The trend of guys with painted nails is actually not new, but has resurfaced and is more colourful now than ever! Here's why men (me included!) are more comfortable with expressing themselves and wearing nail polish.
Tweens of today might not know this, but it was trendy for men to wear nail polish in the early 2000s, with celebrities like David Bowie and Kurt Cobain rocking fresh manicure sets. But men in the past mostly used dark colours and didn’t have any designs unlike the manicures you see today. But why do men paint their nails? Is it a statement on gender identity or just a form of expression? Here are some reasons why the men or boys in your life might be interested in getting their nails done.
My journey with nail polish as a guy
What got me into it
The thought of getting my nails done had not crossed my mind until I started uni, mostly because primary and secondary schools didn’t allow nail polish. It was only after we were given the freedom to wear whatever we wanted to attend lectures did I start thinking more about my appearance. Also, I was quite into the punk/emo music scene, where black nail polish was commonly used regardless of gender. That’s what really inspired me to start painting my nails and I started with a ‘safe’ colour as the first one to test the waters.
How people around me reacted
My friends were very supportive and encouraged me whenever I talked to them about nail polish, even suggesting the best nail polish brands to get. Even the guys were intrigued, some expressing that they wanted to paint their nails too, and eventually they did. My parents weren’t very fond of the idea at first but it was understandable, especially in Asia where society is a bit more conservative when it comes to gender norms. Even now, they have shifted to a more indifferent stance which is definitely an improvement but there’s some underlying discomfort with the idea that remains. Changing the mindset of older generations will be a bit difficult but with a little patience and some communication, they’ll eventually come around to it.
How the newer generations feel about men wearing nail polish
The newer generations like Gen Z and Gen Alpha seem to be very okay with the idea. There’s even an entire Reddit community for this, acting as a safe space for men to share their self-expression without any judgement. While it has become a lot more accepted and celebrated, there are still some who disapprove – but so does everything that defies norms. It’s also great that the newer generations don’t automatically assume that a guy is part of the LGBTQ+ community just because they decided to paint their nails – the focus has become less on sexuality and more on self-expression.
Reasons why men wear nail polish
Getting inspired by celebs or public figures
Just like in the early 2000s, many male celebs and public figures have started getting their nails painted again. From influential artists like A$AP Rocky to TikTok personalities like LilHuddy, there are many who are inspiring the younger generation to give it a try. Some celebs also have their own brand of nail polish, like rapper Tyler The Creator’s Golf Le Fleur nail polish collection. These figures have played a big role in breaking the gender norms and making it feel more acceptable for guys (or anyone really) to paint their nails.
Painted nails as a form of self-expression
Others don’t need any external influences – they’ve always thought it was an interesting way of expressing themselves. Just like accessories or watches, nail polish is just another way to complete a look. Coming up with your own designs and doing it yourself also is a form of art and gets the creative juices flowing – but if you’re going for something more complicated, getting it done at a salon or home-based nail artist might be for the best.
A great pampering session to destress
Some might find going to nail salons as a way of relaxing and destressing, especially when everything is taken care of from cuticle cleaning to nail trimming. Getting pampered isn’t just for the girlies, everyone deserves to be taken care of once in awhile! For the first-timers, going alone can be a bit daunting so bring an experienced friend along to show you the ropes. ‘Menicures’ as they have been cutely dubbed usually don’t include nail polish but it’s a great first step for those who are still on the fence.
Bonding activity with friends and family
We’ve sometimes seen dads showing up to work with some crudely painted nails – usually the aftermath of their daughters doing a manicure for them. It can be a great way to bond with family and friends by either doing each other’s nails or going to the salon together. There’s usually some downtime while waiting for the gel to harden or polish to dry so it’s a great opportunity to chat! Plus, your hands will be occupied so no phones to distract you, as all you have is each other’s company. So if you find your boys or teens dabbling in nail polish, it’s usually all in good fun – ask them why they’ve grown an interest for it and you could turn it into a parent-child bonding opportunity!
Some basics and nail-spiration
Base coat
This is a clear coating that protects your nail bed and makes the nail polish ‘stick’ better – you can put polish on without it but it’s highly recommended to apply beforehand.
Regular polish
The basic of painting nails is good ol’ nail polish. It’s easy to put it on and take it off, but it does take some time to dry and chips easily, so you should take extra care not to bump them into anything.
Top coat
Similar to the base coat, this is a clear coating used to protect the polish itself. Helps against chipping but it’s still important to avoid bumping them into anything if you want to maintain them for a while.
Gel
Lasts a lot longer than normal polish and uses a UV lamp to cure and harden. They dry a lot faster and are more durable but are a bit harder to remove if you want to do a new set – you have to soak them in acetone using cotton balls and hold them in place on your nails with cling wrap. Leave them on for 10 minutes and you should be able to scrape them off with a cuticle pusher. Or you could request to get them removed at the salon if you’ve gotten it done there, some places remove it for free if it’s a set done by them.
Designs
These tend to change over time with various styles like French Tips, the Cat Eye, and Marble nail polish trends. You can also get different nail shapes done like coffin nails that have a squared off tip. Also, adding designs tends to cost more at salons so remember to check the price first.
Charms
You can add little charms to your nails too, think accessories but on your nails! Little chains, 3D stars, or even sculpted faces are some cute additions to nail designs you can incorporate. They might get a bit clunky if you add too much so don’t go too crazy with it. Or do, it’s your choice!
Now go get yourself a fresh set of nails!
