Me leaving for town with painted toes |
Society has led us to believe that for some strange reason, it is not okay for men to paint their nails. This is all silly thinking as painting our nails does not make us feminine, nor does it change us in any way, it is simply an expression of our sense of style. but for most of us the thought of painting our toes or fingers can be quite terrifying. We believe that if we do so and go out into the normal public, everyone will stare at us, ridiculous, and we may even lose our jobs, friends etc. But friends let me tell you that this is 99% just in your head.
I have participated in many discussions on various forums, websites etc. and the men who have been painting their nails in going out in public four years all express the same basic description of their experience. And that description is that, "it's no big deal". The first few times I went out in public with my painted toes showing, I just knew that everyone was going to be staring at me, making snide remarks etc. And because of this I walked around looking for people to be doing just that. But guess what, NO one noticed. Well I should say that almost no one noticed. I finally realize that by walking around looking for people to be staring at me, I was looking guilty and drawing attention to myself. So a number of people were looking at me, but pretty much no one noticed my painted toes.
Closeup of my toes painted a dark brown |
Then about three years ago, in 2009, I met a wonderful woman who would soon become my wife. And my wife loved the fact that I painted my toes, and was freethinking enough to not let society dictate my sense of fashion, and to just do what I wanted. She began encouraging me to go out in public with my toes showing anywhere, which I did. Now mind you my father had passed away about one year earlier, and at that time I began realizing that life is way too short to worry about what the world thinks about your sense of style or how you choose to live your life. So I began going out in public more and more with painted toes and sandals or flip-flops. And I discovered that if I didn't walk around looking guilty and just acted like everything I was doing was normal, which it was, pretty much NO ONE noticed my painted toes, and the few that did were mostly women and they tended to have mostly positive comments. The few negative comments I received were very minor such as they couldn't understand why I did it. But most women thought it was very cool and many wished that their boyfriend would do the same.
Since that time I spend 90% of my summer in sandals and flip-flops,and 99% of the time my toes are painted. And paint them in many colors from pinks to Reds, purples, Brown's, dark colors, and blues and greens. And in that time I have begun to be somewhat of an activist for men's freedom of fashion, especially the rate for men to be able to paint their fingernails or toenails as they choose. So I have decided to create this blog to further promote those freedom rights and hope that you will gain some insight as to why it's okay for men to have painted nails.
I'll be discussing the fun of painting our nails, why it's ok, some stories about painting our toes, and other things like wearing toe rings, anklets, or colorful shoes if you like, such as the orange ones in the pic above. This blog isn't about crossdressing or being fem, it's for ordinary guys who just happen to like painting our nails although we may discuss other emerging fashion trends for men.
I hope you'll subscribe to my blog, and enjoy the information that I will be posting over the next few years. Also if you have a Flickr account please join our Flickr group titled "It's okay for men to have painted nails in public"
NOTE: if you would like to follow my Blog, you should be able to click the 'Follow' link in the upper left hand corner of this page, in the Tan blog bar or look for one of the other methods to follow me on the upper right side of the page.
Also, feel free to check out my Photo Gallery on the right side of this page.
Guy - this is awesome! Great job on this post, and excellent points! Welcome to blogging!
ReplyDeleteI am interested to know about how you told your future wife about your painted toes - did she know when she met you, did she see you with color and introduce herself... or did you have to do a "reveal" at some point, and if so, how did you do it and how did it go?
I think a lot of guys who would consider wearing color, hesitate from fear of what women might think. I think this is probably, for most, a bigger fear than the fear of what their guy friends might say. I wear color on hands and feet, so women who meet me, know right away. Generally, women don't initiate conversations with unknown men... I'm sure some women have thought of my nails as the "reason" to (not) do what they would (not) do anyway (i.e., no real loss there..) - but other women have seen my nails, complimented them, and initiated conversations with me... and I've dated a few of them. It took "just doing it" for me to find out that my fear of women's disapproval was backwards.
Anyway, thank you for this post - great job!
Hi Guy, Great post. I look forward to your posts. I didn't even know guy's liked polish (until Steve) I think it's great that you've decided to blog about it :D
ReplyDeleteP.S.
I'd like to follow, but didn't see a way.
Minnie, you should be able to follow using the link on the upper left of the page, in the tan blog bar. Thanks
DeleteRight on! I firmly believe that polish is for everyone; its great fun, completely harmless color therapy and decoration that everyone should be able to enjoy. Count me among your supporters!
ReplyDeleteThe world needs more like yourself! Along with my painted toes since Dec '11, I've also kept my left hand pinky finger polished.
DeleteWhy? Because it makes me smile. I can wave that sucker under the sunlight on a garbage day and enjoy it. Damn cheap therapy, in my book.
Thanks Shieldmaiden, glad to have you as a supporter.
DeleteGreat post, Guy!
ReplyDeleteI envy how quickly you have adapted to the whole "Blog Thingy". I'm still struggling to get my page to lay out and look the way that I'd like it to. I may just pester you via PM for pointers.
As a Nail Noob as of Dec '11 - I've only recently ventured out of the apt here in bare feet and painted up (now that it's decided to be spring here). I echo you. No bad comments or once noticed, too polite or uncomfortable to make an issue of it.
I have also gotten positive reinforcement from the ladies. Gal that I went out with tonight for a wine/cheese thing loved the painted pinky. At a social a few weeks ago, there was the offer to come along for the girl's pedi party for an upcoming wedding of a mutual friend.
I'm OK with it all!
Welcome to blogging, Guy! Great post! I also have a new blog. I love being able to look back at all my colors and will be looking forward to seeing yours!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gina, glad to meet you and have you as a supporter of this blog and our 'cause'.
DeleteThumbs up (preferably painted with polish ;)) :)
ReplyDeleteI'm going to use your blog to convince my boyfriend to let me paint his toes >:) Very nice post!
ReplyDeleteLiz (Liza?), that's awesome! Have him read mine as well - http://lacquerman.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-interview-by-amanda-of-berrypolished.html
DeleteLet us know how it goes!
More and more nail blogs by guys are poping up. I've had mine for a little over a year now.
DeleteHi Guy! I've nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award! Visit http://paintmynailsatmidnight.blogspot.com/2012/04/ive-been-nominated-for-versatile.html for the badge and the rules!
ReplyDeleteGREAT post! I WISH guys I knew wore nail polish, that would be so much fun! It sucks that men end up being excluded from such a fun past time! I hope polish-wearing men becomes a trend! I like it!
ReplyDeleteA lot of guys would try it - at least on their toes - if only their wives/girlfriends would ask them to... :)
DeleteGreat post and blog! I love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenna!
DeleteNice! For me, saying men shouldn't paint their nails is kind of like saying women shouldn't wear pants. It's completely gener biased.
ReplyDeletePS. I love the dark brown from the pic up there. Any idea what polish it was?
I think that's one of my favorite dark browns from OPI's Russian collection called 'Suzi Says Da'.
Deletemine are dark red brown, one started to chip slightly so added a metallic and clear over the top, I like the added bling. male, married many years, love sandles
ReplyDeleteI've been painting my toes for a while now, my favorite is red carpet...talking about panties, I wear them..I love all the colors and styles..I get so hot so I tried thongs and g-strings and it helped a lot, that's all I wear now..
ReplyDeleteI was in the dentist's chair last week, the nurse LOVED my Sally Hansen "mintSprint" (green) pedi. I mean she was bonkers for it and 3X said she wished ALL men would do the same - including her hubby. I rotate between various blues, greens and purples. Wearing a cute plum metallic now. I have NEVER heard a disparaging comment. Women WANT us to look better with polish, guys!
ReplyDeleteAwesome blog. I have been painting my toes for 8 years now and I do wear them out in public. If people stare so what. I like it and my feet are well taken care of and look great. I started painting them to support my wife who had breast cancer. It made her laugh. Now we laugh together and share polish. It always reminds us how silly it may be to have people stare at your toes compared to going through chemo. Have fun...paint. Thanks for the blog.
ReplyDeleteI like to go to the salon an get my feet done in a french pedicure. It looks great and I get lots of compliments from women on it. Some of them even tell me they wish their man would go get his done in a french.
ReplyDeleteJust straight gay
ReplyDeleteIt's just paint. Really. How is it different than tattoo ink?
DeleteThe comment above is one reason I started this blog because so many people are so judgemental. Without even knowing me, I'm called gay, lol. It just shows how a lot of people are very narrow minded and choose to judge others without actually knowing the person. I hope to help a few people in the world see that character in themselves and realize that it's not a good trait to be so judgemental. Hopefully a few people will realize that its time we judge others on their personality, compassion, and acceptance of others instead of their fashion choice.
DeleteWonder why someone who thinks it's 'straight gay' is out cruising mens polish blogs. lol
Deletegod bless you ive been wearing nail polish on my hands and feet for two years now took alot of guts to wear in public but im workin it and building confidence im 53 years old and im kickin myself that i didnt try it in my 20s or sooner life is indeed to short the hell with societys narrow minded rules now ill rock it till im 6 feet under
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Too many of us, myself included, go through life living it the way we think we're supposed to instead of the way we want. kudos to you for choosing to live your life your way!
Deletei call myself an imbetween and i paint my finger nail as well as my toes as i am not good at it my wife of 222 years helps. i also wear descrete things as well and im from a small backwoos area and no one notices except the girls and they say i look good or simply smile and never judge. I guess i am very blessed to have such an open community.. but i do know never be afraid to be who you are
ReplyDeleteI like going to get pedi they always feel so nice my favorite colors are hot pink, red, and eggplant purple. i was at the mall and many people complimented me on my nails. currently i have cherry red nails and my wife thinks the look fantastic. i started when she saw me looking at her nails and when she was giving herself mani and pedi and she asked me if i wanted to try and i just laughed the she asked again more seriously and i said "why not" so from then on i started liking having my nails done
ReplyDeleteim 10 check out my nails they are green to see them go to youtube and search my mens nail polish
ReplyDeleteGlad I found this blog. I want to paint my nails and I told my wife that; she thinks I am turning gay. I am a 40 year old male and I shave my arms and legs and well everything but my head. I also like to wear women's jeans because they are more comfortable then men's jeans. I also wear panties as well women's briefs but mostly I wear the Microfiber brief panties. I just don't wear anything with lace. I am a straight male and this is just something that I like. My marriage is going south anyways and the next female that I find, I hope she can accept all of this, I really hope to find one that likes it and will encourage me to do so.
ReplyDeleteHave your wife read this on my blog... http://lacquerman.blogspot.com/p/berrypolished-interviews-me.html
ReplyDeleteDoes your wife have a tattoo? Do you remember the period from about 1980 to 1985, when tattoos went from "for men only, woman + tat = bulldyke", to "the must-have fashion for women"? Nail color is doing the same thing - soon enough, nail color will be as unisex as tattoos are now.
No she don't have any tattoo's at all.
DeleteWhether she has one or not isn't the point, so much as recognizing that society IS capable of shedding its absurd, gender-specific prejudices. As it did with tattoos for women in the '80s. And, all of this is just to say that you're right, there's NOTHING about paint that makes it - or the man who wears it - gay.
DeleteSome people are closed minded and doesn't see that society is changing.
DeleteI thoroughly enjoy my painted toes, and my wife likes them also. It looks attractive on men and I hope someday it becomes a mainstream practice. I am still shy about my toes but maybe someday I will get braver. I appreciate the information contained on your blog and look forward to following it.
ReplyDeleteI am a 17 year old boy. I love painting my nails and I have even gotten a few manicures and a pedicure. However the only polish I have revealed to the public is clear, but I want to start wearing colors. I have always been facinated with nailpolish, but I have never had the courage to wear it out. Anyway, do any of you more experienced polish enthusiests have any tips for me to start wearing my nails painted in public?
ReplyDeleteI had first put color on my toes about 10 years ago then stopped, due to negative comments from my family, including my father, mother, sister. Then about a two and a half years ago, my good friend asked me to get a pedicure with her (I get my feet done every month). Once there, she dared my to get color on my toes. So I went with great shade of green and had swimming fish on my big toes. The fish matched the mirror imaged dolphin tattoos I have on my feet. That was the last time I had my toes painted until today, when my new nail tech advised me to get with color. I was hesitant at first but relented. I chose "The Thrill of Brazil", a bright red color for Christmas. My feet look great and sexy. Women will adore them. I am hooked now and will get color on my toes at every salon visit now. For a guy, my feet are beautiful and the tattoos and now the color polish enhances the look. Can't wait to try a light to medium green, lavender, and hot pink (my favorite colors). It's time to be me and express myself freely without worry what others think. I am comfortable with my sexuality and I love women. Personally, I think society needs to stop the madness! If you can accept a guy wearing an earring or two, then you must do the same for my colored toes. :)
ReplyDeleteGood story. Glad to hear you are finally just doing what you like instead of what you think society says is ok. It's just fun, it looks much better, and hey, they're your toes after all. Feel free to send me a good clear pic sometime and I'll share it on here in the members photos gallery.
DeleteMy Fingers & Toes are painted "Hot Pink" right now, yes I am a "Crossdresser" !!!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that there are so many men that love nail polish as much as I do I believe that one day it will become acceptable in our society.
ReplyDelete