Tips of the Day—French Tips.
The alarm goes off and I am one blink away from canceling my appointment. I don’t know why I always book the early slots, they never work for me. But the app says I can’t cancel within thirty minutes, and I don’t want to call, so I lay in the bed contemplating for a moment, then get up and get ready.
I always second-guess my need for a mani-pedi, rendering it down to a needless luxury… But one glimpse at the calluses on my heels and I realize that this is, in fact, a necessity.
I arrive, and it’s quieter than usual. Maybe it’s the demographic of this hour—most women are working and the students are still in school. Graciously, I smile at the lifelong devotees who renew their shellac at this hour. The older women, like me, bask in slow, quiet afternoons. As usual, I start with a pedicure. My nail tech turns on the massage chair, I sift through the stack of magazines, and begin to read the latest edition of Elle magazine. What I love about nail appointments is that I get to turn my brain off. No conversation (they know me by now) just a tea on my left, my purse on the right, and a fashion magazine in hand.
This time, I’m reading October 2024’s edition of Elle Canada. Quite fitting as I see it, I’m an October baby and there’s an article somewhere in there about the fashion history of Scottish kilts (an ode to the man I left at home to come and paint my nails.) I think of my Scottish Adonis as I read the words that follow. The lady puts a delicately fragrant scrub on my legs, turning this moment into both a massage and a memento of my love.
As I turn the page, a new article with a lookbook featuring a bouclé dress, pearl earrings, and cat eye sunglasses piques my attention. Let’s see what this article has to offer.
The intro was well-written, albeit a little bland for my publisher taste. I love reading magazines because they’re a great way to take this ever-“on” editor’s mind of mine and put it to good use by mindlessly indulging in a good ol’ fashion magazine. Off the record, if I hadn’t debuted my publishing career in self-help, I could have just as easily found myself in the world of fashion editing. Once upon my ingénue years, I had every hope of becoming a fashion designer. Fashion was second nature to me. Since then, however, I’ve taken my love for fashion in another direction—narrowing it down to mostly athleisure and a closet full of second-hand designer dresses that I still have yet to fit into. Nowadays, it’s mostly baggy jeans and signature stilettos—effortless, but entirely instinctual. My passion may no longer be loud, but it does run deep.
She’s about to start the French part of my pedicure. I really tried the bare-nail look for a minute. I took off my two-year-old solar gel nails to opt for something more natural—an idea, might I add, that I picked up from my mani-pedi appointment two months ago. There was an article about how French women prefer short, healthy nails over long, trending ones. And just like that, I was a changed woman. I chopped off my hard-earned nails and went au naturel. But something about the polish-free look started to unsettle me in the weeks that followed. Would I really become 'that' girl? The one with perfectly buffed, polish-free nails, sipping espresso at a sunlit café, embodying the French-girl minimalism? It sounded romantic in theory, but my hands felt undone, like the perfect outfit missing its statement piece. The no-polish phase lasted exactly three weeks before I found myself booking another appointment, ready to return to the world of sheer nudes and immaculate buffing.
I knew that my nails needed some strengthening. It was due time to take off the gel nails. But, to me, giving up this precious time every month and looking down at bare toes got really old really fast. Besides, if all the classy older women were still booking their appointments like clockwork, maybe 'au naturel' didn’t have to mean 'au no polish.' So, long live the French pedicure. I feel as rejuvenated as I do classy with my little white tips. How did I ever fool myself into thinking bare was better?
As she paints my little toes back to life, I realize my window of time is closing—soon, my hands will be too busy being buffed to finish this article, and I should probably get back to the point before the moment, quite literally, slips through my fingers.
And so, I bring myself back to the magazine, reading every word to distract myself from the stone scrub. The only person in the world who can tickle my feet and not get a good kick in the head is a certified nail tech. Otherwise, good luck. There’s something to say about the strength women have in resisting the urge to flinch during the dreaded foot scrub. But, believe it or not, it’s the reason we all come back. When those stubborn, timeworn edges return to your heels, you know it’s time to book… and, not a moment later.
Which brings me back to the pages in front of me—Gabrielle Lisa Collard’s article on personal stylist, Heensie Low, was all about kickstarting your personal fashion journey. In her revered ‘Three Steps to Discovering Your Own Style,’ my editor mind went silent, blissfully absorbed. This, here, is the moment I pay for—the reconnection to my feminine essence through the age-old indulgence women never seem to outgrow: getting our nails done. The massage, the scrub, the buffing, the peace, the silence, the hot towel—this. You can’t put a price on the feeling of returning to yourself. During these appointments, I breathe deeper, read with joy, and let the massage chair work out the kinks in my back. It’s in these moments, with shellac dust flying the air, I remember why women keep coming back to this.
Whether you go for long, over-the-top nails or subtle, shorter ones, let me remind you that it’s not the design you leave with that counts, but the relaxation you allow yourself while you’re there.
I can speak for nearly every woman when I say that a mani-pedi is entirely worth the feeling of decompressing and loving your look. It’s a form of self-care that, when done right, has a very high return on investment. Wouldn’t you pay fifty to a hundred dollars to feel pampered, relaxed, and get those god-awful calluses off your feet? And, if you’re the type who likes to treat their nail tech as a therapist, then ever the better! A shrink is expensive but a nail tech with good gossip and steady hands? That’s self-care at a fraction of the price. (Thank you to the nail techs who have seen and heard it all.)
Calluses are like poops and problems—men shouldn’t know we have them.
As I write this, I remembered that it’s just as important to put the phone down and my fingers back in the water than it is to crack out another article. Work will always be there, and after a pampering like this, so will your creativity. But softening your cuticles and seizing the moment—that you can only do once a month. So, put the phone down and put your fingers back in the water, lady.
Overgrown nails are a sign of neglecting self-care. Lest we discuss what my nails looked like a few hours ago. I didn’t even know zig-zag was a shape, like almond or square. But seeing these smooth lines and even smoother fingers, I’m reminded—it’s not just about the polish. It’s about the moment. So, before you rush out of the chair, here are a few humble reminders to soak it all in… literally.
Put on a cute but comfortable outfit. Pass on the jeans today, but skip the sweatpants too. You want something cashmere soft, easy to roll up, but despite it all, an outfit that says, I value class.
Take a sister or go alone. Either way, make sure you’re in good company. The last thing you want is to sit next to someone who doesn’t feel like coconut cream on your long-since shaven legs.
Get your favorite drink beforehand. Nothing says self-care like your go-to latte or a perfectly steeped tea.
Bring a paper book or magazine—or pray the salon has a good selection. Opt out of the iPad or phone temporarily. You don’t need more screen time, but a good story or article? Now, that’s relaxation.
Love your nail place or find another. Even though my local salon was closer, the service was unparalleled at the one twenty minutes away. Drive the distance for a good experience, girlfriend. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Speak up for what you want. Thinner lines, a specific shape, a certain color—or better yet, a calf massage over the standard foot massage. SPEAK UP. You have plenty of opportunities to shy away from what you want; don’t let your mani-pedi appointment be one of them.
Sit with upright posture. I know how long a good manicure takes, but stay conscious of how you carry yourself. Are you hunched over? Does that emit “well taken care of” vibes or “let’s just get this over with” energy?
Opt for shellac. You don’t have to, but it dries faster, lasts longer, and is harder to remove… meaning another appointment is basically guaranteed. More promised self-care down the line.
Tip well. If you’re in a position to do so, be generous. Though nail technicians serve us, they are not servants. And as I see it, some feet… are worth the extra money. Oh, ladies—the things we put our nail techs through.
And above all, when the appointment is over and the joy of fresh new nails overtakes you, share that joy with someone who truly cares. If you have people in your life who genuinely love to see you shine, let them be the ones you show off to. Don’t waste the moment on the friend who’s never really happy for you—the one who might compare, side-eye, or let judgment creep in. Share your new nails and newly softened feet with those who will bask in your joy as graciously as you do.
And inevitably, when you leave the salon and step back into reality, the hype will fade, and the overwhelm will return. But the point isn’t to live for these moments of peace—but to savor them, knowing they will pass, and knowing you’ll certainly find your way back to them again.
Just like a good manicure, life chips, but there’s nothing a little touch-up can’t fix.
Until next time,
Sarah Elle
