The popularity of nails has increased with women's independence
Sarah De Grandis sat quietly as Kim Nguyen buffed and shaped her nails at Manhattan Nails in Mosman Cache.
Ms De Grandis already had picked out her design - a French manicure and simple silver bamboo shoots, which Kim will hand paint on each of her 10 digits.
Nails can say a lot about a woman, so it's no surprise that many more women are expressing themselves through nail art. It's been a popular art form for centuries, starting with the ancient Egyptians and many African and Middle Eastern cultures that use henna to paint their nails.
For Ms De Grandis it's about feeling attractive.
"I used to do them myself but they didn't stay on well. It's worth it to spend a little bit more. They last longer," Ms De Grandis, 29, of Cremorne, said as Kim mixed powder and liquid acrylic together, dabbing the mixture on each of her tiny nails. "I like to look nice. Nails, I guess, are a part of that."
Kim's partner, Tiffany Dinh, 28, co-manager of the nail salon in this small but private shopping centre, agreed manicured nails for many women have become an extension of the accessories women buy like jewelry, purses and shoes.
It's a lot less expensive at $25 to $40 for a full set of acrylic nails than a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes or a Katie Spade bag.
Airbrushing costs $5 and up, depending on the complexity of the design, and freehand designs cost as low as $3.
Kim said the freehand designs are more popular because "it looks more natural."
There is no lack of choice for an eager fashionista. Kim has hundreds of samples - hand-painted flowers, sunsets, stripes on plastic nails - to choose from.
According to Nails magazine, 71.1 percent of full-service salon owners have seen an increase in customer demand for nail care in 2006, and women getting nail art run the gamut from younger to much older. In fact, women ages 36 and older make up more than half of all nail salon clients, according to Nails.
Women 30 and older tend to like toned-down nail designs, like flowers and one or two colors. Younger women can go all out because career constraints aren't as prominent. Older women, on the other hand, enhance the beauty of their nails because it may help their image in the office.
Erin Levan, at Hair Etc. in North Sydney, agreed manicured nails, once considered a luxury, are now a necessity for many women.
"They want to feel pretty," Levan said. "They want to looked finished."
Levan said she paints freehand designs, uses decals, color and rhinestones to jazz up manicures in her shop.
"Everyone sees your hands, it's that little detail; I think, it finishes them off and just makes people feel good," Levan said looking at her own manicured nails.
Levan said many of her customers got acrylic nails for a wedding party or special event and loved them so much they decided to keep them.
"They look good all the time. And a big bonus is polish stays on acrylic nails longer than on natural nails," she said.
Erin Godbold, an instructor at Educators of Beauty, a cosmetology school in Sydney CBD, couldn't agree more.
"When you wear acrylic nails you can have perfect nails and the polish doesn't chip," Godbold said.
Godbold said the popularity of nails has increased with women's independence.
"Women work, they earn their own money, take care of themselves, and part of that is getting their nails done," Godbold said.
To become a nail technician one needs 350 hours of instruction, Godbold said.
"There are so many things you can do to create art on a nail," she said.
She's even seen someone cut money in the shape of nails and use it as a decal.
Besides, looking well kempt reflects well on anyone.
"Women talk with their hands so they want them to look good, part of that is getting your nails done," Godbold said.
How to manicure
1. GATHER YOUR TOOLS
Investing in these tools may cost you a bit of money initially, but certainly no more than the cost of one visit to a professional manicurist. Most of these items can be found at your local chemist or beauty store.
* Nail Polish Remover
* Cotton Pads (not cotton balls)
* Nail File
* Extra Fine Emery Board
* Bowl of Warm Water
* Salt
* Cuticle Oil
* Orangewood Stick (a soft wooden stick)
* Nail Scissors
* White Block Buffer
* Base Coat Polish or Ridge Filler Polish
* Color Polish
* Top Coat or Sealant
2. PICK A SHAPE
First, remove any old nail polish from your nails. Then, wash your hands. Dry your hands on a clean towel. Shape your nails before soaking them.
Now choose a shape for your nails.
* Petite hands and fingers look best with almond shaped nails.
* Short and stocky fingers look best with squoval shaped nails. ( squoval means "squared-off oval.")
* Heavy set hands look best with squared off ends. This is also true for fingers with wide nail beds (the main body of the nail that defines its shape).
* A rule of thumb is to match the shape of the free edge to that of the cuticle (the protective layer of skin at the bottom of the nail). If the cuticle is oval, go with that shape; if square, make the nail more squoval.
Next, file your nails with an emery board. Delicately caress the nail with single direction strokes. Start at the outer edge of one nail, and move the emery board gently, at a 45 to 90 degree angle against the edge, along the nail towards the center.
3. SOAK THE CUTICLES
Now that your nails are the shape you want, wipe off the nail dust and plunge them into a nice warm bowl of water. Some manicurists add salt to keep the hands from becoming too pruney. Keep your hands in the water for a few minutes, or until they just start to wrinkle.
When you're done soaking, gently dry your hands on a towel. Now, push back your cuticles. If you have extra tough cuticles, then you might want to rub some cuticle oil on them to soften them. Take an orange stick and gently push the cuticles back to expose more of the lanula (the round pinkish "moon" shape on your nail).
4. APPLY COLOR
Make sure your nails are dry from their previous soak.
Buff
Before you apply any polish to your nails, lightly buff them with a white block buffer or an extra fine emery board.
Base coat
Now apply the base coat. It should be a matte, dull and quick to dry. Apply a thin coat and allow it to dry just until your nails are tacky.
Pick a color and polish up
Most manicurists will tell you that there is no difference between expensive and cheap nail polish.
Take the wand out of the bottle and apply a very thin layer of polish. To avoid getting polish on your skin, place the end of the loaded brush on the nail 1/8th of an inch away from the cuticle. Then push it in gently until the brush is just touching the nail before the cuticle. Next, sweep the brush down along the nail to the free edge.
Don't overwork your brushstrokes. It should only take three or four strokes to fill the nail. Don't worry about visible brush marks on the nail. As they dry, the polish should settle into an even coat. Let the polish dry completely, and begin with another coat. You should only need about two to three coats.
Top coat
Once the color has dried, add the topcoat or sealant. This is a glossy, glass-like clear polish that is shiny and slow drying. Its purpose is to protect your nails from chipping or cracking. Apply the polish in one thin coat, being especially careful not to overwork your brushstrokes. Once the polish is on, allow it to settle and be very careful not to touch anything while they dry.
