Men wearing nail polish

[TwiceRemoved]

Yup, guess it could be that old chestnut again.... I've done a quick search on the topic and nothing is leaping off the screen at me, so...

Men with painted nails? I get mixed reactions (usually detrimental from the male of the species, and mixed from the softer gender), either to the general 'lovely' condition of my feet, or to the colour of my finger nails and/or toe nails, or both, or neither.

I probably spend far too much time worrying about that other people think, possibly because I do not take negative comments well (even the most light-hearted remark will get mixed up in my brain cell to mean total and unequivoval ridicule!)

I remember doing the touristy-thing in Turkey-land a three or four years back, and on a packed boat a middle-aged (so same as me) made a point of 'mentioning', loud enough that everyone on the boat could hear "he's wearing blue nail polish". His wife (partner(?) simply said "so?" But loads of the other bods onthe boat then made a point of either coming over (or sending their DCs over to point, stare, comment. Fine - I'll get over it - if that's the worst thing that will ever happen in my life then I'm in for a good one :o)

So to cut to the chase - is it ever acceptable? Is it really that bad? Can it ever be good? Does anyone really give a ff anyway?

Just wondered....

Now that this site is bigger, you are going to get a mixed range of the views of total strangers.
So not really thinking that it is going to help you make your mind up in any way whatsoever.

and presumably you are still going to do it anyway

Why should nail polish just be for women? If you like it, if you want to wear it, then you do so. No one has the right to tell you what you should do with your own body. If people are actually grossed out or offended, you know what? that is their problem, not yours. Your DD's don't seem to have a problem with it and neither does your SO so do what you love and be true to yourself. People can and do judge over the slightest of things because they are narrow minded and petty. Don't let other people dictate how you should look, it's none of their damn business

I'm thinking the boat ride in Turkey must have been really dull for everyone to want to peer at your feet.

Men wearing nail varnish is unusual...so people will want to have a look....just like they will with any unusual sight.

I would rather see a nicely manicured foot than one which desperately needs a ped-egg and some moisturiser.

Glittery nail varnish on an old bloke would make me giggle, but in a good way.

I'll be honest, if I saw a man wearing nail polish I probrably would stare. But only because I've never seen it before. I wouldn't be weirded out or anything. I'd probably be full of admiration for someone doing something against the social norms.

If you like it and your family aren't bothered then to hell with everyone else

Looks over at dp's vast collection this has been pink sparkly on toes and hands

This week *

I'm with CornChips - I find it sexy. Same with men wearing eyeliner. I don't know why - maybe a hang over from my punk days when there was something a bit dangerous about it.

Thanks everyone

I never thought the response would be so good (yes, even the less than positive comments are very much appreciated!)

I guess as far as my opening questions went, is it ever acceptable? Is it really that bad? Can it ever be good? Does anyone really give a ff anyway? whilst I am not really any closer to an answer, I think I am learning (painfully slowly, but that's men for you!) that I really shouldn't spend my whole time worrying about what people, that I don't know and am unlikely to see again, are thinking. More importantly, I really must stop kidding myself that I am so 'important' that peeps actually care one way or the other or even give it a thought...

Next time I post something (don't panic - nothing planned!) I will endeavour to ensure that there are other words in the post other than me, me and me.

So thanks again, and despite what I was taught during my strictly man-type up-dragging (with all the stereotypical pre-conditioning that goes with it) I now think that you're not such a bad bunch really...

DP used to wear it and I have plenty of make friends who still do.

One wears nail polish on his toes during the summer because he got his feet tattooed and wants to show them off. He has been known to go for full on calgel/foils/glitter/whatever takes his fancy.

Agree with someone up thread- so long as nails are short I find it quite attractive.

I don't personally like it. Bit 80s for me. But of course it's acceptable. I don't know many styles of grooming that aren't.

It's silly to say it's vile. Do you think that women wearing it is gross? It's just polish you need to focus on more important things.
My dp paints his toes sometimes. But no one ever sees his toes anyway. I don't care either way. Up to him.

I saw a man walking round - first caught my attention because it was late Sept and he was wearing shorts. Not just any shorts, but denim Daisy Dukes (bit risky for a man with the dangle factor)

He was -rough guess- 65+

He had sandles on and (I had a really good look because I'm a Podiatrist ) really rough looking feet. With long, thick curved nails (Onychogryphotic if you're interested) painted purple.

He really shouldn't have been highlighting them TBH

If it made my DH care a bit more about his ragged bitten rough nails and cuticles then yes. But in reality I would find it very odd to see in a professional role.

DH used to do this (and eyeliner) when I first met him. Quite liked it. Doesn't do it now.

(Although he did do the eye liner for a party recently and it definitely rekindled something .)

Back in the 80s an ex bf always wore nail varnish. Usually black or blue on his hands and purple or red on his toes. We were both into the new romantic scene. He also used to wear full make up when we were going out. Foundation, blusher, eyeliner, eye shadow, mascara, lipstick the whole lot. He was gorgeous especially when fully made up. Often we would get made up together and wear identical make up. Yes we got strange looks and comments but neither of us gave a shit what others thought. My dad used to make comments to myself and my mum about him, but my mum used to say he was gorgeous too ! My dad was just very old fashioned and would always have something to say to me about my clothes, my make up or my body piercings !

- is it ever acceptable? Is it really that bad? Can it ever be good? Does anyone really give a ff anyway

Yes. no. yes. no.

My boys paint their nails.

I dont give a fuck who wears what on their nails.

More people need to give less fucks about what other people do to their own bodies in terms of make-up, nails polish, tattoos, piercings and clothes

Think of it this way OP- every time you wear your painted nails you are giving someone else, who isnt quite there yet, assurance that they arent as weird as they fear and that others are doing it and surviving

Doesn't bother me. :)

I see a lot of boys going for a slightly punk look and part of it is nail polish, usually black. I never think anything of that. It would possibly make me do a double take, though, if I saw a man dressed in typical "manly man" type clothes, workboots etc, and then had brightly painted nails, just because it would seem incongruous. But I certainly wouldn't think there was anything wrong with it.

You do you, as the kids say.

The only man I've ever seen NV on is Eddie Izzard. If I saw a guy in RL wearing it I'd be intrigued and full of admiration. I'm the same age as you OP. I'm imagining how I would react if I was dating and a guy turned up to a first date wearing NV and I would definitely feel positive about it. It would give me hope that if we did end up together, he wouldn't start wearing head-to-toe beige in later life.

Personally I wouldn't like it unless you're a rebellious teen. I wouldn't dwell on it if I saw it but I don't think its in any way attractive.

If you don't take negative comments well, its probably best not to invite anonymous comment. It sounds like you've been doing it long enough to know what various people think without having to take a poll.

I have just got two bottles of bright red nail polish.

I have already painted my toes and I would love to paint my fingers too.

I feeel so feminine, is this abnormal?

It isn't something I would find attractive, but then I feel the same about beards and taches so for me it isn't anything to do with "looking" male/female.

If I had been on this boat trip I would probably have looked because I have never seen a man wearing blue polish before, and then I would have moved on to looking elsewhere because although it is surprising I don't think it is shocking.

If you like it OP then wear it. Your family have clearly accepted you for who you are and love you for it, so why don't you follow their lead? :)

Being a bit different makes life more interesting for everyone. ..

Thanks again for all the replies. It strikes me once more that I really need to loosen up a bit, accept that peeps will look/stare/comment when something is 'different', and work on the simple premise that "if you don't want coconuts, don't shake the coconut tree!"
We're back in Turkey soon and no doubt nails will be blue (or purple, or dark green, not flourescent pink as it doesn't suit my skin colour!)
Am I mad? Probably... Do I care? Hopefully not!

This is interesting as i have two daughters and one son..and thought about this particular question when my ds said he wanted some sparkly nail varnish on his nails when he saw his sisters...and i said, reluctantly and it went against everything i thought ..boys dont wair nail varnish. But what i thought was...hell, why not? Why should boys not wear it?

Why do you wear it? Do you like it?
I would say wear it if you like and damn everyone else!