Today there is a very widespread opinion that going to a manicure specialist is an exclusively female activity, and men have nothing to do with it. In fact, it is worth distinguishing between a decorative manicure, when a certain design is created on the nails, and a hygienic one, the main goal of which is to give a neat and well-groomed appearance. The second option is not only available for men, but also recommended, especially for those who want to look good. For men, several treatment options are offered, which allows you to choose the most suitable type of nail care.
Do men get their nails done?
When meeting people, many people pay attention specifically to the hands of men, because if they are well-groomed and beautiful, then associations with success and well-being immediately come to mind. Alas, some men are embarrassed to visit salons to implement such an event, even though it also has hygienic purposes. This is not a reason to refuse the procedure, because you can find both a specialized men's spa and a small office where you can be alone with the master.
According to the results of surveys, more than 50% of women, when first communicating with a man, pay attention to his hands and the degree of their grooming. The desire to take care of oneself and look good is becoming an impetus for the stronger half of humanity to also seek services from nail salons.
Male stamping
A good way to instantly create an unusual manicure. Try pop art or op art designs - with all sorts of visual effects. You shouldn't do them on every plate - just on some. Someone will choose a “talking design” - a kind of “cuneiform”, telling the story of the preferences of the owner of the manicure.
What is the difference between men's manicure and women's manicure?
It is worth noting that the procedure for men and women differs not only in the volume and nature of the manipulations performed by the master, but also from a psychological point of view. Thus, it is believed that a man’s visit to a beauty salon is a practical necessity, and such services are often used by self-confident men with a high level of self-esteem. Such individuals are demanding of the quality of the services provided to them, so men’s manicure often becomes a real test for the master - it is necessary not only to correctly implement all stages, but also to obtain an exclusively natural result.
The peculiarities of the procedure are also determined by the physiological differences of men. Thus, the keratin in men’s nail plates is denser, and the stronger sex rarely complains about peeling or thinning nails. But the process of roughening the skin of the lateral nail folds occurs quickly, which leads to the need to implement hygienic measures more often. In general, the process of processing fingers in this case takes longer than in the case of women. Special products are also used, which are often devoid of any aroma at all.
At the end, the man may be asked to apply a coat of varnish, which is often perceived as quite hostile. But you should understand that for males, a manicure with varnish is normal, since a special transparent composition with a matte finish is used, designed to strengthen and nourish the nail.
Nail polish
Traditionally, men either don't wear nail polish at all or wear a completely clear coat. We agree that this is boring. The first attempts to paint my nails were timid, most often it was black polish on one finger.
Modern fashion allows for different trends, both ugly and shocking, only boring ones are not allowed. And that’s why the current trend is men’s manicure coated with colored varnish. The beginning was made back in the 2000s, by representatives of show business who covered their nails with black or dark gray varnish. However, this coating remains relevant to this day.
Types of men's manicure offered in the salon
The range of nail care services for men is also very wide; the client can choose a specific type of manicure based on his own goals and preferences.
Classical
Classic manicure is considered one of the most universal types of procedures. The peculiarity of the approach is that the master in the process trims off the pre-steamed excess skin with special scissors. This type has several advantages:
- This is usually the most affordable type of event;
- the versatility lies in the fact that trimmed manicure can be applied even to very neglected nails, and after the first procedure the fingers will acquire a well-groomed appearance;
- The technique is simple, but requires certain skills. A good specialist will quickly and harmlessly carry out this event.
It is worth noting that in the case of the trimming technique, the qualifications of a master who clearly understands what it is will be of great importance. If there are mistakes in the manicure, the cuticle can be damaged or the cut hangnails can quickly form again.
European
The peculiarity of this type of service is that during the process the cuticle is simply treated with special softening compounds and pushed back with a wooden stick. The procedure is faster and without the risk of injury to the skin layers, but it is only suitable for well-groomed hands without overgrown cuticles. This method allows you to gradually, over 5-7 sessions, significantly improve the condition of the nail plates, make the cuticle soft and neat, which will allow you to forget about the need to trim it mechanically. European manicure is considered the safest and most comfortable.
Hardware
The hardware technique will be most relevant for nail plates with deformations: delamination, damage, ribbing. At its core, this is a variation of the European approach, but in this case the cuticle is removed using a special device - a milling cutter, and a rotating cutter with a small ball at the end. Using other attachments, the shape of the nail can be adjusted and its surface polished. It is worth noting that such an event is normally tolerated by men’s nails, because they are more dense in structure, which means the risk of damage is minimal. The entire process is carried out on dry hands; hardware manicure does not require any preliminary soaking. If a real professional takes on the router, the processing of hands occurs very quickly and efficiently. Turning even very advanced cases into neat fingers.
French or French
French manicure is a coated procedure, which involves highlighting the free edge of the nail after performing the hygienic part using any method. Today this technique is also used for men, but most often it is used by shocking individuals who like to stand out. Sometimes the procedure is carried out in its more natural variation, when the short free edge is simply whitened from below with a special pencil.
SPA manicure and Japanese
A spa manicure is a real relaxation session, an opportunity to relax and enjoy pleasant manipulations. This procedure is not only effective, but also useful, since the process uses special products with numerous components. This manicure can be implemented using both classic, edged technology and European technology. Its peculiarity is that the master also performs peeling of the skin of the hands, a paraffin therapy session, and at the end a massage event using moisturizing compounds. At its core, this is a combined approach; such a manicure is a direct path not only to well-groomed nails, but also to beautiful hand skin without peeling cracks.
Japanese manicure cannot be called a separate care event; it is some kind of addition to classic, European or hardware manicure. The essence of the procedure is that the process uses special natural preparations based on beeswax, seaweed, pearl powder and other useful ingredients. For two weeks after such a session, your hands remain neat and well-groomed.
Kinds
Manicure for men has the following options:
| Kinds | Peculiarities |
| Classic edged | To prepare men's hands for the procedure, they are “soaked” in a bath, and then the cuticle is trimmed. |
| European | The cuticle is not removed, but simply pushed back with a small wooden stick. |
| French | It is distinguished by a certain design of the nail plate, which consists of painting the end of the nail white. In men, its length is no more than a millimeter. |
| Spa manicure | The procedure is carried out in combination with a hand massage, the use of caring cosmetics, aromatic oils, and healthy masks. |
| Hardware | It is carried out using a special electric device that has different attachments for stripping and polishing. |
| Hot | The next important step after treating your nails is nourishing your hands. To do this, they are dipped in a bath with cream or oil for 10-15 minutes. |
Features of performing a manicure at home
The main difficulty can arise with the trimming technique - there is a high risk of damaging the skin and causing injury to yourself, so without proper experience you should not resort to cutting the cuticle. Hardware manicure will require special equipment, which is not always advisable to buy. It is better to use simple methods that do not require complex devices and techniques. A detailed description of the process will help you implement the event yourself without much difficulty.
What set of tools will you need?
To carry out the procedure at home, the set of tools completely depends on the chosen technique. So, the easiest way would be to carry out a European manicure, for which you only need an orange stick, a cuticle softener and a file to form a free edge and polish the plate. But for the classic trim, you will also need special tweezers or sharp nail scissors, and a bath for steaming your fingers.
How to do a manicure with your own hands: step-by-step execution
The standard technique involves performing hygienic manipulations, which will improve the condition of the nail plate, its appearance and blood circulation in the treated area. To do this, it is worth implementing the following steps:
- hand disinfection;
- fingers and nails should be steamed in warm water for a quarter of an hour; if desired, salt or aromatic oils can be added to it;
- Next, the cuticle should be carefully pushed back with an orange stick and, if desired, trimmed a little;
- nails are cut and filed, getting as close as possible to the smile line and its shape;
- The nail plates need to be polished and a strengthening agent applied to them. You can do without coating;
- The last stage is a hand massage with nourishing cream.
Treatment kits
Not many men, after visiting the salon the first few times, decide that they will take care of their nails at home, on their own. This is quite possible, given that it only requires patience and accuracy, but first you will have to buy some tools.
Attention! You should not trim your nails, especially with old or even rusty tweezers and nippers - it is dirty, risks infection and will never lead to straight nails.
What you will need:
- Nail file . It is better to choose a steel one, with a wide and comfortable handle.
- Baths for manicure and pedicure. Sold freely, you can buy the size you need.
- Treatment oil for cuticles, if necessary . Healing oils moisturize the skin, making it more pleasant to look at, and also heal wounds.
- Manicure tongs . Not to cut the nails - it’s better to just file them, but to “pluck” the old skin around the plate.
You should not buy some very expensive tools - they are intended for salon professionals and will not help a beginner. It is better to pay attention to the quality of the material from which they are made - stainless steel is still the ideal option.
Photos before and after the procedure
Is there any point in men's manicure? Of course, this procedure helps to make your hands not feminine, but simply neat and well-groomed. Photos before and after the procedure will help you verify this. The effect is especially noticeable if the event is being implemented for the first time.
A matter of technology
There are not many technical features and problems with men's manicure, but they need to be taken into account.
Length and shape of nails
We'll leave the long stilettos on men's hands to Andrey Petrov. In ordinary life, guys choose a “zero” and natural shape. Many people do not allow cutting out a proportional length on all nails, taking into account the fact that the nail bed may be different. Here I stop my perfectionism and do what is convenient for the client. Moreover, see point 2.
How long does it take to wear nails?
Guys wear the covering for two, maximum three weeks, and then they start to creak, making it all terribly uncomfortable. Lack of habit of nail length leads to the fact that they regularly hit something with new dimensions, press the plates and injure them in a bunch of other ways. It's a shame, because the coating on them is often better than on girls: the original nails are harder and hold the material perfectly. Now it’s clear why I often don’t leave even 1 mm of length? It starts to interfere even faster.
Subcuticle is prohibited
Men's hands are anatomically different from women's. Guys have a much more common lining cuticle, closely spaced vessels, and in general their sensitivity to treatment is quite high. That’s why I don’t open my pocket “on the spot,” but carefully do a shallow but clean manicure and apply gel polish just close to the cuticle. Moreover, the client will return even before the moment when “the carriage turns into a pumpkin” and the covering grows a kilometer.
Leveling - is it necessary?
Men's nails, as I already wrote, are generally very durable, and even a thin coating on them will stick well. I have never had to strengthen them yet. However, leveling should be done for aesthetic reasons: if the plates are lumpy, there is no point in emphasizing the unevenness of the relief.
What type of manicure should I choose?
If the cuticle is hard and not too overgrown, I most often do a hardware manicure. If the skin of your hands is rather damp, and the cuticle is creeping and with sprouted blood vessels, a combined option is more suitable: comb the hard side rollers with a cutter, and cut off the cuticle and polish it with a silicone carbide nozzle. If my hands are just brutally sensitive and the client doesn’t like the cut, I take up the files. A file manicure is a little more expensive, but it is painless, slows down growth and reduces cuticle sticking to the nail: the further you go, the easier it is to work with.
Reviews from men
Anatoly: I go to the salon and don’t see anything wrong with it. In my opinion, it is more shameful to have dirty, unkempt fingers than to go to a manicure.
Zhenya: My girlfriend takes care of my nails. I would never go to a salon.
Max: It would be strange to just show up at a salon where there are a lot of women. It’s better to just trim your nails on time, and that’s all, that’s enough.
Anton: I am a businessman, and I always need to look presentable. I don’t visit salons; my wife, who does this professionally, does a hardware manicure for me.
French
Yes, men also get French. The coating procedure is quite popular among stylish guys. The hygienic part of the manicure is done using any method. Masters often use an algorithm for performing men's hardware manicure. Then the specialist selects the free edge of the nail.
The technology is suitable for men who want to stand out from the crowd.
There is a simpler version of French manicure, when the free edge of the plate from below is whitened with a special light pencil.
What about nail art?
The maximum that male clients agree to: covering the nail plates with transparent varnish. But in the West, nail art is becoming fashionable. Celebrities such as Johnny Depp, Pete Davidson, Harry Styles have been painting their nails for a long time and are not shy about it. In Russia, only young guys follow the trend.
It is likely that over time the trend will come to Russia. For example, the fashion house Chanel has expanded its Boy De Chanel cosmetics line with two shades of nail polish designed specifically for men. Even on the website of a Russian store you can find black and matte enamel.
Painted nails are no longer a sign of rebellion or a protest against style. Black nail art can delicately complement the image of a public person. Although 15-20 years ago only representatives of the punk, glam rock, and grunge styles could afford such audacity. Subcultures that fought against generally accepted standards achieved their goal.
Now nail polish is not considered something purely feminine. After all, for decades, the beauty industry has marketed hand care services exclusively to women.
Although nail polish was originally invented in Ancient China, dyes were also used in Ancient Egypt to segregate people of different classes. Both men and women used varnish. Red, gold shades are for the upper classes, green, black - for ordinary people.
Now manicure is included in the list of standard services of barbershops, and nail art is perceived as a method to emphasize one’s unique style (just like tattoos, piercings, trimmed temples).
How to make it beautiful?
The bulk of men’s aesthetic needs come down to two options: “inconspicuous” and “full stuffing.” “Invisible” finishes include clear varnish, polish, Japanese manicure or matte polish with wax. These methods of decorating nails look easy and as natural as possible. Your hands simply look well-groomed and noble; the coating does not need to be removed from a specialist - you can gather your courage longer to repeat the experiment.
“Full stuffing” is a gel polish coating with effects and designs on 10 nails. And very often such a coating indicates that its owner wants to show the world how brave and free-thinking he is. Usually, these guys, having had a lot of fun, switch to a nude or black matte finish and just have a blast with it.
There are significantly fewer aesthetic options for “typically male” coatings than “female” ones. But there is clearly plenty to choose from!
Manicure with tattoo effect
Source: nogtepil_mihail
Everything is simple here: the obligatory components of the “dish” will be the perfect transparent shade of nude and a matte top. The rest can be added to taste: any geometric strokes, dots, stripes, stamping, stickers will do - everything that was lying in the master’s bins and waiting in the wings. The design should look like it was made on a natural nail, like a temporary tattoo.
