My Toenails Have Entered Their Villain Era
Remember when I talked about surviving Firehouse Fatales in high heels? Yeah. Well. Turns out the story didn’t end when I took my shoes off.
I went to take off my toenail polish so I could redo it (because cute feet are forever, bruises be damned), and surprise: both of my big toenails were bruised. On one of them, the top layer of the nail peeled off completely with the polish.
I’ve lost these toenails before, so I know what that feels like. This isn’t that. Not yet, anyway. This is more like a horror short film called “Beauty Queen Feet: The Sequel You Didn’t Ask For.”
What actually happened?
It was the perfect storm.
High heels and a long day on my feet meant nonstop pressure. My feet slid forward in my shoes all day, pressing my big toes into the front of the toe box. That constant impact bruised the nail beds underneath.
Add to that the fact that I skate regularly. Between derby drills, edge work, and toe-stop starts, my feet take a beating even without the heels. Roller derby puts a ton of stress on the forefoot, and when you combine that with already-compromised nails, they don’t exactly stand a chance.
And I’ll be honest. I almost never let my toenails breathe. I always have polish on. So they were already dry, probably brittle, and definitely not ready for a 100-degree concrete catwalk moment.
The trauma pushed them over the edge, and when I went to remove the polish, the top layer of the nail peeled right off like it had been waiting for its final act.
Why this happens
This kind of injury is called a subungual hematoma, which is a bruise under the nail caused by pressure or repeated impact. When you cram your toes into tight shoes or take hard hits at the front of your foot (hello, skating and high heels), tiny blood vessels under the nail can rupture, causing a deep bruise. If the nail is already weakened from polish, trauma, or dehydration, it’s even more likely to lift, peel, or flake.
What I’m doing now
- No polish for a bit. I’m giving my toes a chance to recover before I dress them back up.
- I’m using a clear keratin nail repair treatment to reinforce the nail plate and protect new growth.
- Epsom salt soaks and nail oil are officially part of my daily routine.
- I’ve got open-toed shoes on deck for the foreseeable future and zero shame about it.
What might help next time
- Rotate out of polish once in a while to let your nails breathe.
- Trim your toenails short and smooth before any long day in heels or on skates.
- Use anti-friction balm or even a small strip of moleskin on your big toes to reduce rubbing.
- Look for heel grips or gel inserts that keep your foot from sliding forward in your shoes.
- And if you’re skating on top of everything else, ice and magnesium are your friends.
Lessons from the battlefield
If you’re going full glam in vintage heels all day and also asking your feet to skate, sprint, squat, and recover, give them some credit. And give them a break. Especially if you, like me, have a long history of sacrificing your nail beds in the name of pinup glory.
Pain is temporary. Pretty feet are a full-time job.
xoxo
-S
Diet Coke and Hair-Spray 