Fads are fleeting. At least, that is what I've heard. Fashion moves at the speed of light and we all know we'll need a new purse next season. And new shoes. And new — well, pretty much everything in our closets, right?

But what is it with the current nail fashions? So many of them are so great. I love the rock star nail trend. I love stilettos — even if my clientele does not. I love the resurgence in nail art — that people are starting to think of their nails as fashion accessories, not just part of their personal grooming regime, and this means that I get to stretch my creative muscles.

I am loving it.

Except — *sigh* — the flare thing. I'm just not groovin’ on this concept. I'm not saying that I haven't come to a place of resigned acceptance of it. I can even look at a decent set of slightly flared nails and not cringe, or even a set of full on "duck feet" flares without becoming physically ill. But when a client specifically asks me to make her nails wider at the tips, it — as the BF's mom is known to say — really goes against my grain.

Several of my clients have started showing some appreciation for what I have taken to describing as the "right" way to do nails. As in, the technical points on which competition nails are judged. I figure if I can tell my clients that there's such a thing as "perfect" nails in competitions, maybe they'll start to understand that A) there's such a thing as nail competitions, and B) there's such a thing as a "perfect" nail shape. But, I'm also a big believer in creative license, and I try to keep the doors open to allow for the limitless possibilities that sculpting products allow for as well ... and that means not groaning audibly or rolling my eyes too hard when someone says they want "wide" or "flared" nails.

I currently have two clients who have beautiful nail beds — like I am considering using them for competition models beautiful. So imagine how it breaks my heart when one of them comes in tonight and asks me to make her nails "wider at the tips."

Why? Because she says that flared nails look "fake" and she likes that "fake" look. Just like the girls with curly hair hate those gorgeous curls while girls with hair as flat as mine long not to have to own a curling iron, I guess perfect natural nails aren't really appreciated. So I made them a little wider at the tips. I want her to love her nails every time she looks at them. It's up to her to choose her style, even if I don't share a love for it.

She loves her nails and she loves her nail-lady. I'm sure this is the same way many mothers are feeling this year as they begrudgingly buy their daughters pre-ripped skinny jeans. But here's a photo of my client's nails before she confessed she'd rather have them flare. So pretty, we should all have hands like this.

Hopefully flared nails and skinny jeans will pass quickly, leaving only photos for future generations to laugh at.