Why More and More Men Have Started Painting Their Nails Nowadays

Painting one’s nails is not just a popular fashion trend, but an old tradition that has a long history. It is believed that it was actually started by men, when warriors of Ancient Babylon painted their nails before combat. In the modern world, nail polish is traditionally considered to be a female prerogative, but a lot of male celebrities like Marc Jacobs, Jared Leto, Adam Lambert, Johnny Depp, Seal, Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, and Harry Styles challenge this view and enjoy their “menicure.” Many regular guys have started to follow their lead and treat their nails creatively.

Bright Side chose the most important reasons that motivate contemporary men to colorfully decorate their nails.

They do it to raise awareness for an important cause.

After Caitlyn Jenner’s coming out as a transgender woman in 2015, the hashtag #PaintYourNailsForBruce (Bruce is Caitlyn’s former name) was born on social media and many men showed their support for the famous athlete by using nail polish. In 2016, actor Chris Hemsworth shared a picture of himself with a painted nail on Instagram as part of The Polished Man campaign aimed at ending violence against children. Hemsworth nominated fellow stars (including his brother Liam and Zac Efron) to participate and share their pics.

They do it to break stereotypes.

A man can paint his nails if he wants to make a statement. If a guy’s views of what’s gender-appropriate are unconventional and his ideas of beauty are different, he has a chance to raise his voice. A man’s nails can become a powerful message, telling people that he thinks outside the box.

They do it for self-expression.

If a man is creative he always looks for new and unexpected ways to express his personality. Traditionally, accessories, hairstyles, and clothes have served this purpose, but polished nails can perfectly complement any man’s look, and say a lot about his “true colors.” There are plenty of manicure styles that will match any outfit and persona. Beautiful nails will give a guy a touch of sophistication and glamour and will certainly make him stand out.

Their kids paint their nails.

Sometimes little girls get tired of playing with dolls and need other exciting experiences. If a man is a loving daddy, at some point he is probably going to become a model for his daughter’s manicure experiments. It is a unique and adorable way to bond with a child, as well as a chance to start sporting some shiny nail colors. Both the dad and his kid are definitely going to be proud of each other.

What do you think of men with painted nails? Can you suggest any other reasons for why a man might paint his nails?