I’m in my sixties and as far as I can recall I’ve paid for three ‘professional’ manicures in my life.
The first, when I was about nineteen involved some sort of false nail application (can’t remember what - manicure vocabulary has changed so much across centuries). I was looking at my fingers in horror on the bus home, and peeling them off within two days. Never again.
Second time was when I was at a salon for a facial and they persuaded me to ‘have my nails painted’. It was a much jollier occasion than the previous one as all the salon assistants were friendly and chatty - but I still nearly died of boredom while it was being done.
Third time - god knows what made me think I needed nail polish for a conference. A miserable, silent 45 minutes in an empty salon ensued.
Across about thirty years I probably bought a bottle of nail polish about once every couple of years. And used it at home probably a couple of times before burying the thing in a drawer.
However, in the past year I’ve started using a home manicure kit (completely natural, no cutting, no additions, no colour) and have discovered - at this late stage - that my own unadorned nails have been harbouring a potential for indescribable shininess. And a slightly prettier shape. I’m slightly thrilled to have found something that works for me.
Have also never had a pedicure. The thought of sharing implements that have been tending other peoples’ feet is just too grim for words.