Changing Hands
The nail polish was the last thing to go. For the better part of 14 years, I had moved five glass bottles of silver, emerald, ruby, cobalt, and onyx hues around with me.
From a home built over a creek in Weaverville to a garage apartment in Montford, from several bungalows spread across West Asheville to my current residence in a forested cove in Candler—wherever I went, the nail polish came, too. The fact that I hadn’t applied even one drop of polish to my nails in over a decade mattered not in the least.
The clothes make the man, as the saying goes. But I say the place informs the look. When I initially purchased that collection of vibrant lacquer, I maintained quite a different lifestyle than the one I do at present. I dyed my hair jet-black. I still spent a pretty good amount of my non-working time shopping for clothes, still regularly went out for cocktails, still rose early five days a week to punch in on a time clock at work.
Now my days follow a gentler rhythm, one involving sunlight as an alarm clock. There are still cocktails, but they’re made at home and sipped slowly out on the patio or in close proximity to the wood stove, depending on weather and inclination. The few times a year that I shop for clothing or footwear, I prioritize sturdiness and durability alongside looks. “Can I run after my 4-year-old son in those shoes?” I wonder. Does this dress have pockets? Can I garden in these pants? Will this sweater truly keep me warm in February? Wiry, wily gray streaks punctuate my mahogany hair.
When the specifics of my life drastically changed—motherhood, home-based employment, and a secluded, 11-acre homestead among them—so did my need for nail polish. As the polishes lingered, they gathered dust, literally. They outlived their use. My nails now are kept very closely trimmed so I don’t scratch my son, frequently feature a trace of garden soil beneath them, and are as naked and unadorned as they come.
Recently, in the middle of an annual toiletry purge, I lifted up the nail polish bottles. For the first time in years, I no longer saw them as a sensible part my life. More than polish, dazzle, and sparkle, my hands and nails need tender loving care these days. They need moisturizer and lubrication and hydration. After daily assault from soil, sun, suds, and so much more, they need to rest, rather than show off. I silently acknowledged that I was no longer a nail polish woman and got rid of all five bottles.
I fully believe there’s a time and a place and a purpose for nail polish, that flash of color brightening up one’s daily routine. If and when that time returns to my life, I’ll gladly pick up a new bottle or two. These days, though, my hands and nails receive regular applications of salve come sundown, not high gloss. As my life has shifted, so too have my needs. Now, instead of showing off my hands, I show up for them.
About the author: Ashley English lives and homesteads with her husband and son in a forested cove in Candler, North Carolina. She is the author of seven books, with two more in the works. Learn more at smallmeasure.com.
Garden Hand Salve
I modeled this salve on Burt’s Bees Hand Salve (“A Farmer’s Friend”). In addition to being deeply emollient, the lavender, rosemary, and tea tree oils included all contain antibacterial properties. You’ll be soothing your skin and fending off infection all at once.
Makes around 3/4 cup
You Will Need:
- 10 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup beeswax (pastilles or grated wax)
- 3 tablespoons virgin coconut oil
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 10 drops tea tree oil
- 10 drops rosemary essential oil
- ½ teaspoon vitamin E oil
To Make:
1) Place about two inches of water in the bottom of a small pot.
2) Put a pourable heatproof glass or metal container in the middle of the pan, submerging the bottom in the water.
3) Add the olive oil, beeswax, and coconut oil to the container.
4) Bring the water to a boil, then stir with a wooden utensil until everything has melted.
5) Once everything has liquefied, remove the pan from the heat. Add the lavender, rosemary, tea tree, and vitamin E oils and stir to fully incorporate them into the melted oils.
6) Carefully pour the oil into a container (or you can spread it out over multiple containers).
7) Once the oil has cooled and solidified, label and date. Store in a cool place out of direct sunlight. Use within six months.