Acrylics, press-ons, dip, gel, nail polish, etc, etc… There are endless options for students to express their style through their unique, fun nails! In recent years, more and more students have been sporting colorful nails in order to showcase their personalities.
“You can get nails of any color and any style you want, and you can express yourself without having a lot of attention for it,” Shania Davison, sophomore, said.
According to a recent Fielder survey of 104 students, 53.8 percent of girls specifically get their nails done for special occasions like birthdays, school dances, and holidays in order to make that day more exciting. Nail enhancements are a subtle way for girls to connect with other girls. Frequently girls comment on each other’s nails and they are an easy way to strike up a conversation.
“It helps me feel better about myself, gives me more confidence, and expresses myself,” Lex Tracy, freshman, said.
Nails are not only exclusive to high school girls; throughout social media trends and influences from peers, middle schoolers or even elementary schoolers are getting long acrylics to express themselves. However, some believe that this growing trend in younger girls is affecting their mental age and their maturity.
“They’ll see their older sisters and other family members with them and want to be like them or grow up faster,” Sydney McFarland, senior, said.
“Younger girls look up to older girls and want to copy them to feel pretty,” Tracy said.
Watch out though, because these nail enhancements are not always safe. If a nail tech messes up, the nail bed can be severely damaged, and the harsh tools to file the nails down may even cause some bleeding.
“One time I went to a nail tech and she didn’t specialize in acrylic but still did my nails. My nails were bleeding and my fingers were so irritated it hurt to touch anything. It took months for my nails to heal,” Natalie Zulca, sophomore, said.
While getting nail enhancements does come with its fair share of risks and an occasionally high price tag, the ability to express one’s personality, connect with others, and gain confidence seems to be well worth it.The process of choosing the color and design is an exciting part for many girls.
“They help me express my style by choosing colors that match what I wear on a day-to-day basis,” Johanna Landeros, junior, said.
“Acrylic nails definitely have a positive effect on the student body overall. However, it is important to think about those who cannot afford to maintain acrylic nails and wish that they could,” Maggie Proulx, junior, said.
