Nails, Naturally: Why I Stopped Wearing Nail Polish
A beach walk with my naturally beautiful nails!
In my perfect world, a nail salon would focus on the health of its clients' nails, diagnosing their condition and recommending holistic treatments such as red light therapy, essential oils, natural creams, IV drip therapy, and intramuscular (IM) vitamin shots. Imagine all-natural nail polishes infused with elements from nature, like pine, sandalwood, and rose petals. Perhaps they would even offer alternatives, such as swapping traditional polish for essential oil-infused nail coatings with scents that support your immediate life goals—lavender for relaxation or orange blossom for energy. Picture dipping your nails into filtered, flower essence-infused water that connects you with the energy of chamomile, for instance, to promote relaxation and directly impact your aura.
How amazing would it be if a nail clinic transformed into a medicinal experience? A curated wellness center staffed by passionate professionals who express purpose through genuine healthcare, recognizing that your nails are part of the whole you, deserving of special treatment.
The last time I had my nails done was for my best friend's wedding over three years ago. I have always preferred looking down and seeing my natural nails. There's a theme in my life of returning to natural beauty as my definition of true beauty.
Our bodies are miracles—works of ethereal art chosen for each lifetime for a reason. Seeing ourselves in our organic form is not just an exercise; it’s a celebration of your unique design and a canvas for our body’s communication systems.
Asymmetrical mani from a period when I got my nails done consistently!
This story isn’t about judgment or condemnation—I offer my journey to a holistic approach to nail care. After all, I, too, lived in the nail culture for years!
The shift toward a more holistic approach to nail care happened when my participation in nail culture started to consume a noticeable amount of mental real estate and energy. The cycle became exhausting: constantly being aware of the state of my nails so that I could time my next appointment for when I wanted them to look their best, scheduling the appointment, and spending time sitting at the salon. Between appointments, I worried about maintaining the look I had just paid for. I also realized that I was actually altering my participation in my own life just to keep my nails looking nice. At what cost was I curtailing my life’s vibrant activities, like exercise or gardening, all for the temporary beauty of my nails? The precious hours spent "pampering" were not nurturing. Was getting my nails done really self-care?
Then came the gel disaster. I remember the first time I had a gel manicure. Once the gel polish was stripped away, my nails were ruined! Much to my regret, I once again chose aesthetics over something already beautiful, causing damage to a part of my body in the process.
My toes after six months of no polish healing. Due to prolonged use of nail polish, all of my toenails used to resemble the top quarter of my big toe. However, my little toenails have fully healed, and my big toenails are almost completely regrown. You can see the damage versus the healthy regrowth.
My toes after six months of no polish healing. Due to prolonged use of nail polish, all of my toenails used to resemble the top quarter of my big toe. However, my little toenails have fully healed, and my big toenails are almost completely regrown. You can see the damage versus the healthy regrowth.
As for my toes, I swung in the other direction—keeping my toes continuously polished for at least six years without any gaps in between.
It wasn’t until six months ago, deep into my holistic transformation, that I suddenly had a visceral feeling of missing my natural toenails—seriously!—and deeply wanted to see them achieve their highest state of health. After all, their health is a reflection of my body’s overall health! They looked discolored and abused. I decided not to care that they looked “unkempt”; after all, I was the one responsible for their state of dis-ease. I was determined to find beauty in them and love them without reservation. I was going to let go of any embarrassment about how they looked and nourish them back to health—and I did!
As my toenails healed, the way I had been blindly treating this part of my body all these years became more shocking. I energetically tuned into my toenails—wondering if I were them, what would I be experiencing?
Though this may seem like a relatively small epiphany, I consider it a vital part of my transformation into holism.
I have the spiritual gift of channeling, and I connected with another reincarnated version of myself from a different timeline in Ancient Egypt. We were able to share each other's experiences. When I entered her body, the first thing I saw was her hands. I noticed her nails were painted with colors reflecting the hues of the scarab beetles. Each color held different meanings related to the meaning of the finger and the beetle, and where she was on her spiritual journey. I mention this to offer the perspective that painting nails can indeed hold ceremonial, celebratory, or cultural significance, as long as the intention is in the right place.
Ayurvedic Nail Analysis: What Your Nails Are Pointing to About Your Health
Ayurveda, hair and nails are considered byproducts (or "wastes") of the bone formation process, which is referred to as ashti dhatu. While this might seem strange, the key point is that these "wastes" are actually important indicators of overall health. Ayurveda believes that examining the quality and quantity of various bodily wastes—such as stool, urine, sweat, hair, and nails—can help detect early signs of imbalances in the body. By analyzing nails specifically, Ayurvedic practitioners can identify health issues before they develop into more serious conditions, providing an opportunity for early intervention.
Is the most beautiful version of yourself also the most natural? When was the last time you truly experienced nurturing rather than pampering? Do you have large moons?
Ready to support your body's beauty from the inside out? Explore my curated list of holistic beauty and wellness tools to elevate your daily rituals.
Or, dive deeper with a personalized session to explore how your body, beauty, and spirit are already speaking to you.
