Can You Paint Over Chipped Nail Polish

Over the pandemic, more and more men – gay and straight alike – are cozying up to intensive grooming rituals. And that includes the male person manicure – the "menicure," if you will.

We've seen information technology all over Hollywood these past few years, with male celebs normalizing painted nails on the red rug. Now, nail fine art for men is taking Tiktok and Instagram past storm. Esquire even dubbed 2020 the " Year of the Menicure ."

So why do men paint their nails? Tin can men paint their nails? Allow's take a deep dive into the resurging trend.

RELATED: Thousands support Texas gay teen suspended from school for wearing boom polish

The Rising Trend Of Men Wearing Smash Smoothen

No longer is boom polish for men who go against the tide. Y'all don't demand to exist emo to exist in black nail smooth, nor do yous demand to go up in elevate to sport stiletto nails. In fact, the tide is shifting toward a new era of painted nails being unisex and accessible. The menicure is no longer tied down by sexual orientation or subculture – it's but style.

So how did we get here? Why practice men pigment their nails black, bluish, or even pastel? Y'all could chalk it upwardly to pandemic colorlessness. More than guys experimenting and coloring their nails while stuck indoors from a forced lockdown. Perhaps it's too due to Gen Z and their polarizing effect on gender norms. That, and the many high-profile celebrities we've seen grace the cherry-red carpet with perfectly painted nails.

There'due south now a collective acceptance of gender fluidity. Men are recognizing that information technology'south okay to blur the lines and not play by the rules. Permit's admit it, being "masculine" is so restrictive sometimes, and information technology feels adept just to suspension gratuitous from all that pressure.

A History Of Painted Nails

Ancient History

Men wearing nail smooth isn't exactly new. Historically, men have been painting their nails as early as 3,200 B.C. Back then in Babylon, warriors put war paint not just on their faces but also on their nails. There's also evidence that men wore boom polish in aboriginal Egypt and ancient Mainland china.

The 1800s

Over time, the lacquered fingernail became a female-targeted accessory. Then came the opening of America's first nail salon in the 1800s to the invention of liquid polish in the 1900s, making nail polish and boom art accessible to the masses.

Rock And Scroll Era

By the '70s and '80s, glam rock and punk rock superstars made the man-icure a symbol of the counterculture. Case in point: icons similar David Bowie circa Ziggy Stardust, Iggy Pop, and Lou Reed and his black polish, and Kurt Cobain in the '90s with grungy chipped smoothen on his hands. These artists inspired many a guy going through a punk phase to fiddle at painting their ain nails for a heave of rebellious confidence.

Present Day "Male person" Smoothen

Past the late 2010s, fashion magazines began weighing in on the manicure for men. Many doubted its longevity and, well, they've been proven wrong. In 2019, men painting their nails shifted into the mainstream. That aforementioned year, Queer Eye grooming skilful Jonathan Van Ness became the offset male brand ambassador for Essie.

This wouldn't be a listing of proficient nail smooth for men without mentioning Harry Styles. He's rarely seen without a glaze of color on his nails. Of course, there'south too Lil Nas X, known for his flamboyant way and makeup.

But up until this point, men's boom polish all the same carried with it the "stigma" of it existence for girls or at most gay, non-binary, or trans men and women. That is, until the media picked up on rapper A$AP Rocky and his next-level nail fine art.

One iconic moment was when he sported smiley faces on his nails. " I feel like men should be able to practise nail fine art without feeling feminine, " A$AP Rocky said in a Vogue interview. We saw other male celebrities follow suit: Bad Bunny, Lil Yachty, Post Malone, and even Pete Davidson.

Nail Smoothen For Men, By Men

Looking for an understated clear shine or perhaps a more vibrant coat of color? At that place's a bunch of brands out there at present, for men and by men. Only selection upwardly a color or two from some of these best nail polish brands, launched past our faves.

Pleasing by Harry Styles

Harry Styles's genderless boom smoothen line, Pleasing, launched in November of 2021. We'd like to contend that this was the catalyst for male celebs launching their own nail polish brands.

Given the former One Direction star is known for his non-binary fashion choices paired with vibrantly polished nails, the "life brand" was designed to "dispel the myth of a binary beingness." Yous can see it in the brand's lookbook, where smash polishes are shown on a diverse gear up of easily – women, men, fifty-fifty older folk can "find their Pleasing."

Currently, in that location are four shades in finishes from matte to pearlescent. Birthday, the line makes for endless color combinations. A huge bonus: the formula is sustainable, vegan, and cruelty-free.

UN/DN LAQR by Motorcar Gun Kelly

Love him or hate him, Machine Gun Kelly'southward maximalist, and modern grunge aesthetic proves that punk own't dead. He's known for some pretty bold style choices, like that time he wore freakishly long hot pinkish and silvery-studded acrylics.

Honestly, MGK'due south got major nail game. So it but makes sense for him to get into the beauty industry via smash shine. Enter Un/DN LAQR – pronounced "Undone Lacquer" – which just launched in December 2021.

From shades like "Depressionist" and "Mary Jane" to a boom kit called "Therapy Sessions," United nations/DN LAQR is an extension of Machine Gun Kelly's confusing personality and style. It's reminiscent of the popular punk-slash-emo era of the early aughts, all near self-expression and attitude.

No matter your orientation or preference, just keep creating yourself. Equally the website says, "No permission needed."

Crete

Lil Yachty launched Crete concluding year in May only left it in Nov short of a new drop. Granted, Lil Yachty'south stint at the helm of his own nail polish brand Crete was brusque-lived. But that doesn't accept away from what the brand stands for: that blast polish and smash art has no gender. Nail shine for men is and should exist accessible and inclusive. And it shows even down to Crete'due south innovative packaging–a retractable Nail Paint Pen, as opposed to a canteen of shine.

Lil Yachty created Crete after hearing virtually Trevor Wilkinson getting suspended from school but for wearing nail shine. As a brand, Crete aims to redefine the norm and modify the perception of masculinity. More unisex, more than self-expressive, less binary. It's uncomplicated self-care – "kind of only like getting a haircut," as Yachty said while speaking to the Washington Post .

Golf le Fleur by Tyler, the Creator

Withal some other "male polish" drop in December, this fourth dimension by contemporary rap legend Tyler, the Creator. His style and lifestyle label dropped a sheathing nail smoothen collection in Golf le Fleur'south signature heaven bluish and sunset orange color palette. Each shade represents Tyler, the Creator's version of happiness.

When asked about his inspiration backside venturing into beauty, Tyler, the Creator simply sees information technology as some other artery for creativity. Again with our recurring theme of self-expression overcoming gender rules. "I like to wear glitter nail smooth a lot, so I wanted to make a few colors that I rarely go to encounter. That's all information technology is ," Tyler, the Creator said in an interview with Allure . " It is less wanting in on [the] dazzler earth and more, 'Oh, I desire to try my paw at this. '"

Final Thoughts: Is The "Menicure" Here To Stay?

Let's face information technology: boom smooth on men is so hot right now. And honestly, we don't think it'southward going away any time soon. We alive in an historic period where beauty is self-expression, and it'due south for everyone.

Men are becoming more comfy getting manicures. Nosotros're shifting abroad from metrosexuality and toward a more inclusive and expressive new normal. Nail care and nail polish aren't reserved for the gay man or the feminine type anymore – getting a manicure should be as normal every bit styling your hair. It's only preparation.

And seriously, who even wants crusty cuticles these days?

RELATED: From makeup to tucking, 19 queens share their fiercest drag tips