Why are some guys reluctant to have nail care done professionally at a nail salon?

Question

Contrary to what some believe, it does not make them “gay.” I see manly self-confident men in nail salons any time I go, yet I still hear some guys saying it’s “gay.” To see some guys’ nails, they look like they took a pocket knife to their nails and cuticles. Why the stigma?

bzcxx · Accepted Answer

Most guys think it’s ‘gay’ but I personally do it with no shame. I’m 100% straight but I love looking good and grooming myself well.
Looking nice, having nice clothes and being prim and proper have always been a class indicator. One thing that is often overlooked is the fact that one can tell someone’s social class by looking at their hands. I’ve been told by friends and even doctors and nurses that I have extremely smooth hands that have probably never been put to work before.
While some might find them insulting, I personally take it as a compliment.
Most people don’t realise that for most part of history, wealthy men did not work. They simply lived off rental income. These group were titled the ‘landed gentry’. They often have nice hands, always well groomed and manicured, light skin (they’re rarely under the sun, and if they are, they have servants holding a parasol over their heads). Men these days seem to think that doing blue-collared jobs maketh a man. I beg to differ. I don’t think that a man’s job determines someone’s sexuality. Both wealthy men who have flawless skin in a dinner jacket looks as manly as a construction worker in his construction boots. I’ve been told I have exceptionally smooth skin which is not common is guys, but since I’m not insecure when it comes to my sexuality, I always thank them for their compliments. I love having my nails done - of course no nail polish, simply have my nails cut, cuticles trimmed and then buffed. A man can never be overly prim and proper.

Dinosaursandanime65 · Accepted Answer

Personal hygiene isn’t gay. Using stuff or doing things meant for girls if you’re a guy is gay… well, it kind of depends I guess. Like, shampoo or.. that kind of stuff, not gay. I mean stuff like, DRESSES AND WIGS YOU DUCKIN WIERDOS. Then yes

FilmGuy93 · Answer

Kind of expensive, and people don't really appreciate the results on men lol As long as my finger nails are neatly trimmed, I'm happy.

Lliam · Answer

Getting mani-pedis is an indication that a guy is averse to manual labor.

They are sissified urbanites who uses lotions on their skin and spend as much time on their hair and looks as women. They are into conspicuous consumerism.

Women look like women because of the things they do to look as feminine as possible. Men who do things to look more feminine look less masculine.

Then again, I'm sure there are men with lots of money who get their nails done just to advertise the fact that they are rich.

My (future) wife bought me a manicure before our wedding. I had never had one before and I didn't know what to expect. I thought it might be pleasant. It wasn't. Poking, prodding and taking scissors to my cuticles was very uncomfortable. And it seemed pointless.

But I love it when women care for their delicate hands and do things to look pretty - nail polish, smooth skin, makeup, lipstick, etc. Again, it helps to distinguish them as much as possible from men. I love the things women to do to be soft, smooth and delicate.

Do women want men who are soft, smooth and delicate?

DEondeBeaumont · Answer

That's for bitches and gay guys. I would not getting sex with women if women saw me doing it. Call me what you will, but you don't understand what it is like to be a man. Nobody opens the door for you or cares about your feeling. You are used to that kind of treatment. Try being treated like you are a criminal. It's easy to sit back and criticize when you don't have to go through the same as we do.

Women are not going to be fucking me if I do bitch shit like sharing my feelings. Like right now, I can tell you feel a certain way reading this because I am expressing myself. You probably feel some kind of disgust. Do you see what I mean? Now you know why.

NathanDavis · Answer

lmfao... I've actually done it once, not because I needed it, just because the girls got me to do so

but personally, my first reason is that because of my OCD, and other fixations, mine nails are always looking flawlessly even and well cut to the nanometer...

the second reason is because just that one time I went there, it was 40 minutes straight of "omg, how do you keep your nails so strong and looking so naturally shiny like, tell me your secret... what is it? what do you do, what do you use? is it this, is it that, or this... or that?" and that was just from the one, first girl... before she called another worker and even other clients visiting "LOOK AT THIS, FEEL THIS!!!""

and they never ever take my simple answer that I do "nothing" with my nails... lol, it's just genetics, my nails are just naturally strong like that

TrueConfection · Answer

Great question! I see at least one man come in for a mani or pedi each time I'm at the salon. It's my understanding that it's more common for men who live in warm climates to get pedis.

On one hand, I'm kinda glad my husband doesn't go. It's nice for me to get some alone time where I get a little pampering. Also, my husband doesn't know how expensive those pedis are and I'd rather he didn't find out. 😬

SomeGuyCalledTom · Answer

I just wouldn't know what to ask for or what to expect. The way my mum explained it was that there's nail work they'll do for appearance's sake, and then there's the more medical-grade nail work that's to deal with things like ingrowing nails etc. But I wouldn't know what to do with that information, and it's frankly not something I really think about.

Fireguy17 · Answer

a file, a bench grinder, sandpaper, concrete work just fine. I have had a few manicures, it was for special occasions. No big deal.

jamesgoldman · Answer

Because it's just not the done thing for a self-respecting gentleman to engage in such behaviors

I remember during my restaurant days have hands like silk from working with salt and olive oil, I can remember women wanting my secret and men looking at men like an effeminate entity but it was work I couldn't avoid it

ChiTown33 · Answer

Because that's like putting perfume on a turd. 🤣

I'm all for a guy wanting to be presentable. But there's a limit. You probably think men should use lotion to. Actually I will give you this, I do have disgreements with some guys on this. If I use lotion my skin better be to the point of cracking and bleeding. 🤣

Still-alive · Answer

I mean pretty much for the reasons you said in your description a lot of dudes feel like they'll be emasculated or be seen as 'gay' for going to one.

idc personally. i actually went to one for a birthday gift once. it was really nice.

WindAtMyBack · Answer

There is absolutely no reason to do it. It's a huge waste of time and money. They are just fingernails. Like who cares? And why? It's such an amazingly trivial thing. I'm talking about for men and women both. Why?

Bricealan · Answer

I sat in my latest YOGA class, and looked at my toenails, and thought OMG! How gross. Immediately went home, soaked my feet, trimmed my nails and breathed a sigh of relief, at the results. Will fild a nail salon close to my yoga studio, and passed one on the way walking to the upstairs yoga studio.

Belgie · Answer

It's got fuck all to do with fear of being thought as gay and everything to do with not giving the tiniest shit about our nails.

Jamie05rhs · Answer

Yes, it is very much gay. Real men don't do that stuff.

pizzalovershouse · Answer

Depends on which nails toe nails or finger nails guys hate petite cures

dustybiker · Answer

Wealthy men tend to go more I’ve noticed. They care more about immaculate appearance.

BLP11520 · Answer

Well when I was a kid it was a luxury for my mother to get her nails done. it was a feminine thing. men clipped their nails and that was it. I can only speak for us older guys. Beauty salons were a woman's place.

Havthrills · Answer

I get a pedicure once in a while. Mostly to keep the nail on my big toe from growing into my toe too much.

shortster · Answer

A nail clipper is like $4. I can clip my own nails faster than I could setup an appointment at a nail salon. So it is faster and cheaper to do it myself; and the results are decent enough.

CuriousMufuxka · Answer

Well personally I get my hands dirty way too much.. Cleaning foodservice machines. The amount of grime and gross left over along with grease and oil even with gloves is nail cancer!

exitseven · Answer

I wound not go to a nail salon. <My wife would take me in for a psych eval.

Iron_Man · Answer

My nails are so clean so healthy because of all the vitamins that I take I don’t need anything. All I have to do is just cut them.

Juxtapose · Answer

It's worthless and ugly to me so why would I do it?

Guardian45 · Answer

Diabetics must have good foot care to avoid amputations

Gooddaze · Answer

You kidding me. I love having my feel done. Pedicure. Omg. Amazing.

Cubus · Answer

It's not worth it. Skipping the "gay" part - it's damn expensive and serves no reason.

Andres77 · Answer

Because it’s expensive

OfDeath · Answer

When you work with your hands all day, nail care would be futile.

Anonymous · Answer

Probably because no one needs to go to the nail salon to trim their nails.

SnowedIn · Answer

@SaoirseS may I please DM you with my answer?

fonduegirl · Answer

Toxic masculinity.

AngryCarl · Answer

Nail care what is it?

In_Trance · Answer

They see no value in it

TheAfrikan · Answer

We do think that we can do that ourselves

Why are some guys reluctant to have nail care done professionally at a nail salon?

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