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  Nail it like a man

Nail it like a man

AGE CORRESPONDENT
Published : Apr 13, 2016, 11:41 pm IST
Updated : Apr 13, 2016, 11:41 pm IST

Hundreds of men are using the hashtag #MalePolish to flaunt their nail jobs and to revive the notion that nail paint and manicures are no longer an exclusively feminine indulgence.

Designer Marc Jacobs has been Instagramming pictures of his glamorous  manicures with different shades of nail paint every week.
 Designer Marc Jacobs has been Instagramming pictures of his glamorous manicures with different shades of nail paint every week.

Hundreds of men are using the hashtag #MalePolish to flaunt their nail jobs and to revive the notion that nail paint and manicures are no longer an exclusively feminine indulgence.

When you first heard the term ‘metrosexual’, did you picture a man finally shedding his uber-macho grunge exterior and getting in touch with his softer side Well, it’s time to extend that image a little farther and make some room for #MalePolish, a hashtag through which designer Marc Jacobs is reviving the notion that nail paint and manicures are no longer an exclusively feminine indulgence. He has been Instagramming pictures of his glamorous manicures with different shades of nail paint every week, on what he calls ‘Mani Mondays’ and now hundreds of men are using the hashtag the world over to flaunt their own nail jobs!

“A strange concoction of norm and stereotype once dictated that I view my nails as an irrelevant part of my hands, useful only when a surface on my body is particularly itchy or a tiffin or pencil box is proving particularly hard to pry open,” recalls media professional Anuj Sharma as he then goes on to point out what changed, and how. “My first trip to a nail salon recently with my girlfriend brought about an epiphany. And it took me years to walk into a nail salon at all, mind you. There were two surprises in store for me that day: first, that there were more men already in there than I had allowed myself to imagine — gay, straight and otherwise. Second, that there is nothing even remotely emasculating about getting a manicure.

Anuj adds, “I mean, I had heard that one before, but this was the first time I was experiencing it firsthand and had to agree wholeheartedly. Once I was done, my hands looked and felt neat, clean, well cared for and basically like a part of me I hadn’t forgotten about yet. I probably wouldn’t go as far as painting my nails, though. That ship is still a long way from sailing, at least for me personally. But if someone else chooses to do it, I don’t think I’ll be ridiculing them any more.”

Giving his thumbs up to the trend, celebrity stylist Rishi Raj says, “Men and nail polish are completely alright as long as they are able to carry it off well. Black and dark nail shades have been something that men belonging to the goth-punk zone have worn for the longest time. The introduction of more colours now is something of an evolution. I think anything and everything that breaks the gender barrier in the mainstream is a welcome change. It’s all about contributing to the evolutionary process. It’s about men becoming comfortable with wanting to look good, different and trendy or fashionable. I would strongly emphasise that male polish is more than just a fashion fad, it is about breaking the gender barrier.” Ask him if he has any advice for men who would want to try it but are a bit shy, he shares, “Men who have never worn nail polish should start with a manicure session first. Then, move on to some transparent glossy nail enamel and eventually try on different colours — cobalt, navy blues and darker greens will be safer for men to don.”

Disagreeing on the nail paint front, Yatan Ahluwalia, a grooming and image consultant and specialist in men’s skin, hair and fashion says, “I am totally against nail colours. Just leave them clear, shiny and let them naturally look healthy and clean. Having said that, manicures, pedicures and nail paint for men are not a passing trend this time. I think it’s a good shift in men’s grooming and is here to stay as an essential part of it. It really is high time that men — especially Indian men — came to the same level as women when it comes to grooming. There is nothing more impressive in that context than a man with well-manicured, neat hands and clean feet. Especially during summer, when you’re sporting open shoes, clean feet are essential.”

For Hotel Management student Akshay Chauhan too, it’s all about looking clean and groomed. “My job requires me to interact with national and international clients on a daily basis. Also, when you are working in a 5-star environment, you tend to take your personal hygiene and grooming seriously. Nail maintenance is important. I was never hesitant to get a manicure, but applying colours was something way out of my league. So, out of choice, I don’t go for colours and instead go for tiny and delicate nail art that resembles tiny tattoos. It’s not on your face but at the same time makes you stand out in a crowd without making you look completely alternative and deviant, like you’re still stuck in teenage rebellion mode. This is a classy trend and its potential for sophistication is exactly what makes it so cutting edge. And trust me, it doesn’t take away your masculinity,” he concludes.

Ask the girls for their perspective on male nail jobs, and you’ll probably get as mixed a response as we did. Actress Sara Khan is fairly emphatic in her take as she asserts, “One thing I know is that I would never date or even have a crush on a man who uses nail varnish. I like my man to be simple and raw. Leave complications to us women, please.”