Manicured nails? Here’s how to deal with the indelible ink after voting

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) says having freshly manicured nails won't prevent anyone from voting, and nail technicians have offered tips and tricks for those wanting to deal with the indelible ink on fingernails.

Chanel Rosa from Nails on Fleek in Benoni, Gauteng said she and many clients embraced  the purple mark with pride.

“It was only like 5% of my clientele who couldn't wait for the mark to be gone but the other 95% were proud to have voted,  just like me, hoping to make a difference in our country. At that time we didn't have clients getting new sets done before,” said Rosa.

It's been a case of some customers opting for a darker colour before elections, said Lesley Jacobs, who started the home-based nail technician service Polish Me in Wynberg, Cape Town, in 2017.

“My clients were extremely keen to get their nails redone after voting as the black ink spoilt their design. Some clients purposefully chose a black or dark set so the mark wouldn't be as noticeable,” she said.

She advised those who would rather have the ink removed after voting to buff off the ink and use a clear topcoat after applying your preferred nail colour and art.

“Unfortunately, the stain on the cuticle area may be more difficult to get rid of. I think the best advice is to wear clear polish or any nail polish before going to vote. Once the polish is removed, the black ink will be removed too. That way no buffing will be needed,” said Jacobs.

She said she had several requests to put the South African flag on client's nails during election time.

Bertha Leonard, who founded Capri Beauty in 2012 in the northern suburbs of Cape Town, works with her mother Erika Breytenbach, a nail trainer and technologist who has been in the industry for nearly 30 years, said clients wearing a dark gel polish set ended up with ink staining their cuticles.

“This is not a rule, but we have seen this with every election. We have also found  clients do not mind the mark because they take huge pride in having been to a voting station,” said Breytenbach.

She said another factor nail technicians and artists kept in mind was to never build or apply gel or acrylic right up against the cuticle. A 1mm margin is always left open to ensure there will be a mark on the natural nail.

“Most clients know the mark can easily be removed with light buffing using a buffing block. Though the mark can be removed by buffing on the nail plate, it cannot be removed from the skin, which eliminates the chances of anyone committing fraud,” said Breytenbach.

Madelene Slabbert, owner of Crowned Beauty SA in Benoni, said most of her clientele arrived after casting their votes.

“Most came for a new set after they voted. We take off the acrylic nails with acetone and that makes the ink mark lighter. With the preparation of natural nails the ink mark disappears so they can do any colour on their nails,” said Slabbert.

She said in 2019 a client requested the national flag on her nails.

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