care for me that is actually manageable, doesn’t require appointments or interacting with people, can do it at 5am or 11pm whenever, and depending on mood I can invest more time with a magnetic, get creative with nail art, or if I’m just barely surviving I have a few polishes that I know dry fast and look great as one coaters and don’t show messy application that still give me that shifty sparkly joy. My nails also don’t split and peel as bad when I keep polish on them, which means fewer painful splits into my nail bed. Also — adhd 😉
Relaxing time to pamper myself. I like looking down at my hands and seeing sparkles. It brings me a little joy.
Because it makes my crow brain happy. Also it’s one of the few “self-care” things I’ve stuck with for an extended period.
I like pretty colors and sparkles. It’s like jewelry I can change up for very little cost (in the grand scheme 😅)
For me, I’m a goblin and I love the shiny and pretty.