Lacquer Reigns King
Dips, acrylics, and manly men
Written by Zack Zens, Contributing Writer
The last decade has seen the continued emergence of a feminization of menswear, whereby expression as an idea is now regulated by the individual and not by traditional norms. This new exploration within the fashion industry's mainstream boundaries has not only granted artists and designers new material to create, but it has also provided tremendous potential to consumers who are willing to circumvent gender-conforming constraints.
While Harry Styles' Vogue December 2020 cover shook the world, its presence marks a notable landmark in the growth and development of fluid gender expression in fashion and society as a whole. Artists like Billy Porter and David Bowie have been pioneers in this movement to blur the lines of gender in favor of bold and expressive looks. Nail art is at the head of this magnetic movement to democratize fashion, breaking down gender norms in favor of a more altruistic virtue: genuine beauty.
Men with painted nails have graced the covers of several syndicated publications from Vogue and GQ and shows no signs of fading from fashionable view anytime soon.
With that said, many ask what constitutes male nail art? In truth, there is no "one size fits all" category to judge what is and what is not male nail art; rather, the focus should be on finding something you like and not worrying whether it conforms to "male nail art" standards.
Those participating in the trend come from every corner of the world. From politics to rap music, the depth and breadth of nail art is truly enormous. Artists like Bad Bunny have pushed the envelope of nail art through his use of long stiletto acrylics studded in gemstones and styled in neon themes ranging from chartreuse to hot pink; artists like Travis Scott and Harry Styles, however, have developed a more subtle graphical motif with symbols fluctuating from playful smiley faces, to stoic roman numerals and even human eyes.
With this in mind, the brass tax of selecting what to brandish your nails with can be quite a daunting decision; thus, starting with something simple such as black or white lacquer can provide a tasteful yet neutral statement without fully committing to any design. Although lacquer is prone to chipping, this is normal and even welcomed, giving nails a sprezzatura-like charm. If chipping is not your style, then options like gel, dip, or acrylic offer a more resilient nail design, lasting around three weeks.
After becoming acquainted with simpler base colors, other tones like navy, red or green are popular; likewise, men often choose small designs or symbols to be drawn on top of the base coat. These symbols can include smiley faces, numbers, roman numerals, fruits, flags, or even phrases.
While painting your own nails is a great option, several fantastic local nail salons exist in the Madison area: Diamond Nails, Nails 4 U and Lotus Nails Bar are just a few to name.
Painting nails is not a permanent commitment, so go on ahead and live dangerously and explore yourself. If need be, there will always be a bottle of acetone to clean the slate.
Sources:
White Peter, “With Expert Guidance What Could Possibly Go Wrong with a Home Manicure?,” CNN, Getty, 2021.