Jane Birkin in La Piscine, 1969

When I was four, my mom took me to get my first manicure. I remember standing before a wall of endless colors, feeling ever-so-grown-up as I chose a deep burgundy red—classic, chic, and sophisticated in my young eyes.

My current nails

Ironically, I haven’t stepped inside a nail salon in years. I now prefer the understated beauty of bare nails—simple, practical, and forever timeless. When I was very sick with Lyme disease, my nails became brittle, bending at even the slightest pressure. It took years of gentle care to restore them to their current strong, healthy state. During that time, my mom and I experimented with countless natural remedies to smooth, strengthen, and revive them. Those rituals became the inspiration behind our Renaissance Nail & Cuticle Oil. Every My July product carries a personal story rooted in my own journey toward healing—and this is the story behind Renaissance.

There’s a certain je ne sais quoi about well-groomed, unpolished nails. Like dewy skin and air-dried hair, they exude quiet confidence and effortless poise. Style icons of times past like Jane Birkin, Sophia Loren, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Carrie Bradshaw, Joan Didion, and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy all favored the naked nail—proof that simplicity never goes out of style. In our modern day, Carey Mulligan, Kate Middleton, Zoë Kravitz, Chloë Sevigny, and Emma Roberts have all been spotted sporting natural nails. It’s a look that’s not only timeless, but also the most sustainable and non-toxic choice.

Photo via Concrete Collective

If you’re ready to bare your nails, discover our Renaissance Nail & Cuticle Oil—a simple luxury that softens cuticles, smooths and strengthens nails, and encourages nail growth.

In harmony with nature,
Micaela
Co-Founder & Co-CEO