Most of the compliments I give other women are about their nails. I absolutely drool over the long, artful manicures my friends and co-workers get. For me, a bi-weekly nail salon appointment has always felt like the epitome of self care—that polished, “put together” feeling.
But here’s the thing: I’m a full-time musician and a horse girl. Which means nail salon life and I? We’re not compatible.
Why Traditional Nail Care Doesn't Work for Me
First off, I play guitar for a living. All day, every day. That means my nails have to stay short—unless I want to commit to a Freddie Mercury–style one-handed nail situation. And that’s not my vibe.
On top of that, being around horses means constant hard, messy, manual labor. Spending nearly $100 on a manicure that chips in a horse’s mouth within 24 hours? Not exactly financially responsible. Especially when most of my “nail budget” (and all my other budgets, honestly) goes straight to my horse. Music pays the bills, but barely.
Then there’s the time factor. I don’t want to spend my rare free time sitting in a salon chair, wrestling with social anxiety while strangers silently judge my cuticles. I’d rather be painting, riding, or hanging out with my family.
Still Craving That "Put Together" Feeling
Even with short nails, I want my hands to look clean and polished. People stare at them all the time—whether it’s watching my fingers fly across guitar strings or watching me write patient notes (yes, all by hand—no EMR at my job!).
Pretty nails and pretty pens are my tiny mental health boosts. But salon nails weren’t an option, and nothing I tried at home worked:
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- Cuticle care + nail strengthener → Nice, but boring.
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- Regular polish → Never dried before life ruined it.
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- Gel paint → Required more skill than I have.
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- Stick-on polish → Peeled off in three days.
Nothing stuck—until I found gel nail strips.
The Game-Changer: Gel Nail Strips
Now, I’m obsessed. I use ohora gel strips, but plenty of other brands work too. One pack does both my hands and feet, takes about an hour to apply, and I can do it at home—while watching Ghost Whisperer reruns, judgment-free.
Here’s why I love them:
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- Durable: They survive horse chores and guitar practice.
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- Flexible: I can file them down if they get too long.
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- Affordable: $9–18 per pack (way cheaper than a salon).
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- Cute styles: Tons of designs, no shaky left-hand painting required.
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- Quick payoff: Stick, cure with a UV light, and go—no smudges while opening Minecraft gummies for my kid.
They last about two weeks, which is just right for my lifestyle. And the ads for these are really correct. They don’t damage your nails. They are super easy to get off and they’ve actually protected my nails and made them stronger over time.
A Little Luxury, Without the Kardashian Budget
People constantly compliment my nails now. And honestly they are shocked when I tell them I did them myself and they want all the details. Hence this blog post. I’m all about simple, sustainable self-care that doesn’t wreck my bank account or monopolize my time.
As much as I’m a believer in ditching the hustle for more presence and simplicity in life, I am also a big believer in art and self expression.
I’m glad I was able to find an easy, low cost way to feel more like myself. I hope it works for you too!
I’ll add some pics of the nails I get the most compliments on with links bellow. But a quick Amazon search of your own (try “Gel Nail Strips”) will bring up plenty of options for your own personal style.
https://amzn.to/43oRhOg
– As an Amazon associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases
https://amzn.to/47c47AD
– As an Amazon associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases
https://amzn.to/4ogr8Kh
– As an Amazon associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases
