There’s a certain freedom that comes with realizing: no one can read your mind. If you don’t speak up for yourself, you’ll often end up with the exact opposite of what you wanted, whether it’s your nails, your makeup, or even how you show up in life.
When Detroit Glam Turned Into Detroit Drama
Just last week, I was getting ready for an old friend and classmate’s wedding in Detroit. I wanted to show up polished, glowing, and feeling like myself. Since I was in the mood to try something new, I booked appointments with a nail house I hadn’t been to before and a makeup artist who came highly recommended. I walked in hopeful. I walked out… let’s just say, humbled.
My pedicure? Overpriced and poorly executed. The nail tech was an absolute sweetheart, but in the end, I ended up whipping out my foot bath and gel nail kit (side note: always use spf 50+ before using a UV light to cure the gel polish) and fixing them myself. My makeup? A different kind of disaster. Instead of enhancing my features with dimension and warmth, the artist skipped contour altogether and left me with a flat, one-dimensional face. I looked more wombat than wedding guest.
Now here’s the kicker: I usually speak up. Normally, I’ll point out if something isn’t working, redirect, or ask for adjustments. But this time? I silenced that instinct. I thought, “Let me trust the process. Maybe it’ll all come together in the end.” It didn’t.
By the time I got home, I was in full-on panic mode. I parked my car in front of my building to keep the “walk of shame” short; put on a black face mask; and ran to the elevator hoping to not run into anyone I knew. I did. Cue the awkward elevator ride up…the next 30 minutes redoing my face when I should have been blasting my ‘get ready’ playlist and sliding into my dress.
The Real Lesson: Tried and True > Shiny and New
Trusting the process has its place, but not when it silences your inner voice that’s clearly saying, “This isn’t right.” In hindsight, I should have leaned on what I already knew worked for me —my tried-and-true nail tech, the makeup style that enhances my features instead of erasing them, and simply playing to my strengths. Instead, I gambled on the “new” like a high school junior desperate to glow up in the summer prior to the first day of senior year.
Yes, it all worked out in the end. I still showed up, celebrated my friend, and had an incredible time. But that day was a reminder: experimenting is fun, but not at the expense of losing yourself in the process.
Speaking Up Is Self-Care
Whether you’re in a salon chair, at a makeup counter, or in any situation where your needs matter (and that’s in nearly every situation, honestly), speaking up isn’t rude, it’s self-care. You are the client. You are the one who has to foot the bill and live with the nails, makeup, hairstyle, life choices. It’s not about micromanaging or nitpicking. It’s about finding that balance between politely letting the artist bring their skills and creativity to the table while making sure your vision and satisfaction are front and center.
The Real Glow-Up
The next time you’re in a similar situation, whether it’s at a nail salon, with a stylist, or in a conversation about something bigger, ask for exactly what you want. Speak it clearly. Don’t shrink yourself or assume they’ll “just know.” Nails chip and makeup fades, but being true to yourself never goes out of style.
Final Note: Last week’s wedding taught me a serious lesson, not about luxe events, nail or makeup artists, but about self-respect. You don’t need to be louder to get your point across, but you do need to be clearer. Trust the process if you feel it best, but trust your own voice more often than not. The best results come from honoring both the artist’s craft and your vision~
Lence in Layers 