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

[SaoirseS]

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?

Updates

1 y

Thanks for your replies. Some guys may think it's girly/gay to get nails done professionally, but fact of the matter is some from all walks of life (blue collar, NFL players, etc.) get them done, if only for special occasions, or when cuticles need care. There's nothing gay about self-care. I'm a little surprised to see how expensive pedis and manis are in some places.

[bzcxx]

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.

[SaoirseS]

Props to you. You make a valid point, masculinity has nothing to do with choice of trade or profession; blue collar/manual labor jobs do not make a man, and white collar/professional jobs do not make a man any less a man.

[Dinosaursandanime65]

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]

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]

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?

[SaoirseS]

Thanks for your input.

[Lliam]

You're welcome, SaoireS.

[TrueConfection]

Hmmm... Ok, good points. I don't care for the feel of rough hands on my skin, but I wouldn't want my husband to be "delicate" either.

[DEondeBeaumont]

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.

[SaoirseS]

Lol ok tough guy. Thanks for your input.

[NathanDavis]

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

[SaoirseS]

I’ll DM you and tell you what prompted this question in a little bit lol.

[NathanDavis]

lmao... alright

[TrueConfection]

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. 😬

[SaoirseS]

How much does a mani/pedi cost where you are? I pay $45 for a mani and pedi combined (mani is $15, pedi is $25 separately), plus I give my nail lady $10 so $55 total. The pedi includes nail cutting and shaping, Dremel if needed to trim thickness, callous and dead skin removal, and moisturizing lotion. Plus polish if I want. Mani is pretty much the same routine everywhere- cutting/shaping, cuticle care, lotion and polish.

[TrueConfection]

Pedi is $62 plus tip and mami is $22 plus tip.

[SaoirseS]

That is really expensive!

[jamesgoldman]

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

[SomeGuyCalledTom]

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]

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

[SaoirseS]

Throw in a weedwhacker too?

[Fireguy17]

just for hair cuts! :)

[ChiTown33]

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. 🤣

[SomeGuyCalledTom]

I've started using lotion recently because my skin gets dry and makes me itch during any kind of exercise, and especially after a cold shower when the natural oils have all stripped away. Men need to stop writing off moisturiser as "girly", for dry skin it's a game changer I'm discovering about 6 years later than I should have.

[SomeGuyCalledTom]

Edit: I guess "lotion" might mean different things, I'm talking about the moisturising stuff you apply after showering

[ChiTown33]

@SomeGuyCalledTom to each his own I guess. Again I don't condemn a guy for using lotion. I wouldn't do it though.

[Still-alive]

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.

[SaoirseS]

Kind of makes me wonder how many of those guys want to get "pegged" and think nothing of it

[Still-alive]

hmm im curious to try ngl lol. never done it before. sorry for tmi

[WindAtMyBack]

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]

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]

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]

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

[SaoirseS]

Why do you think it’s “gay” Jamie?

[Jamie05rhs]

@SaoirseS Because we don't go to the damn spa! That's why.

[SaoirseS]

Ok ok ok.

[pizzalovershouse]

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

[SaoirseS]

I think they’re reluctant to get a pedicure until they sit in the massage chair, then they’re all about them. 😀

[pizzalovershouse]

Oh did you ever get yurvrash healed

[SaoirseS]

@pizzalovershouse. My what healed?

[pizzalovershouse]

Meant your rash you had on chest

[SaoirseS]

You must be thinking of someone else.

[pizzalovershouse]

Ok maybe got it mixed up

[dustybiker]

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

[BLP11520]

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]

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]

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]

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!