Nail polish trend among men may boost acceptance of gender diversity

In an era of diversity of lifestyles, painting one’s nails is no longer a habit only for women. This change is taking place even in Japan, where a questionnaire by nail salon reservation app Nailbook shows that 40% of men who paint their nails have been praised for it. In a country with traditionally very rigid binary gender roles, it is a sign of greater acceptance of diversity and individuality.

In December 2021, Nailbook, which is operated by Spika Inc., asked 124 men who have at some time made a nail salon booking about their experiences with nail care. Although the majority of them said that the people around them made no comment on the painting of their nails, nearly 40% said they were complimented on it. In an increasingly genderless era, it indicates a shift in the assumption that painting one’s nails is something that only women can enjoy.

The results of the survey also showed that men were not painting their nails to garner popularity with the “opposite” sex. Rather, they did it simply because they wanted to.

The graph below shows that the main reason for men visiting a nail salon was grooming. In a distant second place came an interest in beauty, followed by a liking of nail art or color. The final reason was to protect their nails. Among survey respondents, 49.6% said they preferred clear nail polish.

Although it has not been widely recognized yet, the trend toward men’s nail care seems to be ramping up.

Interestingly, 75% of respondents were aged 30 or over. Although the younger age group is considered more fashion- and beauty-conscious, men in their teens or 20s accounted for less than 25% of respondents. While this is surely due to greater disposable income among the older generations, it also suggests that men’s nail polish is not just a fad, but part of a broader social change.

The broader benefits for men who paint their nails

The survey also explored how having their nails done has affected the men’s lives, with the question, “What benefits have you experienced from painting your nails?” Answers include the following:

• “Not only have I started paying attention to the care of my fingertips, but I have also started to pay attention to the care of other body parts. It feels good to see my fingertips in good condition.”
• “Women at our client companies often say that my nails are beautiful, which helps me make a good impression.”
• “There are many women in my workplace, and my hands are often seen, so the topic of nail care has really expanded communication among us.”

These comments show that painting their nails has brought the men a joy that they were previously shut out from, and sparked conversations that transcend binary gender boundaries. That breakdown of social barriers is a win for us all.

Accepting others’ preferences, even when they buck the gender norm

A famous Japanese song by Noriyuki Makihara called “Donnatokimo” has the lyrics “to be myself, I want to embrace the feeling of being able to express what I like.” And also, “At any time, the answer comes from days of searching.”

For people whose “like,” when exposed to the glaring eyes of the world, is labelled as “queer,” they surely experience feeling lost. They probably then question whether they should continue to have that “like.” But to be true to ourselves, we need to always try to express ourselves, no matter what labels are thrown at us. The lyrics, “to be myself, I want to embrace the feeling of being able to express what I like,” is a message to those who are hesitating to be themselves that it is a noble thing to express what you like.

There is another way to interpret this: this is also a message for the friends and family members of people who come out as queer. It asks those on the receiving end to embrace the preferences of those who express a “like” that does not match their assigned gender norm. Remember that they would not tell you about it if they thought you could not be trusted with the information. Hence, dear “others,” please be proud of being trusted, and give that person a warm hug.