Isla Bennett
Painting one fingernail black has been associated with a variety of meanings, from gang affiliation to occult symbolism. In the 1970s, for example, female initiates to certain cults or covens would paint their nails black to covertly signal their status as newly sworn members. In other cases, people might paint one nail black simply as an accent nail to stand out from the others, with no particular meaning attached.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Accent nail | Meant to stand out from the others |
| Gang affiliation | A man in California was pulled over by a cop who asked if it was "a gang thing" |
| Lesbian | One source states that it means you're a lesbian |
| Occult affiliation | Female initiates to a cult, coven, or order would paint their nails black to connote their status |
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What You'll Learn
- Accent nail: a nail that is painted a different colour to stand out from the others
- Gang affiliation: some people associate one black nail with gang membership
- Cult membership: female initiates to certain cults, covens or orders paint their nails black to connote their status as a newly sworn initiate
- Personal preference: some people paint their nails black because they like it
- Lesbian identity: some lesbians paint one nail black as a symbol of their identity
Accent nail: a nail that is painted a different colour to stand out from the others
Painting one nail a different colour to the rest is known as an 'accent nail'. This is a popular trend, with people choosing to paint one nail a different colour for fun or to stand out.
Some people choose to paint their pinky nail a different colour, like the character Murdoc from the Gorillaz. Others choose to paint their ring finger a different colour, like a nine-year-old girl mentioned in one source.
There are also some more specific meanings attributed to painting one nail black. In the 1970s, female initiates to a particular cult or coven would paint their nails black to indicate their status as a newly sworn member. In this case, the black nail was meant to blaspheme the Judaeo-Christian custom of wearing a ring on the fourth finger of the left hand as a symbol of love and fidelity.
In another example, a man with one black-painted nail was asked by a police officer if it was "a gang thing". The man denied this, but the officer's question suggests that painting one nail black could be associated with gang activity.
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Gang affiliation: some people associate one black nail with gang membership
There are several reasons why someone might choose to paint one nail black. One black nail can be an 'accent nail', which is meant to stand out from the others. It may also be a reference to the Gorillaz character Murdoc, or a symbol of lesbian identity.
Some people associate one black nail with gang membership. One source mentions a man who was pulled over by a cop in California who asked if his one black nail was 'a gang thing'. Another source mentions a man with a black nail who became defensive when asked about it, saying it had nothing to do with anything gothic and something about gangsters.
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Cult membership: female initiates to certain cults, covens or orders paint their nails black to connote their status as a newly sworn initiate
Painting one fingernail black can be a way for female initiates to certain cults, covens or orders to covertly connote their status as a newly sworn initiate during a probationary period. For example, this was a practice of the Process Church in the 1970s.
The choice of which fingernail to paint black can be significant. Some people choose the ring finger on the left hand because of the traditional belief that a vein (the Vena amoris) runs directly from the fourth finger of the left hand to the heart. As it is a Judaeo-Christian custom to wear a wedding ring on this finger, the occult significance of a blackened nail on that finger is to symbolically blaspheme that custom.
However, painting one fingernail black can also be a fashion choice, with some people choosing to paint one nail a different colour to the rest as an 'accent nail'.
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Personal preference: some people paint their nails black because they like it
Painting one nail black can be a personal preference, with some people choosing to do so simply because they like it. This is sometimes referred to as an 'accent nail', which is meant to stand out from the others. Some people paint their nails black to emulate a character, like the Gorillaz' Murdoc, or to honour someone, like Penn Jillette, who has one black nail on his thumb in honour of his parents.
Painting one nail black can also be a fashion choice, with some people choosing to paint their nails black because it is trendy. In recent years, black nails have been associated with the goth subculture, and some people may paint their nails black to express their interest in the occult.
In some cases, painting one nail black can be a way for female initiates to a particular cult, coven, or order to covertly connote their status as a newly sworn initiate during a probationary period. For example, members of the Process Church in the 1970s would paint the nail on their ring finger black to symbolically blaspheme the Judaeo-Christian custom of wearing a ring on that finger as a symbol of love and fidelity.
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Lesbian identity: some lesbians paint one nail black as a symbol of their identity
However, painting one nail black can also be done as an "accent nail", meant to stand out from the others. This can be done for fun, or to emulate a character, for example, one person painted their pinky nail red to emulate the Gorillaz character Murdoc.
There are also some more negative connotations associated with painting one nail black. One source mentions that it could be related to gang activity, and another says that it could be related to occult activity, with female initiates to a particular cult, coven, or order required to paint their fingernails black to covertly connote their status as a newly sworn initiate.
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Frequently asked questions
It could be an 'accent nail', which is meant to stand out from the others. It could also be a reference to gang culture, or a lesbian symbol.
In the 1970s, female initiates to a particular cult, coven, or order would paint their ring finger nail black to covertly connote their status as a newly sworn initiate. This was also meant to blaspheme the Judaeo-Christian custom of wearing a ring on the fourth finger of the left hand as a symbol of love and fidelity.
It could be a reference to gang culture, or simply because they like it.
Penn Jillette has one on his thumb in honour of his parents.
