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human
CMV: Getting your nails/hair done, getting a new outfit, etc. does not equal self-love

I'm a therapist, and the other day I heard another therapist talk about how they encouraged clients to get manicures to practice "self-love." This is not the first time I've heard suggestions like this. To me, suggestions like this cheapen and trivialize the concept of self-love. In my mind, self-love is a complex set of processes involving identity reformation and cultivation of self-acceptance, self-compassion, etc. In my mind, self-love also has to do with challenging oneself to learn and grow and become more aligned with one's values. Is all of that too complicated to explain to someone who may be in the depths of depression and self-loathing? Could there seriously be therapeutic value in just buying yourself a beauty service? Couldn't framing a beauty service as self-love even end up creating an association between self-love and needing to look a certain way, and wouldn't that be anti-self-love? Also, isn't it extremely classist to assume that everyone can afford to purchase these services and to conflate self-love with spending money?

I'm curious to hear other's perspectives/experiences on this, and I'm open to the possibility that maybe I'm missing something! If there's value in these activities, I don't want to knock/discount that. I want to be open to anything that could possibly help someone, I'm just not currently understanding how this could help.

Edit: I'm noticing many replies seem to be using the terms self-love and self-care interchangeably, or not even using the term self-love and only saying self-care. My question is specifically about whether getting beauty services can be a form of self-love.

Edit again: Thank you to everyone who responded. I was at work until late yesterday, so I apologize that many of my responses yesterday were fairly short, as I had to squeeze them in during my breaks. I did read all the comments, though, and I will try to respond to more of your comments today now that I have some more time. My main takeaways at this point are that a) getting nails/hair done can be a way of showing yourself you have value, b) getting out of the house, socializing with others, etc., is good for you, esp. if you're in the depths of depression, and c) self-care and self-love are terms that many people use somewhat interchangeably. I realized that what bothered me so deeply about what this person said the other day was the fact that he was confusing self-love and self-care. Personally, I still think self-love is a much deeper experience than could be simulated with a manicure, something I know many of you seemed to take issue with, saying "it's not that deep". For me, it is that deep. It always will be. So, while I don't think that part of my view will change, you all did help me appreciate the value that manicures, etc. have in helping a person get well, and you helped me understand why I got so frustrated with the assertion made the other day. Thank you all for contributing!
gpt
There's a reason for the saying that when you look good, you feel good. Self-love doesn't necessarily need to be so deep. It can just be rewarding yourself, with really anything. Of course, not everyone is buying stuff with the purpose of self-love, but when someone often doesn't buy new things or get their hair done, doing so can be an act of self-love. It's a sort of way of affirming yourself that you deserve nice things and rewarding yourself for your work when you're not feeling very appreciated. If someone often does those sorts of things, then it may not necessarily be an act of self-love.