Getting Your Nails Done Is Not Relaxing (But Maybe That’s the Point)

what going to the nail salon taught me about the discipline of presence

This may be a hot take (or maybe not, you tell me), but getting my nails done is not relaxing.

I love partaking in beauty services, but in this economy, I’ve had to become a bit of a DIY girly. I tend to do my hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes at home, but as someone who has tried and failed continuously at doing my own nails (and as a chronic nail biter since childhood), getting my nails done is my little splurge.

I do have a sweet friend who does my nails sometimes, and she is amazing! I adore the quality time with her, but our schedules don’t always align and, hey, it’s been a bit of a stressful week, so why not go get a little fancy? And so I went, feeling all whimsical and full of glee.

But as the service went on, I became just so acutely aware of how many things I would rather be doing than sitting there fighting for my life to not accidentally play footsie with the tech. I also never realize just how bad I am at relaxing my hands. Anyone else?? And I don’t know if it’s just me, but I always have to itch my face when one hand is in the dryer and the other one is being done.

It’s just a boring sensory nightmare all the way around—unless you get a pedicure with the massage chair lol.

It’s one of those places where, in a way, you are forced to deal with the boredom because you can’t use your hands or move a lot. Also, sometimes if I am trying to listen to something in an AirPod, I can get a little overstimulated because there are conversations happening around me, there’s background music on, sometimes there’s a TV, and it’s just a lot for my ADHD mind.

But while I was sitting there the other day, just looking around and taking everything in, my mind started to get frantic—thinking about what else I needed to get done or how I could use the 10 seconds of one hand being free to try to entertain myself. And I honestly just got the ick with myself. Like, why couldn’t I just be CHILL?

So while I did have an AirPod and tried to listen to an audiobook, I ended up taking it out and turning it off and just sitting there.

I started looking at all the colors of nail polishes and powders and just admiring the diversity of colors that there were and thanking God for such a wonderful display. That train of thought led to praising Him in my head and then praying for certain people as they came to mind.

Then I started feeling uncomfortable from slouching, so I sat up a little straighter and started doing some core exercises—simply engaging my core for a few seconds and then letting it go, and doing the same with my glutes. I added in some heel raises as well as some neck rolls to stretch out my body and basically got in a little chair workout.

In between sets of these little stretches and exercises, I practiced some deep breathing, and it hit me that I hadn’t actually taken a good breath all morning.

It was so fascinating to me how, since my hands were trapped and I couldn’t sit there scrolling, I was actually able to do things that I usually feel like I don’t have time to do, like stretches or core exercises. I realized, too, that while I engage in passive prayers throughout the day for the things I want and need, I am not always intentional about actively praying for other people or praising the little details of creativity and love God leaves for us to notice.

Heck, I was even able to think through some ideas for articles I wanted to write, notes I wanted to post on Substack, and plot points for the second children’s book that I’m working on!

It felt a little weird not to immediately put everything down in my phone because a lot of times, if I don’t write it down, I will forget. But just being purposeful with my thoughts, prayers, and body in the little bit of time that I was nail-trapped was actually such a good exercise in mindfulness.

Being present and being intentional is a discipline, and that’s something I’m learning more and more every day—and something I’m trying to get better at, because honestly, I’m not really good at it. Even if you don’t have your phone on you, it can sometimes be hard to be present if you’re just letting your mind wander all the time. It really does take a lot of spiritual and mental strength to take thoughts captive and be purposeful with how you are breathing in a moment, moving through a moment, and engaging in a moment.

So in a way, getting my nails done wasn’t just this little treat. It actually felt really good not to be rushing to get things done or rushing to try to entertain myself before I drown in my own thoughts.

So the next time you want to get your nails done and you need a way to justify the experience to yourself or to someone else, just say it’s good practice at being present 😉.

For The Reader

What’s one small, ordinary moment this week that you can turn into an opportunity to practice presence and intention?