Today we’re exploring the fascinating relationship between stress, illness and nail health, and why our nails don’t always follow the timeline we expect. It’s a great lesson in how healing takes time and is not something that can be forced or rushed.

Sometimes during difficult periods of our lives changes in our bodies appear almost immediately, other times the effects take weeks or even months to reveal themselves, emerging long after we’ve recovered and life feels calmer again.

In many ways, our nails can tell us what’s happening right now, but they can also tell us where our body has been.

During illness you can experience immediate changes and delayed changes, during chronic periods of stress you may experience only delayed changes.

Immediate changes

When you’re ill, dehydrated, exhausted, stressed, or your cortisol levels are elevated, the existing nail plate can become more vulnerable.

For example:

• Dehydration can make nails feel drier and less flexible. (If you are sick for instance and not able to keep fluids down)

• Poor sleep can affect tissue repair. (In pain from a sore throat or a disruptive nightly cough? Then that will contribute to your poor sleep. Much healing and restorative processes in the body take place during sleep or rest, without it those processes struggle to continue)

• Stress can lead to picking, biting, or increased inflammation. (This doesn’t happen for everyone, but picking or biting nails is known as a body focused repetitive behaviour. Picking nails is a physical outlet for nervous/anxious energy, and acts as a subconscious distraction or self soothing mechanism to calm a racing mind)

• Reduced circulation can affect moisture and nutrient delivery. (If blood flow is reduced this means nutrients and oxygen aren’t supplied in the regular volume needed for strong, healthy, growing nails)

So a nail that was already slightly weak may suddenly snap, peel, or split during an episode of illness.

Think of it like a tree branch. The weakness may have been developing for some time, but the storm is what causes it to break.

Then there are……

Delayed changes

The nail matrix (where new nail is produced) may slow down or produce lower-quality nail cells during periods of stress, illness, nutritional deficiency, or hormonal changes.

Because nails grow slowly, you don’t always see that damage immediately. Instead it may show up weeks or months later, when that section of nail grows out and becomes visible.

This is why someone can recover from an illness and then notice:

• peeling

• weakness

• ridges

• increased breakage

Still occurring even once the illness has passed. Each nail cycle last approx 3 - 6 months. So a stressful period in May, could continue to reflect within your nails up until July or August depending on your overall health, lifestyle and nail growth cycle.

So let’s delve deeper into to why this happens….

One of the things I find most fascinating about the human body is how intelligent it is.

Long before we consciously recognise that something feels “off”, the body has already noticed and started working to fixing this. When we’re unwell, sleep deprived, chronically stressed or nutritionally depleted, the body becomes incredibly efficient. It begins quietly pulling inwards by reallocating its resources, directing energy, oxygen, blood flow and nutrients towards the systems most essential for survival. Such as the brain, heart, lungs and immune system. The body always protects what it needs most.

And unfortunately for our nails, hair and skin, they sit much lower down the priority list. This doesn’t mean they aren’t important, quite the opposite.

In fact, our skin, hair and nails are not purely aesthetic, but they all serve important protective functions. The skin is the largest organ of the human body. Its job is to Protect (the body against germs, chemicals, injury and infection), Temperature regulation (helps to keep the body at a stable temperature through sweating and blood flow changes), Sensation (allows you to feel touch, pressure, pain, heat and cold), Prevents water loss (helps keep moisture inside the body), Vitamin D production (produces vitamin D when exposed to sunlight), Immune defence (helps protect the body from infection), Storage (stores fat, water and some nutrients).

Hair protects the scalp, provides insulation and even acts as a sensory tool.

Nails protect the delicate fingertips, along with the blood vessels and nerve endings connected to our fingers, the nails support grip and precision due to the fact it provides a counterforce that increases touch sensitivity and helps us carry out fine motor tasks, from fastening buttons to picking up tiny objects.

Yet because they’re not essential for immediate survival, they’re often among the places where internal stress begins to show itself.

One of the things I love most about nail science is that the real magic happens somewhere we can’t even see. Beneath the skin, just below the cuticle, sits a structure called the nail matrix. This is the living growth centre responsible for producing the nail plate. Inside the matrix, specialised nail cells known as onychocytes divide rapidly, flatten and harden through a process called keratinisation before being pushed forwards to form the nail we see.

The matrix is metabolically active, meaning it requires a steady supply of oxygen, protein, healthy circulation and nutrients such as iron, zinc and biotin to function effectively. Now, you understand why it needs consistent blood flow, oxygen and nutrients right?

You may be thinking okay great I get the illness part, the physical dehydration, loss of nutrients but what does stress do or cause, that impacts the body?

I understand it can be confusing because we can’t see it so it's hard to visualise or interpret why something is happening without physical evidence in front of us.

Chronic stress causes elevated levels of adrenaline and cortisol (now we are not demonising these hormones, just learning to understand their role. They help us stay alert, focused and able to respond to challenges and can save us in life threatening or scary situations. They’re FANTASTIC in small doses not daily exposure) and because these hormones induce a ‘fight’ or ‘flight’ response, it diverts blood flow away from non essential tissues. Combine this with altered cellular signalling and increased inflammation you’ll experience consistent impaired circulation, altered nutrient metabolisation, slow tissue repair and interference with keratin production over time.

Nutrient depletion occurs as a result of the above which effects the nail because adrenaline and cortisol also interrupts digestive and absorptive processes. Your body then struggles to absorb key vitamins and minerals required for strong nail growth.

Disruption in cell turnover, cortisol directly impacts loss of biotin which is a mineral vital to nail health and keratin production. Without it you’ll experience ridging, flaking and pitting of the nail. (Note these can occur with age but for the purpose of this article we are only talking about these appearing from stress or illness)

Habitual damage - adrenaline surges often lead to us seek self soothing habits and tools. These normally occur subconsciously such as nail biting or picking which causes damage to the nail bed.

The overall result are nails that become thinner, weaker, more flexible, prone to peeling and slower to recover. This is why for some clients no matter the type of enhancement or treatment used, such as builder gel in a bottle, fibre gel or acrylic will notice that nails feel routinely weak underneath or never seem to gain any strength alone. (Side note: I love enhancements, such as gel and hard gel and I very much enjoy wearing them, but they protect the nail plate they cannot change the overall health of the nail, its an important distinction to be aware of)

And this is why I can’t stress enough that the technique and application of enhancements or topical lotions are not the only important parts of nail care. Everything in the body (as it is in life) is interconnected, and if clients are experiencing poor retention or nails that are very weak even after physical manicure maintenance, care and prescriptive treatments to support the nail, a technician may need to look to the lifestyle and health of the client.

How do I know this? Well, I experienced it first hand both as a client and a trainee tech.

After leaving an abusive relationship in July, I expected life to immediately feel lighter.

Instead, I became incredibly run down and had the worse cortisol face to show for it. Best believe it showed up everywhere including my hair falling out, and yep you guessed it the snapping and shortest nails I have ever had.

I seemed to catch every illness going, and between October and January my nails broke repeatedly. I was not eating properly, I was drinking nearly everyday and I was also smoking regularly. No amount of careful nail care, cuticle oil or maintenance seemed to make much difference and it wouldn’t, my body was under stress and I wasn’t fuelling it with what it needed.

At the time, I found it frustrating, but now I understand it. My body was trying to show me that things weren’t okay in my world. I felt upset because so much was already out of my control and then I felt like my body was no longer working on top of it! But….

Nails are little messengers or mirrors, they reflect what’s happening inside of us often before it shows up anywhere else. They’re indicators of overall body health whether we’re healthy and well or in need of a helping hand.

So instead of fighting my body or trying to cover my face with makeup and nails with enhancements that I knew would make no difference, I went off to conduct some research. And lo and behold I discovered the “let-down effect”, a phenomenon where people often become unwell after a prolonged period of stress has ended.

So, if you are experiencing poorly nails slow down and take a moment to feel and embrace whats happening in your life right now. Nail changes can occur also with chronic health conditions, cancer and pregnancy too. We will look at this further next week in the article: What your nails say about your health: Looking at nail surface, strength, colour and texture as gentle reflections of your inner wellbeing.

(Blog posts are released every Sunday)

Because poor nail health is often nothing to do with the enhancement yet many people want to blame e files, gel, hard gel or acrylic. (unless the nail has been damaged, enhancement poorly removed or over filed, but this is a topic for another day). What we apply topically is not the solution alone but rather part of. Internal nutrition and care for the mind and body are paramount to nail health too. Trust me, if your nails were weak before enhancements it’s an internal issue, and I am going to explain nail enhancements soon and why nails grow long when you have this almost protective but pretty armour on.

With that being said though, cuticle oils and protective treatments absolutely still matter, so please don’t stop using them. (I will know!) True resilience begins deeper though, through rest, nourishment, regulation and supporting the body from the inside out.

This is why your nail technician likes to see your nails, and asks about your health and lifestyle during consultations. Not to be nosy but to tailor treatments, enhancements and aftercare advice to meet your needs and support you.

So, if you do ever notice a sudden change in your nails, pause before immediately asking: “How do I fix this?”

Instead, try asking: “What has my body been carrying, compensating for, or recovering from?”

Our culture often teaches us to view the body as something to correct. I prefer to think of it as something to listen to, the body is always communicating. Our nails are just one of the many ways it speaks, the question is whether we’re listening.

Throughout May, these conversations become louder and more visible all of which is fantastic. Awareness opens doors, it creates understanding, reduces shame, educates, empowers and reminds people that they are not alone. However awareness without action can only take us so far.

This year’s theme, Take Action for Good Mental Health, feels especially fitting. It asks us to move beyond simply acknowledging and discussing mental health. And instead consider and commit to what it means to actively nurture, protect and prioritise it within ourselves, our workplaces, our relationships and our communities.

In my opinion now more than ever this feels necessary, because we are living through what many experts describe as one of the most significant declines in collective mental wellbeing in modern history. From my research (UK) we are experiencing the biggest mental health crisis since World War II specifically in younger people and children. And since 2016, mental health outcomes have steadily worsened across many groups, prompting some to describe this period as a silent pandemic. So now awareness really is not enough anymore, it’s time to choose what we are going to do with this knowledge.

However before we all rush to become ‘better’, ‘smarter’, ‘healthier’, and more ‘productive’ with our newfound knowledge and awareness, I think it is important to pause and consider what action actually means. Because action for the mind can look very different from action for the body and if we misunderstand it, we risk turning yet another important conversation into another impossible standard to strive for.

For some time now, society has taught us that action means instant transformation. That taking action meant becoming instantly healed, perfectly organised, endlessly productive, emotionally regulated at all times and somehow everything to everyone, all at once. But that is not life, and it is certainly not the full, honest human experience.

The truth is we have repackaged words like healing, regulation and productivity into something performative. We have stripped them of their depth and reshaped them into ideals of constant optimisation. The human brain was never designed to endlessly perform. It was designed to feel, to process, to wonder, to create, to rest, to connect and to experience.

Healing has never looked like perfection and regulation is not emotional suppression. It is not denying what you feel, nor allowing those feelings to completely consume you. It is learning to recognise what is happening within you and responding to it with awareness, compassion and balance. Pretending to be okay is not the same as genuinely feeling safe within yourself.

Too often, we gather awareness only to weaponise it against ourselves, punishing ourselves into becoming “better” rather than allowing ourselves the grace to simply learn. And that is not sustainable or healthy, useful action.

The definition of action is simply this: the process of doing something, not doing everything. Other meanings include the accomplishment of a thing over a period of time, in stages, or through repetition.

Even the word itself states quite clearly that it is something achieved over time, not in an instant.

We commit to movement because we can see our bodies changing. But when it comes to caring for the mind, stillness often feels uncomfortable. The moment we pause, the thoughts begin:

I should be doing more.
I have not done enough.
I could be using this time better.

Society has taught us to associate our worth with productivity, speed and output. And as I have discussed in previous articles, titles, output, achievement and how much we can endure without rest are not definitions of our worth. It is a great disservice to ourselves to measure how we love and care for ourselves through metrics, timings and systems designed to prove how “productive” we are.

Our world itself does not demand constant speed. Nature shows us another way entirely. Beauty, slowness, connection, love, reflection, oneness, growth, death, rebirth.

Flowers bloom when they are ready. Trees take years to establish their roots. The moon moves through phases without apology. The ocean understands both movement and stillness. Human beings are no different. We too are designed for seasons of growth, grief, rest, transformation and renewal.

So perhaps taking action for our mental health is not about doing more necessarily, but about taking the right aligned actions. Knowing when to rest, soften, be vulnerable, ask for help, and create space for what is asking to be felt.

In our everyday lives, taking action may also look like speaking more kindly to ourselves and each other, listening without immediately trying to fix things, checking in consistently, respecting boundaries, advocating for accessibility, reducing comparison and creating communities rooted in compassion instead of competition or judgement. Choosing habits that support your wellbeing, listening to your body and respecting your limits. Everybody’s actions will look entirely different, as they should.

Sometimes we relate action to doing more, finding more things to do rather than working with what we already have. I think this years theme of awareness does not call for noise or excess. But rather it exists simply to draw your attention back to what is already in front of you and invite you to change the habits you have built in order to create better health. After all, the things we do, do things to us. Everybody’s interpretation of this years theme will be different but I think we have so much, we do so much already in the world, so would it be so wrong to implement the skills, creativity and knowledge we currently have to live calmer, healthier and happier lives. Maybe the action is living more mindfully, taking time to move more slowly, being conscious of others and adopting what we have talked about so long into our lives and workspaces to actually create meaningful change.

Action in the Beauty Industry.

And as I am beauty professional these days, I have to touch on action required within the beauty and holistic industry. Taking action here means reconsidering how we care for people too.

In this industry, you do not just hold hands, you often hold hearts as well.

Beauty and Holistic health work is intimate work. Whether it is nails, hair, lashes, massage, complementary/alternative therapies or aesthetics, people often sit in our chairs carrying far more than what is visible on the surface. Anxiety, burnout, hormonal struggles, health battles, mental health conditions, trauma, neurodiversity, loneliness, grief, self esteem struggles. Silent battles no one else knows about.

No one is asking beauty professionals to become therapists. But there are gentle ways we can create safer, softer and more inclusive spaces for the people who trust us with their time, bodies and vulnerability.

Taking action within the beauty industry may look like offering silent appointments for clients who feel overstimulated, anxious or emotionally exhausted. It may look like extending appointment times for neurodivergent clients who need more time to settle, process or regulate.

It may in addition look like consultation forms that go beyond medical history and begin considering comfort, sensory needs and emotional safety too.

Perhaps your consultation forms (Mine already do) could include options such as:

• silent appointment preferred

• happy to chat

• anxious or first-time client

• sensitive to noise or vibration

• tics or stimming behaviours

• skin or cuticle sensitivity

• sensory aversions

• needs breaks during appointment

Small changes can make people feel profoundly seen, thats why taking action matters. It’s not about ticking boxes, it's about operating from our hearts and leading our lives with love in all that we do and in all that we connect with.

So, if you have the shelf space just consider offering some mental health literature, leaflets, magazines, books. Do something fun to create a sense of community for yourself and your clients: such as a book exchange, or affirmation cards included with each client goody bag. Tiny reminders that people matter beyond their appearance. Because whether we like it or not we also know the beauty industry needs to do better regarding the impact the feminine beauty ideal also has on mental health.

And I also think we need to speak more openly about how we support one another as practitioners too.

The beauty industry can be incredibly isolating, especially for mobile beauty therapists, lone workers and self-employed professionals carrying emotional labour throughout the day whilst simultaneously trying to run a business, maintain income, market themselves and care for others. So let this year’s call to action also to be more open and to knowledge share, so we can help each other. More community over competition, honesty around burnout, accessibility for neurodivergent professionals and clients, and more open spaces where practitioners feel safe enough to open up, share their experiences and ask for help too. Caring for our clients is just as important as caring for ourselves, because you cannot pour from an empty cup!

We will continue talking about mental health until we as a collective begin moving towards living, breathing, creating and existing more authentically and wandering wherever our feet and hearts take us.

And I understand that in the current climate, that is not always easy. The state of the world leaves many of us carrying worry, grief and uncertainty, but there is still beauty in the world too. There is still kindness, connection, joy, happiness, laughter, hope and peace. And you owe it to yourself to experience those things too.

You owe it to yourself to take actions, however small, that allow you to feel alive again. To participate in the things that make you smile. To remember that your existence was never meant to revolve entirely around survival, productivity or perfection. After all as someone close pointed out to me recently, the most important relationship you will ever have is the relationship you have with yourself.

Knowing yourself matters because it helps you recognise your needs earlier. It allows you to build a life aligned with your values instead of external pressure. And it creates compassion for yourself during difficult seasons rather than punishment. Mental health is so much more than what happens in our minds, it affects our bodies, lives and our selves on a spiritual level too. Poor mental health can end up permeating every area of our life and leading to a completely collapse, and nobody wants that.

In the UK alone, we have seen a significant increase in depression within the last decade.

1 in 4 young people aged 17–19 experience mental health disorders.
1 in 4 people experience suicidal thoughts.
1 in 10 people self-harm.
1 in 13 people attempt suicide.

These statistics are heartbreaking.

And I know they are real because I have been one of those numbers.

But there is hope in this too, research continues to show us that small, intentional actions can genuinely improve mental wellbeing over time. Connection, movement, creativity, rest, therapy, time in nature, quality sleep, creative hobbies, mindfulness and journalling, therapy and emotional support, acts of self care and routine, nervous system regulation, supportive relationships and self-expression all have the ability to positively impact both the mind and body, along with reducing symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression over time.

Healing and good health is not always found in one life changing moment.
Often, it is found in the small repeated actions that gently remind the body and mind that it is safe, supported and worthy of care.

The mind and body are always listening to the life we give ourselves. So let us choose actions that are kind and gentle and slowly but surely you will see yourself respond in ways you couldn’t have imagined.

So this year I am asking your call to action to not to become a “better” version of yourself overnight but rather to be yourself. To stop rushing, racing, comparing, optimising and to start nourishing yourself, eating well, doing the things that light up your soul, following your heart, seeking help when you need it, choosing habits that heal rather than harm. To just be conscious of what others may be going through, to educate yourself, to understand mental illness and conditions exist. And to do what you can to help others navigate the world too.

Sometimes the smallest tissues and parts of our bodies are forgotten or even not recognised. One of these is the hyponychium. Because most of the time when people think about nails, they usually focus on the visible nail plate, the cuticle, strength, peeling, growth, BIAB retention or breakage. But one of the most important structures in nail anatomy actually lives underneath the free edge of the nail: the hyponychium.

The hyponychium is a specialised area of living skin tissue located beneath the edge of the nail plate, where the nail begins to separate from the fingertip. It forms part of the nail unit alongside the nail matrix, nail bed, cuticle, and nail plate itself.

Its main role is protection.

Scientifically, the hyponychium acts like a protective seal between the outside world and the sensitive tissue underneath the nail. This barrier helps reduce the entry of bacteria, fungi, irritants, moisture, and debris into the space beneath the nail plate. Without the hyponychium, the nail bed would be far more vulnerable to infection, irritation, and everyday damage.

This tissue is also living and active. It responds to how we treat and care for it.

The hyponychium contains skin cells, connective tissue, tiny blood vessels, and nerve endings. This is why injuring or over-filing the area can feel surprisingly painful or sensitive. Some people assume the tissue underneath the free edge is simply “dead skin,” but unlike the nail plate itself, the hyponychium is alive and responsive! A few people have said to me in passing my nails never feel clean theres this white or moist stuff underneath it and in fear I normally want to shout no, no, no!! Leave that alone!

If repeatedly damaged, the tissue can become irritated, inflamed, thickened, or begin separating from the underside of the nail plate. Over time, this weakens the natural seal between the nail and fingertip and may increase sensitivity or lifting.

This is also why nail professionals advise against digging underneath the nails with sharp tools. Although it may look cleaner temporarily, repeated scraping underneath the nail can gradually disrupt the attachment between the hyponychium and the nail plate.

🔎 Fun fact: your fingerprints actually begin forming before you’re even born around 10 to 16 weeks in the womb. No two fingerprints have ever been found to be identical, not even in identical twins.

(Random fact included as I noticed how detailed my prints were in this photo with my macro lens, anyway back to the topic in hand….)

One of the most interesting things about the hyponychium is that its length differs from person to person.

In some people, the tissue extends further forward underneath the nail plate, creating more support for longer natural nail growth. In others, the hyponychium sits lower down, meaning the white free edge becomes visible earlier because there is less attached tissue underneath the nail.

Neither is better or worse it is simply variation in human anatomy.

However, this difference does affect how force moves through the nail during everyday life.

The point where the attached nail becomes unsupported free edge is known as a stress area. Every time we type, grip objects, tap surfaces, open containers, or use our hands throughout the day, pressure moves through this part of the nail. When there is less supportive tissue underneath the nail plate, the nail may bend more easily and become more prone to peeling, splitting, or breakage at longer lengths.

This is one reason why some people naturally struggle to maintain very long natural nails, even with good nail care.

Repeated trauma can also influence the hyponychium over time. Nail biting, skin picking, over cleaning underneath the nails, repetitive behaviours linked to anxiety or ADHD, and long-term nail damage can gradually encourage the tissue to sit lower down. The nail unit is adaptive it responds continuously to stress, pressure, inflammation, and repeated movement.

The encouraging part is that healing is possible.

(And if you are someone who has struggled with BFRB’s, picking, trauma or maybe its habit due to mental health please reach out. I am currently offering advice services online or over the phone to help review your nails and provide a free personalised treatment plan on how to restore them).

When trauma is reduced and the nail unit is protected consistently, the hyponychium can often but slowly begins reattaching and recovering over time. This process takes patience because nails grow slowly usually around 3 millimetres per month and healthy attachment depends on consistency and reduced irritation.

This is where cuticle oil becomes genuinely important.

Cuticle oil does not magically “feed” the nail plate itself, as the visible nail is already made of hardened keratin cells. However, oil helps improve flexibility, reduce dryness, and support the health of the surrounding living tissue that protects and supports nail growth.

And just to clarify oils and creams still help the nail from drying out so by all means get that cream all over, because the nails can still develop a tight C curl or become too hard and snap. However it’s important to understand that growth does not come from the nail plate or visible part of the nail. Thats why staining, breaks, bruises they’re things that simply have to grow out.

Unless you’re using treatments that penetrate the nail plate directly to help bond layers together for strength such as OPI repair mode or IBX then most products when applied to the nail plate sit on the surface and provide surface level hydration. It’s important that the oils you use get under the nail and at the base of the nail as well, this is why we recommend drops, brush pens and encouraging massaging the product in as well to help with penetration.

Jojoba oil is especially beneficial because its structure closely resembles the skin’s natural oils, allowing it to absorb more effectively into the nail plate and surrounding skin. Consistent oiling can help reduce brittleness, improve flexibility, minimise peeling, and support a healthier nail barrier overall.

Applying oil around the cuticle area is particularly important because this skin sits directly above the nail matrix (the part of the body responsible for producing new nail cells). Keeping this area healthy and protected helps create a better environment for nail growth.

But topical products alone are not the full answer.

Healthy nail growth also depends heavily on overall health and nutrition because nails are biologically low-priority structures within the body. If the body lacks enough nutrients, protein, iron, zinc, healthy fats, or energy, resources are directed toward vital organs before nail growth. Our bodies are very clever and in next week’s health themed article we will discuss what happens to the body when hit by stress and illness and why hair, skin and nails are the first to go down.

The nail matrix requires oxygen, circulation, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals to produce strong keratin cells efficiently. This is why chronic stress, restrictive dieting, illness, hormonal changes, nutrient deficiencies, poor sleep, and nervous system dysregulation can all influence nail strength and growth patterns.

Keeping a balanced diet isn’t just important for the nails but for all of you! However balanced does not equate to restrictive. You can enjoy sweets and a glass of wine. But you need to be eating around 2000 calories a day for women, you can calculate your protein intake online now, enter your weight and the calculator will tell you. Aim for five portions of fruit and veg per day and around 8 glasses of water. Remember water can also come from fruit, vegetables and other drinks too, but just be mindful of how much is caffeine. The best way to remember is eat the rainbow:

• “Eat the rainbow” is a nutrition phrase used to encourage eating a wide variety of naturally colourful foods because different colours often contain different phytonutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

  For example:

  ❤️ Red foods — lycopene + heart health
  🧡 Orange/yellow foods — beta carotene + immune support
  💚 Green foods — folate, iron, magnesium, vitamin K
  💙 Purple/blue foods — anthocyanins + brain health
  🤍 White foods — allicin, potassium, selenium

  Scientifically, the idea is that greater colour diversity in whole foods often means greater nutrient diversity, which supports everything from skin and nail health to hormone function, circulation, energy production, and cell repair.

  So “eat the rainbow” is essentially a simple reminder to nourish the body with variety rather than restriction.

Or remember it as R.A.I.N.B.O.W: Rich And Inclusive Nutrients Builds Overall Wellness.

What we put in our mouths and on our bodies has a greater impact than we realise.

Lifestyle matters too, ensure stress management, good sleep hygiene, nervous system regulation, hobbies, being in the sun, resting, all have a place in your life too. Chronic stress is linked to hormonal changes that may also temporarily disrupt keratin production and slow nail growth.

And finally,

Nails are not isolated from the rest of the body they are reflections of it.

Nail health is not purely aesthetic. Our nails are shaped by anatomy, genetics, repetitive behaviours, lifestyle, neurodivergence, stress physiology, hormones, environment, and lived experience over time.

So if your nails grow differently, break more easily, or carry signs of needing help due to biting, picking, trauma, or healing that’s okay. Knowledge is power, the more you understand the more you can nourish yourself.

Your nails are adaptive living structures doing their best to protect and respond to you every single day.

Because the joy in being The Mindful Manicurist for me has never just been about nails.

It’s about slowing down, living intentionally, creating freely, existing fully, and loving truly.

So it’s not unusual for my writing to wander into the spaces around beauty, the parts that often matter just as much. If you’re new here, I invite you to explore some of my previous posts, as they tell the story of how I arrived here. And I hope, in some small way, they might meet you where you are or help you too.

This week, though, I am bringing it back to the hands!

As I was flicking through my little book of ideas, I knew I wanted to explore a new treatment. And as timing would have it, I had just been introduced to the Japanese manicure last Wednesday by a lovely UK based brand, Layali & Co.

They’ve created an at home kit designed to feel both simple and luxurious, offering around 15–30 uses and suitable for beginners. The products are made with 100% natural ingredients, which in today’s beauty space, is quite rare and the system is also described as wudhu friendly, meaning it doesn’t create a barrier on the nail and can be used by Muslim women who perform wudhu before prayer.

🇯🇵 A ritual that dates back centuries

The Japanese manicure is a natural nail treatment designed to enhance the condition of the nail plate without the use of polish, gel, or extensions.

Rather than coating the nail, this system works by refining and conditioning the surface. It combines gentle buffing with nutrient rich pastes, typically made from beeswax, silica, keratin, and vitamins before sealing everything in with a fine mineral powder to create a soft, natural shine.

The result isn’t a traditional polished finish which requires removal later, but a natural, healthy shine that enhances the look and feel of the nails. It’s especially suited to those who prefer or need to wear their nails naturally.

At its core, the Japanese manicure doesn’t focus on decoration, but on enhancing what is already there. It treats nail care as a ritual rather than a quick fix and that philosophy still sits at the heart of it today.

This technique is believed to date back over 400 years to Japan’s Edo period (1603–1868), where it was practiced by aristocrats who valued well kept, natural nails as a sign of refinement. Focusing on preservation and care.

Today, the Japanese manicure has re-emerged in both salons and at home kits, often marketed as a “strengthening treatment.” But while it can improve the appearance and flexibility of the nails, the science behind it is more nuanced and understanding that is key to using it in a way that truly supports long term nail health.

🧪 What does the Japanese manicure consist of?

The Japanese manicure is a surface conditioning treatment designed to:

• Smooth the nail plate

• Enhance natural shine

• Improve flexibility and resilience

• Protect against dryness and breakage

The process typically involves:

1. Gentle buffing of the nail surface

2. Application of a nutrient rich paste (often beeswax, silica, keratin, vitamins)

3. Sealing with a fine mineral powder

🔬 The science beneath the ritual

To understand this treatment properly we need to begin with one important truth:

The nail plate is non-living tissue.

It is made of tightly packed keratin cells (onychocytes), meaning:

• It cannot “heal” itself externally

• It cannot absorb nutrients in a biological sense/ into the blood stream

• Most treatments work on the surface level only

So when we talk about “strengthening” the nail, what we’re really describing is:
→ improving surface integrity, hydration, and flexibility

(All very good by the way, still helps to protect the nail from external factors, such as consistent water exposure or exposure to harsh chemicals and dry seasons such as winter which can strip the nails of hydration)

✧ 1. Micro-buffing: Where the shine begins

Buffing removes the top layer of uneven keratin cells, which:

• Smooths the surface

• Enhances light reflection (→ natural shine)

• Allows better adherence of conditioning ingredients

However….

The nail plate contains around 25–30 layers of keratin cells.
Repeated or aggressive buffing reduces these layers leading to:

• Thinner nails

• Increased fragility

• Long-term weakening if overdone

So while buffing creates the glow, it’s also the part that requires the most care.

Buffing plays a key role in creating that natural shine, it’s something to approach with care. It may not be suitable for everyone. Particularly if your nails are already thin, peeling, or recovering from previous damage or injury to the nail plate. (For example, accident to the finger or hand, poor removal of gel or acrylic or the use monomer Methyl Methacrylate is used also known as MMA which is illegal to use and can seriously damage nails).

In these cases, it’s often best to prioritise protection and regrowth, allowing the nail to strengthen before introducing any refining treatments.

✧ 2. Occlusion & hydration: The role of beeswax

The paste used in Japanese manicures often contains beeswax and plant oils, which act as occlusives.

This means they:

• Sit on top of the nail plate

• Reduce water loss

• Improve flexibility

And this matters more than people realise.

💡 Dry nails = brittle nails
💡 Hydrated nails = flexible, resilient nails

So while the ingredients don’t “feed” the nail internally, they:
→ create an environment where the nail is less likely to break.

✧ 3. Surface reinforcement: Silica, keratin & vitamins

These ingredients are often marketed as strengthening but let’s look at them honestly:

Silica (Silicon Compounds)

• Naturally present in nails

• Supports keratin structure

Topically:
→ helps fill microscopic irregularities
→ improves smoothness and perceived strength

(More evidence exists for dietary silica than topical, but it still contributes to surface refinement).

Hydrolysed Keratin

• The same protein nails are made from

Topically:
→ binds temporarily to the nail surface
→ reinforces weak spots
→ improves feel and texture

But:
→ it does not permanently rebuild the nail but don’t let this deter you its still a fantastic treatment and in my opinion well worth the cost of the service or investment of your own kit.

Vitamins (A, E)

• Primarily functions as antioxidants and conditioners

Topically:

• Support surrounding skin (cuticles, nail folds)

• Help maintain a healthy nail environment

Again, more impactful when:
→ combined with consistent hydration + internal nutrition

⚖️ So… does it actually strengthen your nails?

The honest answer the one I’ll always stand by is:

👉 Yes, but indirectly and temporarily.

A Japanese manicure can:

• Improve flexibility

• Reduce brittleness

• Enhance appearance

• Protect the surface

But it does not:

• Permanently thicken the nail

• Change how your nail grows

• Repair deep structural damage

True nail strength comes from:

• Nutrition (iron, protein, micronutrients)

• Hormonal balance

• Consistent, gentle care over time

Together, these elements can support stronger, healthier looking nails. As The Mindful Manicurist, I feel it’s important to be honest about what treatments can and can’t do, so you can make informed choices and know what to expect from your products.

🗓️ How often should this treatment be performed?

• Every 3–4 weeks maximum

• Use a light hand

• Focus on daily hydration, especially cuticle oil in between treatments. The Layali & Co kit thoughtfully includes a jasmine scented cuticle oil, designed to support ongoing nail care beyond the manicure itself.

A simple check-in: (to help you know when to use your kit)

(A gentle note: These kinds of check ins apply to all nail treatments, not just Japanese manicures. Nail care should always be guided by the current condition of your nails. For example, if you were experiencing issues such as fungal infections, irritation, or damage, you would typically pause treatments like gels or acrylics. Similarly, if a nail is weakened, split, or the surrounding skin is compromised, it’s often best to allow it to recover before carrying out any service. A little awareness goes a long way in protecting long-term nail health).

• If your nails feel flexible and smooth → you’re within balance

• If they feel thin or sensitive → pull back

🏡 A Note on The Layali & Co Kit

What I appreciate about at home Japanese manicure kit from Layali & Co is that they bring this ritual into your own space.

Their kit allows you to:

• Slow down

• Build a relationship with your natural nails

• Create a moment of care in your week

• Perfect for beginners and safe for most

• Contains everything you need from the get go

But like all beauty tools, they’re only as good as how they’re used.

Used gently and intentionally, they can be:
→ a beautiful reset
→ a soft alternative to constant product use

Used too frequently or aggressively:
→ they can do the opposite of what they promise

And that’s why understanding matters.

As I move deeper into the beauty space, I’m becoming more aware of how easy it is to fall into cycles of more.

More treatments.
More products.
More maintenance.

And sometimes without even realising it we move further away from actually caring for ourselves but rather meeting a trend or aesthetic in the name of ‘self care’.

What I love about the Japanese manicure is that it offers something quieter.

It invites you to slow down.
To sit with your hands for a moment.
To care for them gently, without trying to change them into something else.

And there’s something really powerful in that.

Not because it’s perfect, or transformative overnight but because it’s intentional.

It’s not a miracle treatment, and it won’t suddenly fix everything. But it can be a small reset. A soft ritual. A way to return to yourself in a world that’s always asking for more.

And sometimes, that’s more than enough. 🤍

Pictured above: The beautifully curated at-home Japanese manicure kit, kindly gifted to me by Layali & Co.

Website:

https://www.layaliandco.co.uk

At the time of writing, the kit is priced at £39.99 and includes all the essential tools, pastes, and powders needed to perform a Japanese manicure at home. It’s suitable for beginners, with a step-by-step tutorial available on their website:
https://www.layaliandco.co.uk/tutorial

As with any new treatment especially one involving the natural nail I always recommend taking the time to follow the brand’s instructions carefully and moving gently, particularly when it comes to buffing.

It’s a chance to turn the page, start a new, change, realign or simply unfurl after a long winter, which if you live in the UK like me, you know the winter’s are long and tough.

Whilst I encourage embracing all and every season as each serves their purpose, I must admit when Spring arrives I slow down even more so, finding myself pausing to notice the quiet return of life again, the soft blooming of petals, the warmth in the air, the way everything begins again without hesitation. Nature never questions itself. It simply becomes.

And in those moments, I’m reminded that we are not separate from this rhythm. We are nature too.

Here are the lessons spring offers us, if we’re willing to slow down enough to receive them.

🌿 You are allowed to bloom slowly.

Nature never rushes. Flowers don’t question their timing, and trees don’t apologise for taking years to grow. The sky does not hurry the sunrise. Everything unfolds at its own pace, yet all of it is meaningful, sacred, and complete.

We live in a world that urges us to hurry toward success, healing, love, and even our dreams. But nature teaches a gentler truth: you are not behind. You are unfolding in divine timing.

Healing isn’t linear. Dreams aren’t reached in straight lines. Creation is not always made within the hour or the day. And your worth is not measured by how quickly you arrive.

The flower does not question when it will bloom, nor does it strive to be anything other than what it is becoming. Its only task is to exist fully, to open inch by inch, in alignment with the sun, blooming in the season meant for it.

You, too, are here to unfold in your own time. To create, explore, and move through life at a pace that honours where you are. You do not harvest the same day the seed is planted trust in what is growing, even when you cannot yet see it.

🌿 Move with flow, not force.

Move with flow, not force.

You cannot force a bud to bloom before its time each plant, petal or leaf unfolds in response to the conditions around it, not through pressure, urgency, or control. Growth, self-love, understanding, and wisdom are not things you can rush yourself into. They are not earned through force, but through presence, patience, and gentle nurturing.

There is a quiet but still powerful kind of harm in believing you must always be doing more, becoming more, or pushing yourself into the next version of who you think you should be. But nature does not strain to become, it responds, it softens, it allows.

Just as no one condemns the caterpillar for not yet being a butterfly, you are allowed to exist in the in-between without forcing yourself forward. There is no requirement to have everything figured out, no expectation to arrive all at once.

Life is not something to conquer it is something to move with. There will be seasons of growth, and seasons of stillness. Moments of expansion, and moments where you are asked to pause. None of it is wrong. None of it needs to be rushed.

Meet yourself with patience. With softness. With compassion.

You are not here to force your becoming, you are here to allow it.

(People sometimes carry the quiet pressure that they must become ‘complete’ that they must reach some sort of final state where everything settles, where growth ends, and they can finally feel at peace forever and permanently. But you are already whole, and there is no final version of you waiting to be reached.

Life, and the full spectrum of experiences that come with our human form, adds layers, dimension, and depth to us. I believe we spend much of our lives becoming, because we are always changing and evolving. Not in a way that needs to be rushed or forced, but in a way that unfolds naturally as we move through the world.

The notion of ‘forever’ is romantic, and the idea of permanence can feel comforting. But permanence is not the constant state meant for us. As humans, we are multifaceted and kaleidoscopic, complex, intricate, ever-shifting. That is the beauty of our existence. We are not meant to stay the same, nor are we meant to rush into defining who we are too quickly. Like the remnants of stars we are born from, there is a constant movement within us, energy that swirls, softens, and reshapes over time.

The state of being, to me, is not about arriving at a fixed version of yourself. It is a place of peace, of contentment, the ability to live in alignment with your true desires, whilst allowing yourself to change. It is not about becoming one thing permanently, but about being present with who you are as you are.

As each season changes, so do you. Not because you need to become somebody new, but because life invites new parts of you forward. You do not need to force yourself into a new identity, or rush into becoming a different version of yourself. You only need to give yourself the space and chance to feel fully, experience deeply, learn openly, and love truly and in that, different versions of you will naturally come alive.

The aim is not to be somebody you’re not, but to be yourself without pressure. To embrace the full experience of being human, without forcing yourself into what you think you should be. Evolving is not about changing or diminishing your light, but about allowing it to expand in its own time.

Even nature reflects this. Flowers re bloom each year they may be the same in essence, with the same colour and form, but they are never exactly the same twice. They do not try to become something permanent, nor do they force themselves into becoming something entirely new. They simply allow each bloom to be what it is, trusting that change will come when it is meant to.

And you are no different.

🌿 Your beauty is in your being.

A flower does not question its worth or try to be anything other than what it is. It simply exists in its natural, perfect form. Radiating beauty without seeking validation.
You are already enough. Your presence alone is your offering to the world nothing more is required. Do not let the world condition you into believing you must be anything other than yourself. Nature is beautiful, and you are nature too.

🌿 Roots before petals.

A flower’s strength lies in its unseen roots. Without a strong foundation, there is nothing to grow or build from. The roots nourish and anchor the flower through every storm.

It’s important you build, understand and decide the essence and core of you are and as that will form parts if not all of your foundation.
Your growth begins beneath the surface in the quiet, unseen work of healing, self-love, and inner trust. Stay rooted in your truth and authenticity, knowing this is what will hold you steady when life shifts and it will be the constant to come back to should you ever lose your way.

🌿 Not everything is meant to bloom forever and some things will change for good.

Some flowers are seasonal, here for a moment, then gently released. Not everything in your life is meant to stay and that doesn’t make it a failure. Some trees known as monocarpic trees: These trees spend years growing, sometimes decades, and then produce a massive amount of flowers and seeds before dying permanently.
People, places, versions of you, they can be sacred and temporary. Letting go is not loss, it is part of the cycle. Practice gratitude for the moment. Honour what was. Bless what is leaving. Trust what is coming.

(This returns us to the idea of how we often romanticise forever. And please don’t mistake this perspective for a lack of love, connection, or devotion to a person, a place, or a purpose.

Some things are meant to bloom again and again, but only for as long as they remain aligned, nurtured, and healthy. When those elements begin to fade, it can become difficult to keep something alive in the way it once was. Sometimes, holding on too tightly can become a strain on your energy, or theirs. And in those moments, it may be kinder to release what no longer works than to continue fighting for something that no longer flows.

Many of us fear change I know I do, and it’s something I still move through. But change, in its essence, is not something to fear. It is simply a life force, moving alongside all the other energies that shape our lives.

Perhaps it feels heavy because of the meaning we’ve been taught to attach to it that it must be painful, disruptive, or wrong. But in truth, change is just movement. The energy of change is always flowing around us and within us, gently guiding us from where we are to where we are meant to be.

That’s all it is).

🌿 You can begin again.

Spring does not arrive just once it returns, again and again, without apology. Nature never questions its right to start over.
You are allowed fresh starts, new chapters, new choices, new directions. You are allowed to outgrow who you once were, the things you once liked or passions pursued. Every moment is an opening, a quiet invitation to begin again.

🌿 Rest is part of the bloom.

Not every day in spring is filled with sunshine. Some days will be filled with grey skies, rain, rainbows, even snow sometimes. Along with slow, quiet days where nothing appears to be happening. And yet, this is where some of the most important work is done. The rain nourishes. The stillness restores. The pauses prepare.

We often associate growth with constant movement, doing more, becoming more, pushing forward. But nature reminds us that rest is not separate from growth, it is essential to it.You are allowed days where you feel slower and softer it does not equate to you being less productive.

🌿 Turn toward what gives you light.

Flowers instinctively reach for the sun. They don’t second guess it they follow what nourishes them.
You, too, are allowed to move toward what feels warm, expansive, and true. Whether it’s love, creativity, peace, or joy trust what lights you up. Follow what softens you, nurtures you and feels like you.

That is your direction.

(Some people worry that walking away from what everyone else appears to be doing, or choosing a different path, is somehow selfish or the wrong thing to do.

But I believe, as my mum did, that if you follow your heart, you can never truly go wrong.

You cannot stay in places that are not meant for you, or around people who do not help you to thrive and the same applies in reverse. Even if the things that light you up are not trendy, not understood, or not widely followed, that does not make them any less right for you.

It’s easy to look outward and feel pulled toward what everyone else is doing, but your life is not meant to be lived that way. Bring your focus back to yourself, to how you feel, to what feels true, to what feels like home within you.

Because the things we do, do things to us. They shape us, shift us, and stay with us. So let your life be filled with experiences that nourish you, that soften you, that feel good to hold.

And the things that call to your heart, again and again, are meant for us thats why we circle back more than one twice, or even 3 times until we have got the message!

So don’t deny yourself the chance to have, to hold, to experience, to play, and to create with what lights up your soul.

🌿 You don’t need to compare your bloom.

You don’t need to compare your bloom.

No two flowers bloom the same way, at the same time, or for the same reason yet each is beautiful in its own expression. A flower does not look to the one beside it and question whether it is doing enough, or blooming well enough. It does not shrink because another is taller, brighter, or different. It simply exists as it is.

And yet, as humans, we are often taught to measure ourselves against one another, to compare our lives, our paths, our beauty, our success. To believe that someone else’s bloom somehow diminishes our own.

But your life is not meant to mirror anyone else’s. Your path is not something to be measured, ranked, or compared. It is something to be lived.

You are not less because someone else is different. You are not behind because someone else appears ahead. You are not lacking because someone else shines in another way.

Each of us is here to bloom in our own way, for our own reasons, in our own expression.

And that, in itself, is enough.

✨ Affirmations for you: Spring Edition

I trust the timing of my life. I release the need to rush, to prove, or to force. Like nature, I am guided, supported, and unfolding exactly as I am meant to: rooted, rising, and blooming in divine alignment.

I embrace the renewal of my being with open arms, compassionate thoughts and caring actions. I gently guide myself to open up and come full bloom at my own pace, allowing myself to embrace new opportunities and the warmth that Spring brings.

I trust the cycles of life knowing that in this season, is a time for rebirth, evolvement, transcended, release, growth and that I will bloom and flourish within my own divine timing.

When I embrace the energy of spring, one of vibrancy and vitality I step forward with courage, allowing full and colourful expression of my true self, embracing the journey of becoming and entering a new phase in my story, life and existence.

Thank you for reading.
I hope this has helped you see how deeply we are all connected to one another, and to the earth, in more ways than we often realise.

That nature can be our greatest teacher and that the beauty we admire around us is also something that lives within us.

Come back to this whenever you need, whether to sit with the affirmations, journal your thoughts, take your own meaning from them, or simply as a gentle reminder through those sometimes blustery spring days.

But in that quiet moment, as you stare into your reflection, what if the question was never yours to carry? What if nothing about you was ever missing to begin with?

Entering the beauty industry has been eye opening. It can be competitive, judgemental, and demanding but I have also found it to be full of sisterhood, creativity, and love. I hope more of the latter continues to evolve.

As I move through my own healing and settle into my thirties, I feel a responsibility to share a message I believe in, one I will honour in my treatments and practices.

Beauty is not a competition, performance, one size fits all or something we copy and paste, its varied, different and belongs to everyone. It should not feel stressful, upsetting, or drive girls as young as six, during some of their most formative years (may I add, these are incredibly important years) to research surgical procedures or experience deep distress about their appearance. That is simply not okay.

So this article is a celebration of the miracle that is you and, quite frankly, a dismantling of the feminine beauty ideal. Because I’ve come to love undoing and destroying the very things that were designed to diminish and destroy us.

The Weight of Inherited Narratives

Let’s start from the beginning, we can’t change how this ends if we don’t know where we are coming from. From the time we’re small, we are handed scripts we didn’t write. Scripts that dictate what it means to be beautiful, valuable, and worthy.

For some, these scripts are harsher: if your skin is darker, you must lighten it. If your hair is curly, you must straighten it. If your skin is ‘too’ light, you must tan it. If your freckles are prominent you must conceal them for that utterly airbrushed look.

If your features deviate from the impossible standard of perfection, you must hide them, erase them, change them. Enforcing these standards means we dismiss the beauty of diverse skin, textures, tones, features, expression, and creativity of who we are and how we wish to exist in the world.

Beauty standards are often if not nearly all of the time unrealistic and exclusionary, and they ultimately teach us to scrutinise every aspect of ourselves.

These narratives cut deep. They pit us against our own bodies, convincing us that our very existence is something to be corrected. And so, we carry this weight, bending under its pressure, chasing a perfection that will never come. These demands are not new they have been passed down through generations, perpetuated by media, culture, and history. They rob us of something special: the ability to see the unique beauty and wisdom in our own reflection. But what if we stopped adhering? What if we refused to carry this weight any longer?

The Sacred Story of Your Face

Take a moment. Close your eyes. Imagine the faces of those who came before you, your ancestors, stretching back through time. Imagine their love, their struggles, their resilience. Now, open your eyes and look at your reflection. What do you see? Their story lives in you.

Your face is not simply a collection of features. It is a masterpiece painted by generations of survival, joy, and love. The curve of your lips carries the whispers of your ancestors’ laughter. The shape of your eyes holds their vision and dreams. Your skin, whether kissed by the sun or shaded in moonlight, is a testament to the beauty of your lineage.

Freckles map the stars on your skin, constellations that tell your story. Birthmarks are the imprints of your journey before you even took your first breath. Scars are not flaws; they are victories, triumphs. Reminders of pain endured, battles survived, healing achieved, and that you have lived.

You are not a blank canvas to be reshaped. You are a masterpiece, ever evolving.

And often, when I look at my face, I default to finding fault, fine lines on my forehead, deeper lines by my nose and mouth. But are they errors, or are they markings of someone who has loved, expressed, frowned deep in thought, pondered?

I’d say they are the latter. And I am learning to be at peace with that.

Nature’s Reflection: The Beauty of Imperfection

Look to the natural world, and you will see the truth. No two trees grow the same way. Each one grows in its own way, shaped by the wind, rain, and sun. Their branches twist and turn, their bark is rough and scarred, yet they stand tall and proud. No two waves crash against the shore with the same rhythm. No two stars shine with the same light.

The jagged edges of a mountain, the patterns on a leaf, the vivid colours of a seashell, the ripples on a pond, each one different, yet all beautiful because of their uniqueness, not in spite of it.

Nature does not try to be beautiful. It simply exists and in that, it is.

Nature thrives in diversity, in imperfection, in rawness. And you are a part of that same divine design. You were not made to look like anyone else. You were made to be you. The freckles, the dimples, the scars, the curves they are not mistakes. They are the fingerprints of the universe on your skin, proof that you belong here.

Your job is not to conform. It is to exist and express.

Comparison: The Thief of Joy

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” These words ring truer now than ever in a world of filters and facades. We scroll through endless images of curated perfection, each one whispering that we are not enough. But what we fail to see is that these images are illusions, carefully constructed to make us doubt ourselves. There is profit to be made in misery and insecurity, remember that the next time you see the latest beauty ad.

When they say you ‘must get this’ or ‘don’t miss out’ I promise you sweetheart you’re not missing out on a thing. Sex and beauty sell and they sell very well because of the propaganda and years of conditioning that they have been churning out. Remember if you’re led to believe you need it, you’ll probably buy it or engage with it. And you need to ask yourself what evidence is there around you that supports the ‘need’ because take this all away tomorrow and I think you’d find most of us would be much happier. The illusion is they make you feel good or become a ‘better’ version of you. What utter bullshit.

Trust me I have learnt the hard way, throwing away endless contour palettes, cancelling surgeries, colours that didn’t suit me, lip plumper I didn’t really want. Hundreds of pounds spent on skincare for over 30’s or foundations promising a flawless finish, and when it never came I’d be dissatisfied and angry. You name it I have probably had it at some point.

It has taken me a long time to buy what I like, not what I think I need or must have. It has taken me all of my 20’s to step away from aesthetics that were not truly my own voice or version of me. Because trying to fit in often results in shrinking.

Imagine a life free from comparison. A life where you look in the mirror and see not flaws but miracles. A life where your reflection doesn’t provoke criticism but awe. What would that feel like? How much lighter would you be?

Towards the end of this article, I have included some affirmations and journal prompts to help you move towards feeling lighter.

Makeup, Beauty & The Freedom to Play

Somewhere along the way, beauty became something to perform, something to get right. But beauty was never meant to be rigid.

I recall being 18/19 years of age wearing foundations far too light, smearing my freckles in concealer, contouring my nose all in the name of ‘beauty’. Yet makeup felt itchy, irritating, and the shades I wore at the time did absolutely nothing for me.

Makeup is essentially a form of art. It can be play. It can be colour, texture, expression a way of enhancing what is already there, not hiding it. It is allowed to be joyful, optional, and entirely yours.

Beauty has always been in the eye of the beholder. It shifts across cultures, generations, and time. What one era calls “perfect,” another forgets. Which means your worth can never be measured by a standard that is constantly changing.

Makeup and fashion are not rules to follow they are varied forms of expression. Some days you’ll choose softly, some days boldly, some days not at all. You are not unfinished without them.

And if makeup feels overstimulating, uncomfortable, or simply not you, that is just as valid. You do not owe “put together” or ‘Pretty’ to the world.

You are allowed to exist, bare and real, and still be whole.

Educational Insight: The Impact of Beauty Standards (UK Research)

Research has revealed just how deeply beauty standards impact mental health, I cannot speak for other countries, but this is what I discovered for the UK. (Where I am from and live)

Studies from the Mental Health Foundation found that:

• 34% of adults have felt low because of body image

• 35% have felt depressed

• 1 in 8 adults have experienced suicidal thoughts linked to appearance

Among young people:

• 31% feel ashamed of how they look

• Children as young as six report dissatisfaction with their appearance

• Around 66% of under 18s feel negatively about their bodies

Social media has intensified this. Around 40% of teenagers say online images make them worry about how they look.

These standards are not harmless.
They shape how we feel about existing.

And that is why this conversation matters.

Coming Home to Yourself

This is the truth:

You were never the problem.

To come home to yourself is to unlearn everything that told you otherwise. It is to soften your inner voice, to replace criticism with compassion, and to meet yourself with honesty.

Stand in front of a mirror.
And this time, really look.

See the eyes that have witnessed both beauty and pain.
The lips that have spoken truth and love.
The skin that has carried you through every moment of your life.

This is your home.

And when you stop trying to change your reflection, you begin to see it clearly not as something to fix, but as something that has lived, endured, and become.

Affirmations & Practice

Coming home to yourself is not instant, it is a practice. Practice comes from what we do consistently so don’t be hard on yourself if you cannot continuously do this everyday or miss a day or so.

It begins with how you speak to yourself.

You might start with:

• “Nothing about me needs to be fixed.”

• “My face is worthy of love exactly as it is.”

• “I honour the body that has carried me through life.”

These are not just words. They are seeds.

And over time, they take root and eventually those thoughts will bloom into something very beautiful (a happy mind and a full heart)

If those feel too far away, try gently:

• “I am allowed to take up space exactly as I am.”

• “My face is not a problem to solve.”

• “I release the need to be perfect to be loved.”

• “I choose to see myself with softer eyes.”

Let them meet you where you are.

Journal Prompts

• When did I first start believing I wasn’t enough and where did that belief come from?

• What parts of my face or body have I been hardest on, and why?

• What would it feel like to treat my body as something sacred rather than something to fix?

• If I spoke to myself like someone I loved, what would I say?

• What does beauty mean to me beyond appearance?

So, next time you’re questioning it all, pause.

Look at yourself and I mean really look.

Beyond the conditioning.
Beyond the criticism.
Beyond the voice that was never truly yours.

What you will find is not something lacking, but something living.

A face that has felt deeply.
A body that has carried you through everything.
A being with a heart, a story and dreams, a you that has softened, survived, and remained.

You were never too much.
You were never not enough.

You were simply taught to forget.

And remembering this going forward, is how you return.

(I promise I will not post one of these each year, but entering my 4th decade of life initially started off a little difficult, this year my birthday was very different to what I expected, and actually I am okay with that)

If you know me and my story, you’ll know I am starting over in my career and love life after my relationship ended due to violence last July and I was made redundant in the November. 2025 was the year of clearly shedding things which no longer served me, even if I so desperately wanted to cling on and make things work. So, I opted to follow the creative niggle that’s been with me since I was about 15 and take a leap of faith to move to a completely different industry, and trust me with it came much panic that 30 really was not the time to be beginning again.

Oddly, in an alternate universe I may not be here to share my story and so I am both grateful and incredibly happy to wave hello to another year, feeling very blessed to do so. However, I’ll be honest I have at times felt nervous about the fact that the years are passing, the wheel keeps turning.

If you’d told me at 20 where I’d be now, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.

The last decade has been a whirlwind of growth, heartbreak, healing, and transformation. I’ve learned that life doesn’t always go as planned, that time moves faster than we expect, and that healing isn’t linear, but it is possible.

This list isn’t just a reflection of the past eleven years; it’s a love letter to every version of myself that got me here. The girl who doubted herself, the one who stayed too long, the one who didn’t know her worth, the one who took a leap of faith, the one who finally started living for herself.

I’m still learning, still growing, still figuring it all out. But if there’s anything I know for sure, it’s this: life is meant to be lived. Fully, unapologetically, and in alignment with your soul.

So here are 31 lessons for 31 years, the wisdom I’ve gathered, the truths I’ve embraced, and the reminders I’ll carry with me into this next chapter.

1. Not everyone you love is meant to come with you as you level up in life. It’s one of the hardest truths to accept, but growth sometimes requires letting go. It doesn’t mean the love wasn’t real, it just means your paths are no longer aligned.

2. A private life is a happy life. The more you keep sacred, the more peace you will have. Not everything needs to be shared. Let some things be just for you.

3. Unconditional love does not mean unconditional tolerance. You can love someone with all your heart and still recognise that they are not good for you. Love should never require you to sacrifice yourself, cost you your boundaries, your peace, or your self-respect.

4. Boundaries are a MUST in life. Boundaries are the rules that govern your life and world in regard to what you will and will not tolerate. They do not need justification or explanation, they only need to be honoured by yourself and respected by others.

5. Never be afraid to let go. Whether it’s people, places, or paths that no longer align with your soul, release them. Staying where you don’t belong only drains you of the energy needed for what is meant for you. We sometimes think we can’t leave that job or leave that town or that friendship because we’ve been there for so long but the notion of forever whilst it sounds perfect and beautiful it just doesn’t always fit the way of the world and that’s okay.

6. Be mindful of chronic gossipers. If someone constantly talks badly about others in front of you, they are likely doing the same behind your back. Not always, but be mindful. Energy like that is contagious choose to surround yourself with people who lift others up instead.

7. When someone tells you they can’t give you what you need, believe them. Don’t wait for them to change, don’t try to convince them otherwise, and don’t take it personally. Take them at their word and go. I’d say apply this maybe when you haven’t seen any consistent change or commitment to your relationship or friendship. As with anything in life we ebb and flow sometimes we can give 100% other times 80 sometimes even 10. Hold grace for people but don’t hold space for people to walk all over you.

8. Apologies should be backed by actions, not just words. “I’m sorry” is easy to say. The real apology is in changed behavior. Also this applies to you too, holding yourself accountable is a great act of self awareness. You too, should know when to say sorry and when you perhaps need to change.

9. You are allowed to change your mind. Careers, dreams, passions, you are not meant to fit into one rigid path for life. You are here to explore. You are not a failure for trying new things. You are living.

10. There is nothing honourable in unnecessarily suffering. You do not need to earn happiness, rest, or peace by struggling first. You deserve it because you exist. Full stop. Don’t expose yourself unnecessarily to suffering, take the help, choose to heal, walk away. Sometimes the way to end our pain is to choose ourselves and cut off the place or person that brings us little peace but every pain.

11. When you follow your heart, you can’t go wrong. The way to live a life you love is to listen and I mean really listen to your mind, heart, and soul. They are always speaking to you, they are your inner compass, your guide. Ensure you do your shadow work, move with the cycles of the earth, live in rhythm with nature. I know sometimes these elements of life can feel less exciting or boring but consistency and taking the opportunity to listen and learn are some of the keys to keeping well and living a good life.

12. Happiness is a choice. Some days will be hard, some days will heal, some will hurt and some will be happy. Sometimes life will hit you in ways that make happiness seem impossible but when you do have the power to choose joy, take it. Your life changes when you make that decision. Two things can be true at once, you don’t have to be fully healed to experience love, you don’t have to be set in a certain place in your life to experience happiness.

13. Your inner child holds the key to much of your healing. Take the time to understand them. Listen to what they needed. Give them what they never had. The more you nurture them, the more understanding of yourself you become and you’ll transform your present self.

14. There is no such thing as “the right time.” As cliché as it sounds, I’m 31 and completely starting over in my career. It’s never too late. You are not behind. The only timeline you need to follow is your own.

15. Do not stay where you are not wanted, welcomed, or valued. Love is not something you should have to earn. The right people choose you, freely and completely.

16. You can only meet people as deeply as they’ve met themselves. Stop trying to heal people. It’s not your job, and it’s not your burden to carry. Healing is a choice, and it’s one they have to make.

17. Love yourself while working on yourself. You don’t have to be perfect to be worthy of love. You live with yourself every day so make sure the voice in your head is a kind one and be your own best friend.

18. You are a human being, not a machine. Please don’t live your life behind a desk or work yourself into the ground. Go outside. Feel the sun on your skin. Eat food that makes your body feel good. Laugh with people who love you. Be alive.

19. Just be you. For a long time, I suppressed who I was. I toned myself down, I didn’t laugh too loud, I covered up my tattoos. Now? I’m the loudest hype girl you’ll ever meet. And it feels so good to finally be free.

20. When people take things out on you, it’s usually projection. It’s not always personal. Hurt people hurt people. That doesn’t mean you have to tolerate it, but knowing this makes it easier to let it go.

21. Failure is not the opposite of success it’s part of it. Ignore the “failure is not an option” mindset. Failure is how we learn, how we evolve, how we get there. You will fly again, no matter how many times you fall. Failure is the fuel that helps you take flight over and over again until you finally soar.

22. If something doesn’t feel right, leave it alone. Your gut knows before your mind does. Trust it.

23. You are not defined by money or material things. I sold most of my designer items in the last four years. Cheaply made, overpriced, and honestly? I felt lighter without them. Please don’t get caught up in chasing trends, we are not keeping up with The Jones’ we’re keeping up with ourselves, meeting our needs and honouring our wants, simple.

24. But then again spend your money however you want! Buy whatever brings you joy. True luxury is living in alignment with what makes you happy, not what society tells you should make you happy.

25. If you don’t allow yourself to heal, you will stay stuck. Pain doesn’t just disappear because you ignore it. You deserve to heal. You deserve help. You don’t have to carry it all alone. Just because you can carry something well doesn’t mean it’s not heavy, set that on down baby rest, recuperate, heal, keep hope in your heart.

26. Clarity comes from action. You won’t figure things out by waiting for the perfect moment and gaining constant knowledge. Move. Try. Do something. The answers reveal themselves in the doing. Clarity comes from engaging with life not ignoring it, not coasting through it.

27. It’s okay to change, outgrow people, paths and places and it’s okay to make mistakes. We’re human, we make mistakes, we live and we learn. Life isn’t about the why is this happening to me. It’s about the experience, what can I learn from this, what can I do with it and how can I be better and help the world be a better place too. It’s okay to move on, it’s okay to say you know what that was not my finest moment, it’s okay to recognise that behaviour wasn’t cool, or you need to say sorry. Don’t beat yourself up, don’t hold it over yourself, own up and move on and if you’re in surroundings which you can’t relate to anymore it doesn’t need to be this crazy fallout, you can simply leave quietly.

28. Healing may hurt, but it will not harm you. It will be painful. It will break you open. But there is SO much hope and happiness waiting for you on the other side. Keep going, you’ve got this.Is it not better to live a genuinely happy and fulfilled, healthy life. Do it for yourself. Healing is not returning to who you were; it's about becoming who you always meant to be. Trauma was never meant to trap or define you, so don’t let it. Do this for yourself.

29. You are made of stardust. None of us truly know why we’re here. So don’t waste your life sweating the small stuff. Be happy. Follow your dreams. Fall in love. Experiment. Experience. Embrace everything this world has to offer. We are the magic, we are the divine, we are so much more than simply flesh and bone. When you realise that I promise you will look at yourself in a different light. I’d also add, in the grand scheme of the universe, your existence is already a miracle. Live as though you know that. (After all your chance of existence is 1 in 10 followed by over 2.6 million zeros)

30. Ageing is a privilege, not a flaw. Society pressures us to stay frozen in time, that youth is perfection and anything after that is expiring, ruined or declining….but growing older is a gift denied to many. I won’t pretend I don’t have anxieties about ageing, I do. I’ve made peace with my smile lines and frown lines because they are the stories of my life written on my face. Markings that I have loved, worried, laughed and expressed myself.

However, I also have an ego as do we all, and I wouldn’t mind keeping my skin a little smoother. And that’s okay, too. The key is doing what feels right for me not for society, not out of fear, but out of self-love. So yes I absolutely will be having tweakments not out of fear but out of what feels good for me as I enter the next decade of my life. The difference is I’m choosing to satisfy my soul not society and I implore you to do the same. I am learning to accept myself, in all my evolving forms, and for me perhaps thats been the greatest lesson of all out of my 20s.

31. You are exactly where you’re meant to be. Be where your feet are rather than living so far in the future you miss out on the things you’ve prayed for. Remember to live and love the moment you are currently living.

And if on the flip side life is currently tough and you question why you’re stood where you are, try to hold onto the idea that: If you had continued down the current path you were walking you may have hated where you ended up. It could be nothing like you had imagined, or worse hurt you terribly. Trust in divine timing, trust in the guidance of the universe. Everything will always be okay in the end.

I am by no means a lifestyle guru, a coach or a mentor. I’m simply a woman sharing what I’ve learnt from life, so far. I don’t claim for my lessons to turn your life around or necessarily bring anything particularly new or ground breaking to tell you.

If there’s one thing I hope you take from this, it’s that you are never stuck. You are never too old, too late, or too far gone to create a life that excites you. Change is scary, healing is messy, and growth can be uncomfortable, but all of it is worth it.

Although my 30th year of life was difficult and full of much heartbreak, I know it won’t determine the rest of this decade. I have walked towards 31 with a heart full of gratitude and hope and thats a very good place to start.

Here’s to the next chapter.

Self-care is the intentional and consistent practice of tending to your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
It is the conscious decision to support your body’s systems, regulate your nervous system, protect your boundaries, and nurture your inner world.

It includes the visible daily habits, restful sleep, nourishing food, movement, hydration and skincare. However it also includes the invisible work: emotional regulation, therapy, reflection, saying no when needed, asking for help, and choosing environments that feel safe.

Self-care is both preventative and restorative.
It is how we maintain our health, manage stress, recover from burnout, and support long-term conditions (Should we have those) without shame.

It is the foundation that allows us to function, to create, to love, and to serve others without abandoning ourselves.

Self-care is not selfish it is integral to our wellbeing. Without it, everything else eventually cracks.

Often self care gets confused or mixed up with self indulgence, or deemed a ‘luxury’ we partake in when we have spare time. This is why people experience burn out, low mood, this is why treatments do not last for so many people. Self care is commitment to self and although it may be sometimes hard it’s important to show up for yourself first and the world second.

Somewhere along the way, we have become obsessed with levelling up.

Express treatments.
Optimised routines.
Productivity hacks.
“Glow-ups” on a timer, yes you know what I am talking about the 12 week glow up routines that make you spend money and push yourself rather than encourage you to take slow and steady steps.

Whether it’s us as the client watching the clock in the chair, or us as the practitioner packing our diaries to prove we’re capable and enough we’ve internalised the conveyor belt way of working.

As an ex NHS professional and advisor I too, in my healthcare roles abandoned myself many a time for my patients. It is not honourable. It is sacrificial, and love and care does not ask this of you. It asks that you’re compassionate, genuine and true. That doesn’t equate to then having poor boundaries or not taking the rest and self care you need. You owe it to yourself to have boundaries, to heal internal wounds, to have your lunch break, to attend reflective practice or additional training/education (regardless of the sector/industry you work in) it actually shouldn’t even be up for discussion, it is a must.

Our clients have not become people we connect with anymore, its…. In. Out. Next.

The world demands convenience as if we are machines built for output. As if care can be compressed. As if healing can be rushed.

But real self-care was never meant to feel like a production line.

The Cost of Rushing

When your therapist raises their fee.
When your hairdresser adjusts their prices.
When your massage therapist, your facialist, your manicurist increases their rate.

It isn’t greed.

It’s sustainability.

These roles sit at the intersection of health and beauty. They require physical labour, emotional regulation, continued education, hygiene standards, energy exchange and presence. You are not just paying for time you are paying for expertise, safety, nervous system regulation and intention.

I hate to say this, and forgive me as you may think I am on the brink of ranting but social media especially TT in parts has become nothing short of an utter cesspit. Fuelling the narrative that small business, creators, and health and beauty practitioners are moving too slow, not providing fast enough treatments, not responding 24/7 to messages sent at 23:00 at night. And for individuals who are clients social media is to an extent setting the narrative in your minds, leading you to believe that every single minute and hour of your day must be productive and fully optimised otherwise it won’t have been successful including your treatments, which is not fair.

When I care for my practice clients (aka currently friends and family), I take my time, its a ritual not a routine - the room is filled with aromatherapy oils, I use all natural shea butter without preservatives, and Himalayan salt scrubs. Why is this?

Aromatherapy supports both skin and nervous system health, as essential oils can offer antibacterial or anti-inflammatory benefits while their scent works directly on the limbic system to reduce stress and promote relaxation during treatments.

Shea butter is a deeply nourishing, lipid-rich emollient that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces trans epidermal water loss, and supports healing for dry, cracked or compromised hands and cuticles.

Himalayan salt acts as a gentle exfoliant and mineral source, helping to remove dead skin cells, improve circulation, and restore balance while leaving the skin smoother and more receptive to hydration.

I take my time, I am still training (thats right a year on) because I refuse to open without providing the very best skills, service, use of tools and sanitation.

And as the client, you deserve space, care and healing.

Now, for some of you, you may not relate and if you wish to be in and out with another nail tech or a local salon on the high street, that is absolutely your prerogative. However as I speak to many people daily, and network with multiple practitioners, beauticians from all over the country and the world, the shift in movement is clear. It’s: Mindful Living & Slowing Down.

You as my…. I hope future client, or client to anyone you may visit, you deserve:

Space to exhale.
Space to not feel hurried.
Space to experience your treatment fully.

Holistic care, health and wellness is expensive, but ultimately it’s also about priority. If you can afford the designer handbag, or prioritise the night out over in depth treatments then you have ultimately made your choice about how important you view self care.

However in the very next breath it’s important to also address here that for some in society self care is completely inaccessible due health, disability and financial reasons. It shouldn’t be this way either. I know more can be done to change things not only in this industry but in multiple areas of society.

Holistic healthcare has become so expensive because the ingredients, tools, resources and training for it is so high vs more orthodox routes, because synthetic scents, drugs, candles will always be cheaper to produce. Health and wellness shouldn’t cost the earth and yet sometimes here we are… it’s a topic and problem I know has to be explored further.

In addition more and more practitioners and businesses are moving to a pay what you can scale, volunteering in hospitals, and charities, to make self care more accessible. It is a difficult balance and a systemic issue at that. I am one of those individuals working to implement as many of these additional aids as possible, because I do agree self care shouldn’t be inaccessible it should be available to all.

After all, if someone is holding your hands, working on your scalp, touching your skin that exchange should not feel transactional. It should feel intentional.

Energy shared slowly is energy respected.

Self-Care Is Foundational

As a healthcare girly turned beauty girly, I have to say this clearly:

Without foundation, there is nothing to build on.

Skincare is no longer just the aesthetic bottles on your bedside table or lining your bathroom cabinet . It is full-body care. Hands and nails included.

Your skin is your first line of defence against infection and trauma. Your nails are protective structures not simply canvases for colour. This is why technicians take their time, we are examining the health of the nail, the window to your overall wellbeing may I add, prepping the nail properly, so that the treatments and finally colour on top lasts.

Covering weak nails with BIAB or hard gel without addressing hydration, cuticle health, nail plate integrity and lifestyle habits is like painting over cracks in a wall without repairing the structure beneath. So, when your tech says that they can’t add acrylic, or paint over the green stain (its not staining it is a greenie!), or they flag diet or blood tests to you, when they say please allocate 2-3 hours for your appointment it is not to inconvenience you but to care for you.

If your rush, or ignore the advice, your nails may look beautiful temporarily.

But underneath, the issue remains.

Foundational care means:

• Cuticle oil consistently.

• Gentle removal practices.

• Allowing the natural nail to breathe between enhancements when needed.

• Protecting hands from harsh chemicals.

• Supporting internal health.

Beauty should enhance health, not mask its absence.

This principle also applies when your hairdresser says we need to cut shorter today, or your masseuse encourages additional sessions, it’s not to upset you or make more money out of but to help you. The choice is always yours however.

Slowing Down Is Not Laziness

We have confused speed with success.

Allow yourself to:

Fully experience your facial instead of answering emails in between.
Allowing silence during your manicure rather than trying to text with one hand.
Choosing a longer appointment slot rather than squeezing into an express service.

This is not indulgence.

It is nervous system repair.

When we slow down, treatments become therapeutic rather than aesthetic. They become ritual rather than routine.

And practitioners deserve this pace too.

Packing a diary to the brim to prove worthiness is not sustainable. Neither is racing the clock to accommodate unrealistic expectations shaped by convenience culture.

Care cannot flourish under constant urgency.

Moving Away From The Conveyor Belt

We are not here to churn clients in and out.
We are not here to rush healing.
We are not here to prove our value through exhaustion.

We are here to live intentionally.

To choose quality over quantity.
Depth over speed.
Foundation over façade.

Self-care is not a quick fix. It is maintenance. It is prevention. It is protection. It is devotion.

And devotion requires time.

It’s time to stop rushing for the world.

And start living for ourselves.

Beauty isn’t just about what we see, it’s about what we understand. Our hands are the tools through which we create, nurture, comfort, and connect. Yet, they’re often the parts of us we neglect the most, we take them for granted. Learning about your nails isn’t just for professionals, it’s also important for yourself too. Whilst these days I specialise in nail health and education, I’d say understanding the way our bodies and minds work from every aspect is important.

Whether its period care and reproductive health, hormonal and gut health, all matter equally. We actually will speak more about period and reproductive health surprisingly throughout this series because each system within the body is interlinked and the delicate hormones within our bodies can be more effected than we sometimes realise. This is why supporting your mind and body from the inside out is SO important, the layers of products on the outside only do some of the work.

Why Nail Anatomy Matters

Our nails are living extensions of us, small but mighty reflections of health, hygiene, and care. They tell silent stories, from the faint half-moon (lunula) that shows healthy nail growth, to the smoothness and colour of the nail plate that can reveal changes in our internal wellbeing. Even if you’re someone with no particular interest in the workings of the brain and body, having some basic understanding can help you know:

• Whether your nail tech is looking after your nails properly.

• Whether you as a pro have the correct understanding and education.

• Empowers you with the correct information so you can challenge any poor practice or pain should you experience any in your treatments.

• To monitor your health.

• To give you peace of mind, it’s much better when we understand something than fear or ignore it.

The Science of Your Hands and Nails

Each hand contains 27 bones, 29 joints, and over 120 ligaments, supported by an intricate network of tendons, nerves, and blood vessels. This delicate architecture allows for both strength and precision, from holding a paintbrush to typing an email.

Your nails are made of keratin, a fibrous protein also found in your hair and the outer layer of your skin. Nail growth begins beneath the surface and is influenced by nutrition, circulation, hormones, and even stress levels. On average, fingernails grow about 3 millimetres per month, though growth slows with age or poor health.

Anatomy of the Nail: A Deeper Look

Free Edge

The visible part of the nail that extends beyond the fingertip. It’s made entirely of dead keratin cells and has no nerve endings, which is why it can be safely filed or clipped. The shape and length of your free edge influence your overall nail aesthetic, but keeping it clean and smooth is also key to preventing bacterial buildup underneath.

Hyponychium

This is the soft tissue found beneath the free edge. It is the barrier between your nail plate and fingertip. Its job is to protect the nail bed from bacteria, yeast, and fungi. When we clean under our nails too aggressively or pick at this area, we break that seal, increasing the risk of onychomycosis (fungal infection) and other infections. This is why gentle cleaning is vital; never scrape deeply underneath the nail.

Smile Line

The faint curved line that marks the natural boundary between the nail bed and the free edge. Everyone’s smile line is unique and it is influenced by genetics and nail bed length. A longer nail bed can make the nails appear more elongated and elegant, while a shorter bed often has a more rounded appearance. Both are natural variations of anatomy and beauty.

Nail Plate

This is the visible, hard surface we paint or polish. Composed of tightly packed keratin cells layered like roof shingles, it acts as a shield for the sensitive tissues beneath. A healthy nail plate is smooth, translucent, and slightly pink due to the rich blood supply underneath. Changes in colour or texture such as ridges, yellowing, or splitting can sometimes reflect internal health changes like nutrient deficiency, dehydration, or hormonal shifts.

Lunula

The pale crescent at the base of your nails, derived from the Latin for “little moon.” This is part of the visible matrix and is most prominent on the thumbs. While its visibility varies from person to person, a healthy lunula can indicate good circulation and nail health.

Germinal & Nail Matrix

This is the hidden powerhouse beneath the skin, its the living tissue responsible for nail growth. It continuously produces new keratin cells that push older ones forward, forming the nail plate. The health of the matrix determines the strength, thickness, and smoothness of the nail. Damage here (from trauma, infections, or tight extensions) can cause permanent ridges, discolouration, or slowed growth.

Cuticle

Often misunderstood and confused with the eponychium, the cuticle is the thin layer of dead skin that is found at the base of the nail. There are different techniques to removing the cuticle. If using Russian manicure, please do not do this yourself, you should go to a fully qualified manicurist. You can also use quartz files to file the cuticle and buff it away rather than using an E file, there is also the Japanese manicure and for some individuals they will soak and soften the cuticle before removing it. However you choose to treat any dried cuticles is up to you but please do not snip or treat yourself if you are unsure, and if a technician is cutting skin which is bleeding, sore, please speak up and stop your appointment. No bleeding should occur, we are removing dead keratinised skin not pinching, cutting or trimming live skin.

Eponychium

This is the living tissue just beneath the cuticle. It’s often mistaken for it, but the eponychium is vital it produces new skin cells and guards the nail matrix. We should not be cutting this area or using harsh removers can lead to infection or chronic dryness.

Nail Fold

The fold of skin that surrounds the base and sides of the nail plate, anchoring it to the finger. It acts like a frame, ensuring the nail grows straight and stable. Regular hydration of the nail fold helps maintain flexibility and prevent splitting.

Common Nail Concerns

Nail and hand health are deeply connected to how we treat and nourish our bodies.

• Fungal infections thrive in moist, closed environments — often from minor trauma or damaged hyponychium

• Brittle nails can result from dehydration, iron deficiency, or constant exposure to water and harsh chemicals.

• Vertical ridges are usually harmless signs of ageing, while horizontal ridges (Beau’s lines) can reflect temporary interruptions in nail growth due to illness or stress.

Understanding these signs helps us tune into our bodies, noticing when something within might need care or attention.

Spiritual Symbolism of Hands

Hands are sacred instruments. They hold, heal, create, comfort, and communicate, even when words fall short. They write, paint, plant, nurture, and pray. Through touch, they express love, empathy, and life itself.

Yet we so easily take them for granted. We use them endlessly, often without pausing to thank them for all they do. Just as our hearts deserve gentleness, so do our hands after all they are an extension of our energy, our compassion, and our creativity.

So next time you apply oil to your cuticles, hold your own hands with gratitude.
Remember: there is nothing insignificant about you: not your hands, not your nails, not any part of your being. Every cell, every curve, every scar tells the story of you the way you have grown, learnt, survived tough times, how you give, receive, and create beauty in this world, remember your body is home, so treat it like a temple and make it a nice place for your soul to live.

Beauty has always been more than surface deep regardless of what the industry may tell you, it’s really about language of emotion, energy, and self-expression. The colours we choose, the textures we wear, even the rituals we practice all influence how we feel in our skin. Yet, in an age of fast trends and filters, we often forget that beauty should be art, play and can also be healing a way of coming home to ourselves.

In my mind beauty treatments should be about enhancement, not erasure. About honouring what’s already there, rather than fixing what we think is wrong. They’re small, sacred moments to connect with ourselves, to pause, soften, and say, “I deserve care.” It is really important we connect and use tools, products and resources that feel good and light us up, not because it’s the latest trend.

But for now back to colour psychology for the first part of this read and prep yourself for the science. You know me I am a reel geek and I can’t ever tell you something without telling you about the science too.

Ever wondered why you’re drawn to certain colours time and time again? Maybe it’s just your favourite shade or maybe there’s something deeper at play. Colour has a quiet influence on our hormones, mood, and even how confident we feel in our own skin.

🎨 Colour as Emotion

Colour psychology studies how light wavelengths affect the brain and body. When light enters the eye, it activates parts of the hypothalamus linked to emotion, memory, and hormonal balance. Cooler tones like blue and green stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, the “rest and digest” mode which in turns lowers heart rate and creates a sense of peace. Warmer tones such as coral, peach, and honey yellow can raise serotonin and dopamine, inspiring joy and motivation. Deep plums and mauves tend to evoke introspection and self-assurance, explaining why darker manicures often feel grounding and empowering.

In beauty, these associations are everywhere. The Princess of Wales often wears soft pinks that convey calm and composure, while Zara Tindall’s cappuccino nails radiate warmth and understated confidence. Even your polish choice can subtly express your energy not to please or impress others, but to even mirror how you feel inside.

My favourite colours are actually to have bare nails or red nails. I like deep dark colours, sometimes for preference and comfort. But I too from my research would agree I am naturally an introspective person, a bit of a dolly daydreamer as my mum would call me. You can let me know in the comments below if you connect or feel the spiritual/psychological side to picking your manicure colours.

💎 Crystals & Touch: Beauty as a Sensory Ritual

Beyond colour, beauty rituals engage the nervous system through touch, temperature, and intention. Crystal tools like gua shas, wands, or facial rollers may seem indulgent, but they work physiologically stimulating circulation, easing muscle tension, and triggering endorphins through gentle pressure.

Crystals such as Jade, Rose Quartz, or Amethyst are ideal because they hold a natural coolness that constricts blood vessels, reducing inflammation and puffiness. Crystals in general are cool to the touch but more notably these help with the above. Energetically, they’re said to emit frequencies that harmonise the body’s subtle energy fields, but even without that belief, the act of slowing down and connecting with the sensation of the tool itself can be deeply restorative. In addition the reason you find most beauty and holistic tools are made of the above materials are for the following reasons.

• Hardness & Smoothness: On the Mohs scale, they range between 6–7, which means they’re firm enough to glide over skin without scratching but soft enough to remain comfortably smooth ideal for daily use.

• Durability: Their natural density gives them the weight needed for gentle pressure and lymphatic stimulation, helping move fluid under the skin and promote circulation.

2. Energetic & Emotional Symbolism (The Soul)

While not everyone connects to crystals energetically, these stones have been used for centuries in traditional wellness:

• Rose Quartz: the stone of love and compassion. In beauty, it symbolises self-acceptance and emotional healing which is perfect for rituals focused on self-care and confidence.

• Jade: historically revered in Chinese medicine for balance, harmony, and purification. It’s believed to bring cooling, calming energy which aligns beautifully with gua sha’s purpose of releasing tension and stagnation.

• Amethyst: associated with tranquillity and clarity. Its natural negative ion charge is said to counteract stress and fatigue, encouraging relaxation and restful energy.

3. Tradition & Accessibility

These crystals are also abundant and easier to cut, polish and shape compared to rarer stones, making them accessible for mass production while maintaining natural integrity. Jade, in particular, has thousands of years of use in traditional Chinese beauty practices, symbolising purity, protection, and longevity.

🔍 How to Know if Your Crystal Tools Are Real

With crystals becoming popular in skincare, it’s worth checking for authenticity. Real crystals feel cool to the touch even at room temperature and often show natural veins or inclusions. Glass or resin replicas tend to look too uniform or feel warm in your hand. Genuine stones are also denser and slightly heavier, you can feel the difference instantly. When in doubt, buy from trusted suppliers who specify mineral origins.

🌿 Setting the Scene: Candles, Incense, and Scent

Scent has its own psychology too! When we inhale essential oils, they travel directly to the limbic system, the emotional centre of the brain, influencing mood and memory within seconds. This is why your favourite perfume or hand cream can instantly shift your energy.

Candles and incense create ambience, but diffusers and aromatherapy blends tend to be cleaner, avoiding the soot and smoke that can irritate sensitive lungs. Essential oils like lavender, ylang ylang, and frankincense promote relaxation; citrus oils lift energy; rose and geranium encourage emotional balance. Choosing scent intentionally sets the tone for how you want to feel during your ritual, grounded, creative, calm, or uplifted.

💅 My 5-Step Mindful Manicure

This is my personal evening ritual, which I normally perform once a week. It’s quick, restorative, and easy to recreate.

Step 1: Create a sanctuary.
Lay out a towel, light a candle or diffuser, and prop yourself comfortably with pillows. I often choose warm amber light and surround myself with Peruvian Mangano calcite, rhodochrosite, and rose quartz. These stones are known for self-love and emotional healing. (In fact I even make crystal bracelets, I will share more over on my Instagram soon! I wear a Rhodochrosite bracelet everyday in fact!)

Step 2: Exfoliate & soften.
I begin with the Navy Whitby Salt Scrub to gently exfoliate hands and improve circulation. The rhythmic motion instantly calms my nervous system.

Step 3: Prep the nails.
Using Doris (curved manicure tool) and Ethel for cuticle work, I carefully refine and tidy without rushing. It’s my chance to breathe and focus on detail, I take my time which helps me enter an almost meditative state.

Step 4: Shape & smooth.
I use Victoria and Elizabeth files for shaping, I often go for the short softened square.

Step 5: Seal with intention.
After finishing, I apply cuticle oil and rest my hands in stillness. I close the ritual by journalling, noting how I’ve been feeling, whether I’ve been low in energy, or if my nails show signs of imbalance. (Blue nails remind me to check my iron levels; peeling or curved nails prompt me to hydrate and review my vitamins.)

These moments reconnect me with my body’s signals and remind me that beauty is a dialogue, my hands, skin, hair tell me how I’m doing long before my mind catches up.

🌸 Using Crystals in Beauty Treatments

This is how you can begin to weave crystals and alternative tools into your own rituals:

1. Add them to your space. Place soothing stones (like lepidolite or amethyst) near your manicure station or mirror to encourage calm energy. I also love to do things such as writing affirmations on my mirrors and this could be a really fun thing to do with your clients too!

2. Use crystal tools intentionally. Whether it’s a roller, gua sha, or palm stone, pair it with slow breathing and mindful touch. You can find lots of routines on places such as YouTube, and I will be sharing one soon in my science series, over on instagram - (@) Jessica.themindfulmanicurist

3. Set your ritual or treatment space/room with intention: Say a prayer, a moment of gratitude, a wish for yourself or clients. Pair your crystals with essential oils that evoke the same energy and emotions to really set the tone for your space.

4. Incorporate during massage. Use a crystal palm stone, massage wand or Gua Sha to glide body oil or creams into the skin, it grounds the movement and adds gentle pressure which can help to drain you or your clients lymphatic system, gently trigger pressure points which in turn stimulates the brain to release hormones to help you or your client relax, and add different texture to the massage itself.

5. Close with reflection. After your ritual, take a minute to notice which colour, scent, or stone you reached for and how it made you feel. For some of you, you may even gift a goody bag to your clients or for yourself simply make a mental note of your preferences for this weeks treatment!

✨ Closing Thoughts

Beauty, when practiced mindfully, becomes a form of emotional and nervous regulation, support to our bodies and a place where our light really shines. We are most beautiful when truly relaxed, at ease and genuinely happy.
It’s where colour psychology meets self-awareness, where tools become extensions of care, and where our outer rituals mirror our inner needs.

Next time you paint your nails, light a candle, or reach for a crystal tool, remember: it’s not just about how it looks, it’s about how it feels too.

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🧠 The beginning: My diagnosis and Journey so far

I didn’t get my ADHD diagnosis until I was 29. For years, I was told it was “just anxiety” or “just depression.” My teachers noticed the signs at school and again later at university, but because my anxiety was loud and visible, that’s all anyone focused on. In my early twenties, when PTSD first entered my life, ADHD slipped through the cracks yet again.

It wasn’t until a therapist supporting me through PTSD gently suggested an ADHD referral that the pieces began to fall into place. When the official diagnosis finally came, I exhaled a huge, quiet sigh of relief. For the first time in my life, I had language and meaning for how my mind works and with that, I could begin to look at myself with softer and kinder eyes.

I have admittedly cried many tears since then, grieving all the years I spent blaming myself for things that were never my fault. But now, I’m looking forward. I know there are people I am yet to meet, love, and adore. I have tools to help me focus, to stay grounded, and to strengthen the connections I already have. I have silly little fidget toys that help me stop picking at my skin or nails when I’m overthinking. I have also surrendered to the impulse of wanting to try new things. I know that hobby hopping can be difficult for those who have ADHD, but instead of always investing in lots of new tools, I have found booking workshops, or going and trying new activities with friends has helped curb the impulse and allowed me to truly explore something before committing to it. For instance it’s better to save up and spend 80.00 on a glass workshop rather than me maxing out my credit card because I have suddenly decided I want to be a glass artist/maker. It’s not easy to manage the impulses but I do go onto share (what I hope will prove helpful) tips in this article.

But most importantly, I’ve found others who understand this journey and there’s something deeply comforting in that.

A diagnosis isn’t a life sentence. It’s not a label that defines you. It’s a key, a doorway to understanding, to compassion, to living more in harmony with yourself.

✨ How ADHD Shows Up for Me

ADHD is often misunderstood. For me, it’s not just about “being distracted”, it’s a colourful, intense, layered way of moving through the world.

• Hyperactivity in my hands and body: tapping, clicking, fidgeting, rocking my leg or ankle, fidgeting with my hands — I’m rarely FULLY still.

• Zoomies normally around 22:00/23:00 at night, but I do often then crash out afterwards.

• Forgetting to eat for hours when I’m hyperfocused on something I love.

• Difficult with food and water intake in general, I genuinely think I could live off of air!

• A vivid, kaleidoscopic mind where ideas pop like fireworks and race around my head like a storm.

• Sensory overwhelm from certain fabrics or seams that feel wrong on my skin.

• Emotional intensity — feeling things like a firework, bright and unfiltered.

• Time blindness — losing hours to a single activity without realising it.

• Lots of ANXIETYYYYYY

• A need for structure and novelty — I thrive in routines that aren’t rigid, rhythms that give me freedom.

For years, this way of experiencing the world was misread as “too sensitive,” “a daydreamer,” or “unfocused.” But it’s not a flaw, it’s simply a different kind of wiring.

🪴 Tools That Help Me

I haven’t figured everything out yet as my diagnosis is still relatively new to me, but I’ve started building little systems that support me:

• Loop earplugs: help me stay present but still focused. (This is not an AD, I actually just like them!)

• Body doubling videos: (I love watching Adelaide Saywell) and study ASMR for grounding.

• Music: disco, rock, early 00s to lift my energy, manage my mood, and keep me moving.

• The HALT method and a 3-month wish list: to keep impulsive spending in check (by 22, I’d built up £18,000 in debt, so we don’t want to do that again).

• One A5 subject notebook: to organise skincare, hair care, meals, budgeting, and dreams — instead of buying a new one every time I leave the house. And I did spend money on a really nice personalised one, at the time I was like 25.00 on a book are you kidding, but I can honestly say since then that impulse to buy new pens, new books, more highlighters has actually really subsided, as I have learned to really love, personalise and enjoy the book I have now. It is my go to book like a personal bible!

• A gentle weekly rhythm : enough structure to keep life manageable, enough variation to keep my mind engaged.

• Simple rituals: like Friday laundry and Sunday hair wash day that give me small, steady anchors.

I’m still learning as I mentioned, drinking water regularly is a work in progress. (Pretty glasses and straws help a little 🫣). But understanding myself has changed how I approach everything. I’m no longer forcing myself into boxes that were never meant for me.

🌸 A Message to Other Women

For so long, medical research has centred men. Women and AFAB people have often gone unseen and undiagnosed. Many of us have carried invisible weight for years, masking and trying to “keep up” with a world not built for us.

So if you’ve ever felt like too much, not enough, difficult, or draining, hear this:

You are none of those things.
You are magical, marvellous, wonderful and oh so beautiful!

Our brains work differently, but different does not mean broken, so lets set the record straight right there. We experience the world through a different lens. With that comes deep empathy, a vast heart, a wild creative force that flows through us (admittedly loudly at times) and a kind of resilience most people will never understand. These aren’t flaws. They are quiet superpowers.

🕊️ Final Thoughts….

A diagnosis isn’t the end of who you thought you were.
It’s the beginning of meeting yourself more fully, with grace, truth, hope, compassion and the love you deserve. You deserve to hold yourself in the highest regard. In life we only truly have ourselves and we live inside our brains and bodies everyday, our body is home to our soul so let us treat it with grace, let us meet and nourish our needs, lets us be kind to our minds and make it a nice place to live. You are very loved, very special no matter what you may or may not have, what you do or do not carry or own or have it does not matter. The only thing that truly defines us is ourselves and our hearts, so live your life in love and be led by heart.

✨ Author’s Note

If you’re navigating your own ADHD journey, whether newly diagnosed or still searching for answers, please know you’re not alone. I didn’t write this article today as if I have all the answers or it’s easy. I recognise my privilege I live in England where I can access the NHS, I have money in the bank which helps me access additional services if I need them. I do still make mistakes I have opened multiple businesses which failed because I couldn’t focus. I promise I am also here to listen and be your friend not just advise you or share my story and then leave my audience to it. It genuinely is a safe space for all here.

This is my personal story, not a universal blueprint. Everyone’s experience of ADHD is different. But if any part of this resonated with you, I hope it gives you language for your own story, or at least a little comfort in knowing someone else understands.

If you have your own tips, routines, or stories, I’d love for you to share them in the comments. We heal and grow best when we hold space for each other, after all healing is an individual journey but its also a collective movement too. 🌿

When I was at school, beauty was seen as a cop-out for those who couldn’t make it to university or college. My interest was there, but I didn’t dare follow it, for fear of being shamed by my teachers, who never hid their disdain for those not going to “higher” places.

Unbeknown to me, I was managing undiagnosed ADHD, which made it difficult to remain focused and committed to one subject, interest or hobby. But in many ways it served me well: it widened my mental horizons, kept my heart soft and open, my desire to learn endless, and gave me transferable skills for life.

A Winding Path

After school I went to university to study midwifery and I loved looking after people. I really did enjoy it. However, I always had this niggling feeling of wanting to be creative, to do my own thing, and be my own boss. I struggled with the idea that if I didn’t do something deemed ‘useful’ I wasn’t worthy of following my dreams. I almost felt that everything I did must have a meaning or contribute to society. I didn't realise at the time, that existing and leading my life in love and by heart would be more than enough, and that it is what we do in our daily that helps and heals the world. I later learnt this anxiety is a common symptom of ADHD amongst particularly girls and women.

In addition I struggled with injustice, rejection sensitivity, and emotional regulation. I didn’t like the “office politics” at play in my job roles and I found it hard to connect with colleagues. I don’t do well with small talk, the friends I’ve had, I’ve had for between a decade and 20 years. Anyone or anything new or any changes are hard for me to accept and get comfortable with.

After my mum died in 2018, I developed PTSD and have never functioned again how I hoped I would. I couldn’t manage night shifts anymore. Trauma work became difficult for me. Although I enjoyed all of my roles in the NHS, I moved into office jobs and eventually the corporate world, which if I’m honest was absolutely disastrous.

The corporate world is not particularly kind to those who are or identify as neurodiverse. I experienced a high level of racism, discrimination and outright bullying in my last position.

So, now I am taking a leap of faith to throw my entire healthcare and third sector career away. Maybe I will return one day in a different capacity, but now at 30 after spending my 20s proving myself, trying to build a life as we’re instructed at school and by society, trying to climb the ladder but falling off it catastrophically (more than once, may I add) — I am finally taking the leap of faith to follow my heart. The little voice that whispered to me at 16, urging me to choose a path that was caring, but also honoured my creative streak, and I am finally listening to that voice 14 years later.

Shedding, Not Losing

I made the decision to leave merely a few weeks ago and I will be honest I haven’t a clue what I am doing. I am doing it scared, doing it anxious, doing it because there’s no time like the present and one day these new skills and new path will become second nature to me, and I will be doing it with pride and joy not fear.

Fear isn’t always sign that something is not meant for us but can rather be an indicator that as its our first time we may naturally feel some trepidation. That we care so much, we just want to do it well. Over the last few weeks, I admittedly have struggled. Those around me are buying houses, having babies, getting married, travelling, making investments. And me? With no savings, limited income, having just left an abusive relationship and returning back to my family home at 30, I have no home of my own, no kids, no marriage, and the dream life I had built now in tatters.

But today I finally realised: what is there to lose? I’ve lost everything anyway. And maybe, just maybe, I am not losing at all. Maybe I am shedding, growing, changing, and realigning. Maybe all the things that have not worked out are for my highest good, my truest purpose, for my protection.

I don’t know what the future holds. All I know is this: I have to give myself a chance to explore the things my heart has been calling me toward.

I believe the things that sing to our heart are part of our destiny. Whether they’re with us forever or only for a moment, they matter because they serve an important purpose in this journey we call life.

The Quotes That Stayed With Me

At school I remember reading Oscar Wilde, and one quote in particular has stayed with me:

“If you want to be a grocer, or a general, or a politician, or a judge, you will invariably become it; that is your punishment. If you never know what you want to be, if you live what some might call the dynamic life but what I will call the artistic life, if each day you are unsure of who you are and what you know you will never become anything, and that is your reward.”

Don’t get me wrong, some people are called so strongly to one thing that it becomes their life purpose, and that is beautiful. But for many of us, we fall somewhere in between. And the pressure to do as others tell us, to take advice from people we wouldn’t switch places with, to live by society’s standards rather than the desires of our hearts that’s where we go astray.

You can do anything in this world, and you owe it to yourself to give it a try.

People say “Jack of all trades, master of none” as an insult. But the full idiom is:

“Jack of all trades, master of none, though oftentimes better than master of one.”

The full phrase actually highlights how being versatile and adaptable is a gift. Maybe we’re not experts in just one thing, but who cares when the desire to live, to try, to enjoy, to experience and to explore is what really matters most in life!

Why Nails? Why Now?

The other reason I wanted to pursue becoming a manicurist is deeply sentimental. I’ve never moved on from my mums death. She was my best friend. I struggled at school, at uni, at work and after shifts I always went to her house. She was the person I spent most of my time with. My life has changed, but every day I look for her.

We shared two great loves: crystals and nails.

Because of my ADHD, anxiety, and body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs), I struggled for 20 years with biting and picking my nails along with self harm. But my love for my mum and her little cute hands meant I constantly read books on aromatherapy and massage, watched tutorials on painting nails, and practised on her. She absolutely loved being pampered, and often she would be like Jess come on just a mini treatment then I will make you a tea, but what became a moment of bonding and a happy memory, developed into a true interest and passion later on.

She spent her days holding the hands and hearts of SEN children. I spent mine holding the hands and hearts of patients. And in the evenings, I held hers.

After she died, I promised I’d stop picking my nails. It took time, but I did it, for her. Nail care became more than beauty. It became a healing ritual: a way to reconnect with my hands with gentleness instead of shame. Through painting my nails and making crystal healing jewellery, creating with intention, I found calm. I found hope. And I began to heal from patterns that once felt unbreakable.

What You’ll Find Here

On this Substack, I’ll be sharing more than just polish tips, this is a space for exploring the connection between nail health and overall wellbeing. I have the biggest dreams to expand beyond nails someday and become a holistic beauty practitioner, but hey I have to take one step at a time, after all Rome was not built in a day.

🌿 For now expect posts on:

• Natural nail care and skin health

• How our nails mirror our inner wellbeing

• Soothing rituals for anxiety, ADHD and stress

• Seasonal beauty and mindful trends

• Stories and reflections from behind the manicure chair

My hope is that this space becomes a calm pocket of the internet, ad-free, algorithm-free, and full of thoughtful content designed to help you care for yourself, starting with your hands.

The Mindful Manicurist

So here I am, starting over. One day, I want to extend my services beyond those of which are paid: free manicures for women in shelters, children in hospital, cancer patients. To hold space for healing in the most tender ways.

Healing doesn’t have to come from medicine or qualifications. It can also come from what we say, what we do, and how we live.

So if you’re not living a life you love, may you find the courage to take a different path. Everything will work out in the end. You’ll always find your way home.

With love,
Jessica