Sophia Delgado
Painting nails is an old tradition with a long history, but it is not known when nail polish became associated with femininity. In the modern world, nail polish is traditionally considered a female prerogative, but many male celebrities, such as Harry Styles, A$AP Rocky, Machine Gun Kelly, Tyler the Creator, and Lil Yachty, have challenged this view by colouring their nails and launching their own nail polish lines. For some men, painting their nails is a fun way to express themselves and their gender identity, while for others, it is an important signifier of their gay identity and gender expression.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| History | Warriors of Ancient Babylon painted their nails before combat |
| Became associated with femininity in the 1800s | |
| Returned in the 1960s with the rise of counterculture | |
| Brought back into the mainstream by celebrities in the 2020s | |
| Believed to have been started by men | |
| Gender expression | Can be an important signifier of gay identity and gender expression |
| Can be a way to participate in something fun that doesn't align with other signifiers of gender | |
| Can be a way to challenge gender stereotypes |
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What You'll Learn
- Male nail painting is a new trend that means different things to different people
- In the 1800s, Victorian women painted their nails to signify purity and cleanliness
- In the 1960s, male polish returned with a vengeance with the rise of counterculture, popularised by artists like David Bowie
- Now, at a time when gender fluidity is often celebrated, male stars like Harry Styles have launched their own nail polish lines
- For some in the LGBTQ+ community, painting nails may be a very important part of expressing gender identity
Male nail painting is a new trend that means different things to different people
The association of nail polish with femininity is a relatively modern phenomenon. In the 1800s, Victorian women painted their nails to signify purity and cleanliness, but it is believed that the practice of painting nails was originally started by men in Ancient Babylon, where warriors would paint their nails before combat.
Male celebrities such as Harry Styles, A$AP Rocky, Machine Gun Kelly, Tyler the Creator, Lil Yachty, Marc Jacobs, Jared Leto, Adam Lambert, Johnny Depp, Seal, Wiz Khalifa, and Snoop Dogg have all challenged traditional gender norms by painting their nails and launching their own nail polish lines.
For some men, painting their nails is a way to participate in something fun that doesn't align with other signifiers of their gender. It can be a form of self-expression and a way to present themselves to the world, without necessarily attaching a deeper meaning.
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In the 1800s, Victorian women painted their nails to signify purity and cleanliness
Painting nails is an old tradition that has a long history. In the 1800s, Victorian women painted their nails to signify purity and cleanliness. The manicure trend continued from the 1700s, but simplicity and cleanliness were key in the 1800s. Nails were kept short and manicures were viewed as a way of expressing oneself. Nails were tinted with a light red oil and lemon juice and water were used to whiten the tips.
Today, nail polish is traditionally considered to be a female prerogative, but many male celebrities like Harry Styles, A$AP Rocky, Machine Gun Kelly, Tyler the Creator, Lil Yachty, Marc Jacobs, Jared Leto, Adam Lambert, Johnny Depp, Seal, Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, and Iggy Pop challenge this view and enjoy their "menicures". Some men paint their nails for fun, while for others, it is an important signifier of gay identity and gender expression.
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In the 1960s, male polish returned with a vengeance with the rise of counterculture, popularised by artists like David Bowie
Male nail painting is a trend that means different things to different people. Some men do it for fun, without any attached meaning, while for others, it is an important signifier of gay identity and gender expression.
Bowie's work often touched on counterculture, bohemia, the aftermath of the new left, psychedelic drugs, and music. His most hippie-ish years were at the turn of the decade as the 1960s gave way to the 1970s.
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Now, at a time when gender fluidity is often celebrated, male stars like Harry Styles have launched their own nail polish lines
Nail painting has traditionally been considered a female prerogative, but male celebrities like Harry Styles, A$AP Rocky, Machine Gun Kelly, Tyler the Creator, Lil Yachty, Lil Nas X, Bad Bunny, and Troye Sivan are challenging this view by colouring their nails and launching their own nail polish lines.
Styles' brand, Pleasing, is a gender-neutral collection of nail polishes and a pearlescent topcoat. Housed in collectable bottles inspired by vintage decanters, the line includes black, white, cream, and pink shades. Machine Gun Kelly's brand is called UN/DN LAQR.
The popularity of male polish is on the rise, and it speaks to the gradual dissolution of gender binaries that the beauty industry, and society in general, have long operated on. For some men, it's a way to participate in something fun that doesn't align with the other signifiers they use to indicate and present their gender. For others, it's an important signifier of gay identity and gender expression.
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 1960s, "male polish" returned with a vengeance with the rise of counterculture, popularized by artists like Iggy Pop, Lou Reed and David Bowie.
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For some in the LGBTQ+ community, painting nails may be a very important part of expressing gender identity
For some in the LGBTQ+ community, painting their nails may be a very important part of expressing their gender identity. It can be a meaningful signifier of gay identity and gender expression.
Historically, nail painting has been associated with femininity, with Victorian-era women painting their nails to signify purity and cleanliness. However, it is believed that the practice of nail painting was actually started by men, with warriors of Ancient Babylon painting their nails before combat. In the 1960s, "male polish" made a comeback with the rise of counterculture, popularised by artists like David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and Lou Reed.
Today, many male celebrities, such as Harry Styles, A$AP Rocky, and Machine Gun Kelly, are challenging traditional gender norms by painting their nails and launching their own nail polish lines. This has inspired many regular men to follow suit and treat their nails creatively.
For some, nail painting may be a fun way to participate in a trend that doesn't align with their gender presentation. It can be a form of self-expression and a way to engage in self-care. Others may see it as a way to challenge gender stereotypes and start conversations about gender identity. Ultimately, the meaning behind nail painting varies from person to person, and it can be a personal choice that holds different significance for different individuals.
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Frequently asked questions
Boys paint their nails for a variety of reasons. Some boys see it as a fun way to express themselves, while others use it as a way to challenge gender stereotypes and express their gender identity.
No, it is not a new trend. In fact, it is believed that nail painting was started by men in Ancient Babylon, when warriors would paint their nails before combat.
It is not exactly known when nail polish became associated with femininity, but by the 1800s, Victorian era women were painting their nails to signify purity and cleanliness.
Yes, many male celebrities have been seen with painted nails, including Harry Styles, A$AP Rocky, Machine Gun Kelly, Tyler the Creator, Lil Yachty, Marc Jacobs, Jared Leto, Adam Lambert, Johnny Depp, Seal, Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, and Iggy Pop.
For some boys, painting their nails can be an important signifier of their gender and sexuality, particularly for those in the LGBTQ community.
