Is It Weird That I Wear Nail Polish As A Guy

Aye, Boom Polish Is for Men, Too

Men wearing boom polish isn't just a growing trend; it's a statement of self-expression. Hither's why guys with nail polish—and those into in beauty and grooming—should do as they please.

Let's consider the economy. Men have the potential to add multi-billions to the beauty and self-care industries. Nevertheless at the moment, these markets largely fail to tap into this demographic.

That said, male-targeted skincare sales have bumped up seven percent in the last twelvemonth alone, co-ordinate to the NPD Group'southward iGen Beauty Consumer study.

As the men's grooming market continues to broaden, one trend we beloved to see more is men wearing nail smoothen.

Nail Shine every bit Self-Expression

When we start to break down the concept of smash polish—or whatever corrective product for that matter—it starts to lose its binary bond. When products are made to enhance the human body, feel fun and colorful, and allow for personal expression, where does gender identity come into play? Why is nail polish geared towards but the female person-identifying? We all can bask colour and nosotros all take nails, right?

We're starting to run into more male-identifying people wearing nail smooth. It'southward beingness recognized for what information technology is: a grade of accessorizing. Accessories are a simple course of expression. They let us to modify the basic framework of our appearance and typical garb, and requite it our own unique self-realization. It'due south a freedom.

This is a beautiful thing to all men with an urgency to self-fulfill, concretize, and express. These men place as male. They are actors, athletes, businessmen, and manual laborers.

Two Men Discuss Wearing Blast Polish

Nail color is fun. Wearing nail shine can give men (and women akin) a feeling of command, of strength in vulnerability, of softness, of edge.

Here'southward what two guys who choose to wear nail shine take to say on the matter.

Man wearing nail polish to show that beauty isn't binary and men can wear nail polish

Cambryan

For Cambryan Sedlick, a 20 year-old skateboarder living in Los Angeles, wearing blast polish as a man is at in one case an inspiration, a tribute, and a rebellion.

"Nonetheless to this day, subsequently iv years [of wearing blast smoothen], I nevertheless get questioned nearly my painted nails with a disgusted look on [people's] faces, whether it's gas station workers or boyfriend skateboarders. Masculinity continues to exist a trained field of study in society.

"I started painting my nails later watching ane of my favorite skaters, Dylan Rieder, as a teenager. It's stuck with me throughout the years. It'southward something that has developed into a condolement for me. I will keep to paint them—something about that look on judgmental people's faces only makes me want to pigment them more."

Man with colorful gel pedicure to illustrate that guys can wear nail polish

Matthew

For Matthew Ripley, a 34-twelvemonth onetime brewer living in San Diego, it'south a mixed bag. It's nostalgia, closeness to friends and family, and a connection to something softer, expressive, and calming.

"I started painting my toes as a child. My sis hated all the activities I was interested in, so she would ever suggest we do pedicures. I was the infant and just wanted to hang out [her], so I was always down. Over the years, it became a coveted bonding feel.

"Every bit I got older, I constitute myself doing it with female friends and roommates. It was a fun way to relax with the ladies, experiment with funky colors and designs, and become the latest 'tea,' of form.

"A few years ago, my girlfriend took me to a salon to go my first professional person pedicure. It was so relaxing to have someone else accept the reins. I especially loved the foot massage office. I call up people thinking it was foreign for me to get a gel design instead of basic clear nail polish, but I thought, how irksome would that be?

"As far equally gild is concerned, I don't think of blast painting as a gender-specific activity. To me, it doesn't matter if you're male person, female, nonbinary, etc. Looking down at my anxiety and finding a pop of colour makes me happy. Information technology's a unique way to express yourself and spark joy. Who doesn't want to chase that?"

Final Thoughts

We tend to hold with Matthew's parting words. No one should withhold whatsoever form of self-expression or joy for the sake of unsubstantiated tradition or conformity—and men wearing nail polish is no exception.

No matter how i identifies, we shouldn't demand permission or approval from others to color our bodies—and our lives—as nosotros wish.