To think you can’t take a man with painted nails seriously?

[ThisSunnyBiscuit]

I know people say “it’s just nail polish” but I can’t help feeling like a man with painted nails instantly loses credibility. Whether it’s in a corporate setting or just in everyday life, it gives off a certain vibe that makes it hard to take him seriously.

It’s not about being closed-minded, it’s just that some things don’t translate well across genders. Am I being unreasonable or do others feel the same?

Hmm, I'm torn. I think cheap chipped nail polish looks awful on both sexes. So unless he's going for a manicure and getting gel or extensions then I'm going to hate it regardless.
I always thought men couldn't wear dresses until I seen a guy look better than me in a gorgeous summer dress. So who knows. Maybe I'd not mind so much. My friend in my last job always wore eyeliner and I never really thought anything about it until someone pointed it out 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'd assume they were some kind of rebellious teen or in some kind of artistic industry (tattoo parlour, festival worker, camden stallholder). It's not something I've come across much.

It depends. Black nail varnish on Marilyn Manson is different to how Harry Styles wore it and how Bowie wore it.
I like a bit of rough, but manicured hands are part of a look/routine, so I wouldn't be that judgemental.

I just assume he has young girls in his life and no polish remover.

Not at all, I like it. I'm friends with some arty/musician types who wear it (all in their 40s/50s and very much beardy, middle aged men).

Where I live, mani/pedi's are as common with men as they are with women. A cab driver with an old rust bucket on the road is as likely to have neat trimmed and (clear) lacquered nails as I do when I leave the salon. I personally like / prefer men with clean and cared for hands & feet. And they are prepared to put in the time, just as we do, so why not ?

Is it Spike from Buffy? Otherwise you're right.

I do always notice, but no I don’t think a man loses credibility with painted nails, no. It’s still unusual and it may be a while before we have a male prime minister with a manicure, but it wouldn’t mean anything bad if we did.

I concur.

Personally I would not find this attractive behaviour in a man. I like men to be clean and tidy but any more interest in their looks puts me off.
I would find nail varnish very juvenile.

I think the less obsessed we are with gender roles the more people can feel comfortable with expressing themselves without feeling the need to revert to delusions.

I think it certainly shouldn't be the case. And they wouldn't lose credibility with me. In fact I'd appreciate the freedom of spirit. But you are probably right that they would make a bad impression on some people in some settings in a way that a woman wouldn't.

I teach at a University and a few of my male students wear nail polish so I'm used to it. I teach economics, not art or fashion!

'Credibility' what do you even mean... so someone who has decided to paint a colour onto their nails has more or less credibility depending on what genitals they also have?
This is like seeing a boy playing with a pink doll and thinking he is a 'gentle personality' or a girl playing with a football is a 'tomboy' you know it's all made up nonsense by the patriarchy to keep women in their place, right?

When I were a young lass in the 80s men wore make up and nail varnish. I liked it and is a shame there is more gender conformity now.

Reminded me of a friend, sadly dead now, who frequently had the most beautiful French manicures.
Never thought it was weird at all - he was very attractive.

Men should be able to paint their nails, or wear makeup tbh. Why not? You don’t have to find it attractive, but why does it make them less credible? Because it’s typically something women do and women are less credible? Or you think men should always be masculine? Do you also believe the reverse (women should always be feminine)?

This reminds me of when I very staid male engineering professor that I know came into work looking rather glittery!

Tell that to a Goth! 🤷‍♀️

I wouldn’t think any less of a man with painted nails, or find them less credible. However, personally I find painted nails and shaped eyebrows unattractive on a man.

I like it 🤷‍♀️. It suits a certain man.

i also like eyeliner on a man too. Billie Jo Armstrong style.

the whole 80’s early 90’s from Adam Ant and Duran Duran, The Cure, even McFly and busted.

love it when men play around with their appearance and challenge norms. Women too- Annie Lennox, for example. I remember the hoohaa of her with short hair and a suit.

You think he loses credibility and can't take him seriously because you associate it with being feminine and have internalised misogyny.

Sad really.

I’m not a big fan of nail polish on men or women - I don’t like long pointy nails. So yeah, shit look, but not gender based.

I think it's fine.
Rigid expectations of how someone should look or behave based on their genitals has fucked us over enough already. If a bloke wants to wear nail varnish then he should be allowed to without people judging him.

Its really not a big deal.

I think it's sexy.

When I was a young goth and occasionally painted my nails and/or wore makeup I couldn't have given a shiny shit if someone else didn't like it. I liked it and so I put it on. I've heard many women say similar about their own choices about makeup.