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Picture this: a number of elderly ladies are brought together to talk about life. They are happily discussing this and that, with abandon. All the while, their nails are being polished. The atmosphere is convivial, a sunburst of enthusiasm sweeps over the elderly ladies. Their nails, when fully polished, look good. In fact, they look positively regal.

The ladies, satisfied, needed this interaction. It had been a long time since they had somebody to talk to. Now, they have made new friends. All this was thanks to Kiggundu Arts Studio, putting together an arts event whose focus was using nail polishing to enhance the mental wellbeing of elderly ladies in the community.

Nail polish (also known as nail varnish in British English or nail enamel) is a lacquer that can be applied to the human fingernails or toenails to decorate and protect the nail plates. The salon-worthy manicure session at Kiggundu Arts Studio uplifted the spirits of the mentioned elderly ladies in a singularly productive manner. It helped them create human connections through conversation and art.

Naomi Torres-Mackie, PhD, a clinical psychologist at Lenox Hill Hospital, notes how important this is.

“As human beings, we thrive in connection with others, not just on a psychological level but on a physiological level. Whether or not you’re an extrovert or an introvert or fall right in the middle, human connection is important. If you are someone who is more introverted, it may make reaching out and connecting a little bit more uncomfortable and that can serve as a roadblock,” she says.

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