I was surprised when my sister told me she wanted to take me to get my nails done for my seventeenth birthday. I’ve never really been the kind of girl to get a manicure, but I was excited nonetheless.

When the day arrived, I thought of nothing besides my upcoming manicure. All my friends told me it hurts when the manicurist buffs and files your nails, and it hurts even more when it comes time for the fake nails to come off. I didn’t know what color I should choose, how long the nails should reach or even what type I should have put on. I didn’t even know different types of fake nails existed. In the midst of all these thoughts, the final bell rang for school. I went to my friend’s house for an hour or so, and when I arrived home it was time to go.

After a fifteen minute drive, I stepped through the doors of the nail salon. I was kindly greeted by the staff and questioned about what I wanted to get done. I easily chose acrylic nails, but my hardest decision came when it was time to choose the color. After browsing the shelf for what seemed like forever, I chose a bright and sparkling royal blue in recognition of Ethan for L.U.C.K. Week.

I took my seat across from the manicurist and she went to work. While she filed, scraped and buffed my nails, I sat patiently watching my nails become spattered with the sawdust like material coming off them. She grabbed the tips, glue, powder and a strange liquid and prepped for the application of the fake nails. When she finished applying my fake nails, she painted them with two coats of blue paint and a glossy topcoat. She then told me to put my hands under the dryer.

Ten minutes later, I pulled my hands back and wiggled my fingers. They felt different and heavier. I liked it. I left the salon feeling different than when I arrived. I tapped my fingers on the dashboard during the drive home loving the sound of my nails clicking against the hard plastic. When I arrived home I found that, because my nails were cut at a natural length, daily activities were easy to do. I quickly adjusted to the new difficulties writing, texting and typing brought me.

After getting back into the car with my sister, I had made up my mind. I enjoyed my manicure. and I enjoyed my fake nails.