"Men don't get manicures, they bite their nails with their teeth," read a semi-popular joke in the early 2000s. Paired with memes featuring belt sanders and nail file sharpeners, men who made nails at the time were condemned as "feminine" because they were too concerned about their appearance. If it were not for the former, they would be regarded as "rebellious" and associated with subcultures such as punk and emo to justify their masculine adaptation.
Then there is the entire "high maintenance" narrative of the decorative paws in the dating pool. "It's totally to my taste," Allure wrote in 2012. She explained that women are usually attracted to those who take good care of themselves, but beauty products such as nail polish have brought men into a highly sensitive and demanding field. . The publication added: “If I had to wait for his nail polish to dry before going to dinner, then I would not go.” Entering an era rooted in gender reflection and mobility, nail art is now used as a self-expression Morse code. Whether it's dipping or cutting, pasting or printing, people who show masculinity are flirting with the shame around the world to push 2021 to the forefront and become the official year of men's icure.
In 2016, Harry Styles jumped into the nail polish pool-at about the same time as his dazzling exit from One Direction-and willingly signed, rewriting the rules of masculinity on his terms. From the eye-catching sports smiley to the unveiling of the official album cover with his figures, the singer was quickly followed by Lil Nas X and Machine Gun Kelly (MGK). Although the former has repeatedly proved that diamonds are men’s best friends, the latter has ventured into the so-called “no man’s land” with stiletto shoes. Oops, MGK even has a fan page dedicated to his hands, and ultimately his nails.
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The trio is not alone. In the past few years, celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Jared Leto, Troy Sewan, A$AP Rocky and Bad Bunny have successfully demonstrated the gender of society towards beauty. The shift in stereotypes. In fact, these celebrities not only used nail art to beautify their day, but also launched their own brands and series—starting with the unisex nail polish series named UN/DN that MGK cooperated with Unlisted Brand Lab.
Lil Yachty's Crete is another brand on the list. According to its official website, Crete was established in May 2021 to "redefine the perception of gender norms and strive to get rid of social boundaries." Since its launch, the rapper has released two more series, namely Heatwave 002 and Glow 003. The iconic nail pen is included, which is more convenient to use, including red, orange, purple, blue and green polishes and stickers with patterns such as butterflies, smiley faces and lightning. With the launch of Chanel's men’s nail polish series and the American blogger and host Jonathan Van Ness (Jonathan Van Ness) making history and becoming the first male ambassador of Essie nail polish, nail art seems to have come off the stage, apparently recently. Penetrate into everyone's nail bed.
For Duke, 64, the lockdown has just begun a year after his wife's death. "I have a new girlfriend and she lives with me," he recalled, admitting that he always wanted a manicure or pedicure and wear a transparent coat. "She surprised me and showed her color for the feet, so I chose fire engine red." Duke continued to describe the feeling as love at first sight. "Every time I take off my socks, I laugh," he added.
When asked about his initial reaction to his manicure, Duke emphasized that most of his public experiences have been positive-except for his brother. "Most people don't say anything, but those who say it are usually compliments," he said, adding that the general feedback ranged from "I like your polish" to "pretty colors." "Some people ask'why'. Of course, I'm very worried, but it's all in my mind."
On the other hand, in my chat with Louis, the nail polish lover admitted that he tried nail art to establish a self-care routine. "About 6 months ago, I asked my wife to paint them for me," he said. Although Louis has been successful in his beauty practice ever since, he admits that it will get better over time.
"The reaction to my nails was mixed," he continued. "My wife and children are very cute, and my mother just goes with the crowd. She always doesn't judge and support. My sister smiled, but it was unexpected. The reaction was really stinging at first, but she was really. Okay—just taken aback.” Although Louis’ father decided to make a joke and caused some harm to him in the process, the enthusiast admits that whenever the staff in the store saw men with nails At times, they will be praised by them. According to Louis, this has translated into wonderful conversations with people (mainly women).
"Some people are also great at work. I often talk about nails with some women, and I like them very much." However, the new aesthetic choices also gave some men in Louis's office some strange opinions. "I got some'what are you wearing?' comments and some'why?'," he said before introducing me to an often inaccurate hypothesis that is common in the masculine adaptation of nail art: men are just them Product tester for his companion and child. "One day, three different people asked my children if they painted me nails, which was embarrassing. I was also asked if I wanted to put on makeup and if I planned to open a nail salon," Louis said. Although the feedback was not always positive, he emphasized that no one has responded maliciously so far. "Most people are either satisfied with this or don't comment," he added, agreeing with Duke in this regard.
It is nothing new for masculine people to apply nail polish. In fact, a quick glance at the history of beauty practices will make you question whether history is repeating itself. After excavating the royal tomb, the first manicure set was unearthed in ancient Babylon in 3200 BC. At that time, Babylonian men of all classes painted nail polish, but they did not use henna, as it is speculated that Indians used kohl before. Presumably, the Warriors of Babylon spent several hours sorting and painting their nails before entering the battle.
In 3000 BC, the Chinese and ancient Egyptians began to dye their nails to distinguish classes and dynasties. The Chinese mix egg white, beeswax, gum arabic and petals to make a paint. They can soak their nails for several hours to achieve the desired effect, while the Egyptians prefer henna regardless of gender. Then came the United Kingdom in the 1800s, when women mainly used their nails to express purity and hygiene. By the 1930s, brands like Revlon sold red and pink polishes directly to female customers, and there was little evidence of how beauty practices became a feminine expression.
However, counterculture brought nail art back to the arena of American punk rock and grunge movement. Here, idols like Iggy Pop, Kurt Cobain, Lou Reed, and David Bowie alienated their ancestors’ once fanatical super-male images, and polishing gradually penetrated the skateboarding community where it was considered basic self-care . With the rise of urban males and the blurring of gender stereotypes, today's masculine people will undoubtedly take things to a higher level.
"I think in the past year or two, we have seen more male nail art, and it will definitely become normalized," said Alix, owner of Edinburgh At The Studio. Alix founded the nail studio with the goal of having her own identity in the industry, and she is currently seeking to help others find their own identity-at the same time to provide opportunities for new artists. "This is only possible after I have my own studio," she explained. "I want it to be a space that is friendly to both men and women, because I know that salons can be intimidating at times."
Alix first started by helping her friend's nail. "He was passionate about crazy nail design from the beginning, and since then I think he really influenced more men to come to my salon for manicure," she said, adding how much she liked her studio Currently witnessing an influx of male hipsters manicure regularly. When it comes to the general reactions of these clients, Alix outlines how they are as excited about the beauty practice as she is. "I think many people think that men who have manicured nails are part of the LGBTQ community. But in fact, male nails are not different from female nails-it's just another way of expressing yourself."
When Screen Shot got in touch with TJ, the mastermind behind Bicolor, a private nail studio in Beverly Hills, California, the artist responded to his commitment to a similar mission. "One of my goals is to create a safe environment where anyone can express themselves," he said when asked about his motivation for supporting his studio. Looking back at the time TJ himself worked in a nail salon, he mentioned that some manicurists were surprised when men came in as customers—especially if they wanted to paint their nails a lot. "Sometimes people say they will not accept my services because I am a male nail artist. I am very upset when these things happen, which is why I always say'nail care is gender-neutral'. I really hope My customers come to enjoy the service they want without worrying about anyone."
In order to analyze the TJ studio’s demand for men’s nail art, I asked the artist whether this approach has witnessed the recent boom, or has always been a thing—it has been marginalized until now. "I am a technical beginner and have only worked in the industry for two years," TJ said. "Even compared to when I started doing nail art, I see that the demand for men's nail art is growing." He attributed the surge to social media and fashion and beauty publications, adding that more masculine people How to express their confidence when painting nails. "Since I opened my studio, the number of male clients who come to me has increased," the artist confirmed.
Let's face it: even if masculine people can use polishes, inclusive salons, or acquaintances who want to do nails, this process can cause anxiety. Conversely, a quick search on Google to find and trust the community will take you to the beautiful venue of r/malepolish-a special place for men (including cis, straddle, and masculine people) to "share stories, Post photos of their polished nails and discuss anything related to nail polish or its relationship with gender expression."
People whose nail polish may pose challenges to them are also welcome — such as gender-queer, gender-fluid, androgynous people, etc. — a regular post on subreddit effectively summarizes all the red flags and suggestions that people need to One step ahead in beauty practice. "The first time? New people but not confident? How can I be safe? Start here," it wrote, listing all the age groups interested in nail art. One suggestion is "start small". "A transparent coat, a nail, and a'traditional masculine' color more like black and gray are good choices," the post continued, which made me wonder if there are any significant variables in the masculine adaptation of nail art .
"When men first come to my studio, they usually want a clear background (or natural color) and maybe some design," TJ admitted under my urging. When the artist first started to manicure himself, he simply sculpted his nails and applied a transparent primer and top coat on them. However, after perfecting his hands and manicure, he started experimenting with small designs to perfect the transparent base. "Now, most of my male clients want to paint their nails with different colors and do all kinds of interesting things on them," he said. Most of TJ's male clients also admit that when they first nailed them, they felt that they were different, and that the designs and colors of the nails were different.
On the other hand, Alix emphasized how preferences usually depend on the specific theme and the time of the year to complete the nail art. "They tend to have a rough idea, but it allows me to be creative freely, which is very interesting," she explained. "Recently, I asked one of my clients to wear a scarf he wore when he was attending a fashion event in London, and he asked me to make a design inspired by it. It was really cool!" According to experts, her clients are big Part of the time they are devoted to nail art-there are no restrictions to prevent them from having fun in the process. "I did find that many of my male customers also have their favorite colors, and they always get the colors they like. It's almost like a safety blanket, knowing that they will like what they get, which is related to their atmosphere. Complement each other."
However, interviewing all four enthusiasts who actively participated in the 2021 "Men's Nail Campaign" made me question a controversial concept: First, explain to masculine people that nail polish is a gender concept?
"I think it's a gender concept now based on the response they received," Louis responded to his thoughts. "But I believe they should be? I think it depends on your concept of what "feminine" or "masculine" means. In fact, my nails are considered to be'feminine', and I have no idea about it. Opinion." Again, Louis admitted that it was comfortable to blend his masculinity and femininity together. "This is part of my personality, and it's fun to express this through some nail art," he continued. However, fans believe that nail polish itself is not necessarily a feminine expression medium. "We are just used to seeing it in women, so it stands out in men. For me, the only way to change is to become commonplace for men over time-although these social norms may It will take several generations to change."
When asked how we cross the threshold of "genderless beauty" and reach an ideal situation where aesthetic choices are not questioned, Duke believes that everything starts with how we raise the next generation. "My children are more open and understanding diversity than when I was at their age, and I doubt that the next generation will be better," he said, emphasizing the importance of role models in this process. "Some celebrities have polished up, which is good-but I would like to see a politician or executive do this."
"Everyone is happier after the new nail manicure"
Although the attractiveness of male nail art has been gathering, Duke still looks forward to meeting other people organically with people with nails. "Of course, it seems to be more popular, but I haven't encountered anyone on the street with polished fingers," he said, outlining his hypothesis that many men may just have pedicures at the moment. "Although I like progress, I think we need more," he concluded. As for Louis, the enthusiast mentioned how he does not follow trends or celebrities and therefore knows nothing about the recent nail craze. "I haven't seen many people apply nail polish, so I want to say that this situation is still quite rare at the moment. But if it really becomes more popular, I totally approve of it, I will get less strange appearance."
As we wait for all these insights to dry before applying the next layer of insider information, let's take a look at some suggestions from all four enthusiasts for those who are still hesitant about dipping their nails in the polishing bath . "Start when you are ready and comfortable," TJ said. "A few times when I felt that it was not safe to enter certain places, I hid my hands in my pockets. For some reason, I felt that I had to hide at that particular time-probably because I was in a place that was not allowed. Men grew up in a society where men painted nails."
Duke admits that there are certain spaces where it is not safe for men who appear to try nail polish, thus exacerbating this dilemma. "Think about very conservative countries or hateful families," he explained. However, at the same time, he thinks that some anxiety is in our minds. "Our friends and family will accept our identity. This is just paint."
When asked how clients can cope with their anxiety and social pressure while expressing themselves, Alix first stated that the first nail art is usually daunting because you don't know what will happen or what is required. "I think choosing a nail salon that gives you a friendly atmosphere-or even better, if recommended to you-is a good start. Remember, no one judges you. Keep your comfort zone first. Cimani is a good way.” The artist also mentioned a case of a male client who came for the first time and just wanted to apply gel polish on a few of his nails to relieve Own beauty practice. "As soon as we started, he felt a little brave and decided to fix all ten nails," she exclaimed.
Alix also appreciates the fact that her clients can confidently tell her how they felt during the entire service process. "I can’t represent other salons, but for me, I treat all my clients like friends. I have established so many wonderful connections with people through nails. Although this is a profession, I don’t understand why it is. Nor can it be an interesting personal thing."
As for Louis, this enthusiast emphasized the importance of communities, which can help you express your confidence in a variety of expression media. "Getting advice from people who do nail art is really helpful," he said, provided that you know people who are willing to ask for help. "Be prepared because you will get reviews. If you ask why, I always say it's because I like to do it." Louis also suggests starting small and trying to wear them in your mini shopping spree. "You may be surprised by the positive response you get. Just give people time to adjust to it, and after a while, people you care about will see it as your'normal' characteristic."
Speaking of Duke, the 64-year-old still remembers a specific interaction with another fan on r/malepolish. "Someone asked me where to do nail art. He was thinking, so I introduced him to my nail artist Tracy. He went and got a transparent coat, then black, and now he turned purple. So he was taking baby steps when he turned directly pink on my fingers!" A few weeks later, on his way to 65, Duke hoped that he would start his love for nail polish sooner. "I have a lot of fun, and I hope this helps people feel comfortable about being themselves," he concluded. After all, nail polish is really suitable for everyone with nails, if you ask me, now everyone can use some colors in their lives.
When Paris-based luxury brand Céline launched the iconic fur-lined Birkenstocks collection, the illegal relationship between fashion and the "ugly" trend began. Currently at the helm of Cruggs, a hybrid of Crocs and UGG, this concept seems to have penetrated into the beauty industry-affecting everything from our lips to our fingertips. The re-launch of duck nails, a "dazzling" but destructive nail trend, is guaranteed to let you know "what are those" before you order UV lamps from Amazon and try yourself.
Also known as fan-shaped head, flared nails, and jersey nails, duck nails refer to the shape of nails that resemble duck webbed feet. Unlike the traditional coffin and stilettos shapes, they are thin at first, then flared outward from your nail plate, the latter gradually narrowing into sharp peaks. In this respect, their similarities are also equivalent to the similarities of fans or flared jeans.
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With the revival of Y2K, Duck nails returned to mainstream attention, calling Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi their fairy godmother. Snooky, an actor of the MTV reality show Jersey Shore, showed off what was then known as the "duckbill" on the red carpet of the 2011 MTV Music Video Awards. Although her fan tips are decorated with alternating rhinestones and black and white stripes to the audience, there are several petitions aimed at monitoring duckbill nails and preventing them from becoming a full-scale development trend in the future.
Ten years later, the number of views on #jerseynails was 80,000, and then the number of views on #ducknails was 15.8 million. The nail shape is obviously not one of those things left on the Jersey Shore.
Both manicurists and celebrities are consolidating their 2021 revival. A quick glance at Nails Dani's beautifully decorated TikTok feed is enough to mark duck nails as the official nail trend of the year. Although the comments section shows some of the most suspicious users on the platform, some of her videos have so far received as many as 1.6 million views.
"A lot of people don't understand these nails, but I think the point is to break the rules," Los Angeles photographer and stylist Casie Wendel said in an interview with Good Morning America. "They should be extra and lively, that's what makes them extreme and iconic." Nail art lover Yazmin also recalled that her aunts caught up with the trend when she was in elementary school. "I also want to thank the black and Latino communities for their inspiration, whether people like them or not, I will continue to wear them because of their extraordinary shape and creativity," she added.
Then it was Bhad Bhabie with her signature French manicure interpretation of this trend. The mini ASMR tutorial has been viewed more than 11 million times on TikTok and has inspired many people, including Mackenzie, who praised the rapper for introducing her to the weird trend.
I love these 😍😍😍💗💗@slayedbykashhh
Whether it is out of genuine interest or just out of curiosity, if you are obsessed with duck nails and the nearby nail salon is not open yet, we have already provided you with protection. Here is how you can grasp the trend and have a good time.
Duck nails is a recipe with six ingredients. First, you need a pack of pre-formed artificial horn nails, which retail for about $10 on Amazon. These man-made forms are essential for shaping the appearance. You can also choose to carve the entire form from scratch, but are we kidding, newbies? UV lamps, preferred nail polish, transparent UV nail polish and nail brushes are also on the list. Next comes decoration-it depends on the complexity of the design you want to try.
It's time to start squatting. First glue the artificial nail on the natural nail plate. If they are too long, please feel free to cut them as you like with scissors. You can also choose to enlarge them further by adding and sculpting some acrylic in the corners with a brush. Before proceeding to the next step, make sure that the base is firm and beautiful, and there is no risk of peeling off.
Next is to apply the nail polish of your choice. According to your design, apply a uniform coating and cure under ultraviolet light to speed up. After finishing and dusting off, it's time to decorate your baby. From Snooki-style rhinestones to Kidcore charms and Hello Kitty stickers, the possibilities are endless. Glue them according to your design and continue.
After the decorations are mixed, it's time to seal them up before going out. Cover your work with transparent UV nail gel and cure it under the lamp again. You can also use a fine nail brush to gently apply transparent acrylic gel to make your nails appear natural. Remember to file this layer before sealing with clear gel.
You have it. Perfect duck nails that are guaranteed to stand out for miles away in gatherings where social distance is far away. If you have ever worried about removing the ring or flipping tortillas in it, Nails Dani provides you with a visual statement to support the whole trend. Rinse and repeat, little ducks!
Reply to @hairbow101 💀🤷♀️😁 This is how I do it🙋♀️ #nailsdani #fyp #flarednails #ducknails #bellnails