MAN-ICURES
If you see a man wearing nail polish, he might be sending all a message — from a socially conscious one to a statement about his own masculinity. It’s a trend that’s growing.
Gianni Versace made it clear years ago: The men wearing nail varnish are “nice and witty.” It was 1994 and Versace was explaining the business of fashion to a journalist after being asked who was walking around like ‘that.’ ‘That’ referred to male models on the Milan catwalk, clad in miniskirts over their trousers, embellished with bright red lips and sporting nail varnish.
Thirty years later, it’s not every young man who is painting his nails. But some are. Designer Marc Jacobs said a few years ago that nail polish was the perfect finish for men who sought to achieve the perfect look. Some may think it silly to cover their nails with chemicals — while others say it is super sexy. Take Portugal football star Cristiano Ronaldo, known for painting his toenails.
American rapper Lil Yachty has gone a step further, launching a nail polish line for men. “I always thought painted fingernails were beautiful,” German actor Lars Eidinger told dpa. When it comes to choosing a colour, Eidinger says he usually opts for blue or black, with a classic red occasionally to shake things up.
A look at the world of celebrities reveals further fans beyond Eidinger and Lil Yachty, from glam rocker Damiano David of the Italian band Maneskin, winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, to queer rapper Lil Nas X, British pop singer Harry Styles, US actor Ansel Elgort and Brooklyn Beckham, oldest son of the football star David. There have been male celebrities in the past too who wore varnish — think
of David Bowie, Kurt Cobain, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Johnny Depp... But their use was generally considered a quirk. “Right now, we see that male influencers have become more enthusiastic about decorative cosmetics,” says Birgit Huber, who works for a German consumer products association. Often, actors show up to red carpet events with their nails done, she says.
Nail polish has also brightened up the Polished Man Challenge, a campaign seeking to raise awareness about sexual violence against children.
“Nail polish is a way for men to signal flexibility and openness to social change without seriously challenging the standards of masculinity on the street,” says male fashion expert Marco Nikolaj Rechenberg.
Designer Marc Jacobs said nail polish was the perfect finish for men who sought to achieve the perfect look. Some may think it silly to cover their nails with chemicals — while others say it is super sexy. Take Portugal football star Cristiano Ronaldo, known for painting his toenails.