It may seem surprising, but many people say that once you get used to it, it’s hard to go back.
A simple habit that becomes normal
Sometimes there’s no particular reason. The person lets a nail grow once, and then it becomes a habit. Like biting their nails, always wearing a ring, or having the same hairstyle for years, some habits simply become normal for the person.
What might seem strange to someone else is not at all strange to the person concerned. This is often the case with small details of appearance.
A cultural or social significance
In some cultures, particularly in Asia at certain times, having long fingernails could be a social marker. It signified that the person did not perform strenuous manual labor. In a way, it was a subtle way of displaying one’s social status or type of work.
A long, clean fingernail indicated that the hands were not used for physical labor. Historically, it was therefore a symbol of comfort or social status.
Even though this meaning is less present today, certain cultural habits still exist.
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