Man-icure

elusiveguy

My hand are generally fairly battered, my nails have that awesome hacked off look.

I've always thought the idea of a manicure(obviously without nail painting etc) sounded really relaxing but wouldn't know how to go about getting one, being male.

I understand it's something that's getting more common, has anyone here tried it??

elusiveguy

elusiveguy wrote: »

My hand are generally fairly battered, my nails have that awesome hacked off look.

I've always thought the idea of a manicure(obviously without nail painting etc) sounded really relaxing but wouldn't know how to go about getting one, being male.

I understand it's something that's getting more common, has anyone here tried it??

Any salon will do a manicure for you, especially the dedicated nail salons. No one will bat an eye at a man coming in. I've been for manicures with my male friend - yes, he's straight. No one cared or even seemed to notice.

Go get yourself buffed.

jellyboy

Walk into the nearest nail bar and get it done ..
Any nail bar worth its weight in salt and good customer service won't bat an eyelid at your request

And its decent ,must get mime done soon..:D

hfallada

Its fairly common to get done in America. All you need to go to is a place that does manicures and not bother with the polish. Im in Germany and its extremely common to see Turks with their eyebrows dyed and plucked. But that is uncommon in non-turks

LordNorbury

Men getting their nails done, seriously?!?

Privileged White Male

LordNorbury wrote: »

Men getting their nails done, seriously?!?

Thought I was in the ladies' lounge for a second. Guess all the metros are getting their nails done these days.

LittleFox

To be honest a guy with nicely shaped nails is very attractive no girl wants a guy with nails with jagged edges going anywhere near any sensitive areas

Knex*

LittleFox wrote: »

To be honest a guy with nicely shaped nails is very attractive no girl wants a guy with nails with jagged edges going anywhere near any sensitive areas

Can that not be achieved without manicures, etc?

I'd keep my nails fairly neat and tidy, anyway. I get irritated looking at them if I even think they are remotely too long, or jagged, etc. But I've never felt the need to 'get them done'.

Each to their own, I suppose. I don't think I'd laugh at a mate for doing it, either.

NSAman

LittleFox wrote: »

To be honest a guy with nicely shaped nails is very attractive no girl wants a guy with nails with jagged edges going anywhere near any sensitive areas

Yeah I suppose putting a hand with jagged nails might disrupt something in her handbag.

Privileged White Male

LittleFox wrote: »

To be honest a guy with nicely shaped nails is very attractive no girl wants a guy with nails with jagged edges going anywhere near any sensitive areas

There is a device known as a scissors that allows you to achieve those kind of results in the comfort of your own home.

But that way you don't get to show off your new manbag down at the nail salon I guess.

LordNorbury

LittleFox wrote: »

To be honest a guy with nicely shaped nails is very attractive no girl wants a guy with nails with jagged edges going anywhere near any sensitive areas

I think the vast majority of all men I know are able to maintain their nails without having to go to a nail salon though!

Privileged White Male

Privileged White Male wrote: »

There is a device known as a scissors that allows you to achieve those kind of results in the comfort of your own home.

But that way you don't get to show off your new manbag down at the nail salon I guess.

You could also cut your own hair with a scissors at home, but it's commonly accepted that a salon or barber would do a better job. Why is that ok but getting your hands sorted at a salon worthy of a good sneer?

Nails are no different, and the op thought it might be relaxing. Let him get his nails and hands sorted and enjoy the experience, it's got nothing to do with anything or anyone else.

LordNorbury

Candie wrote: »

You could also cut your own hair with a scissors at home, but it's commonly accepted that a salon or barber would do a better job. Why is that ok but getting your hands sorted at a salon worthy of a good sneer?

Nails are no different, and the op thought it might be relaxing. Let him get his nails and hands sorted and enjoy the experience, it's got nothing to do with anything or anyone else.

There is a skill involved in cutting someone's hair, it is hard to cut your own hair evenly if you decided to go at it yourself. Men generally don't decorate their nails to improve their appearance, like women do, it's just a convention, like wearing make up, women do, men don't. I think the idea of a straight man going to a nail salon to get his nails done, is quite frankly, ridiculous, I'd have the same view if a mate of mine decided he wanted to start putting on mascara and lipstick before going out for a pint with me, I wouldn't put up with it. There is this drive lately to take offence when someone like me says what I have just said, that I should not be offended or taken aback when a straight man wants to start behaving like a woman.

LordNorbury

LordNorbury wrote: »

There is a skill involved in cutting someone's hair, it is hard to cut your own hair evenly if you decided to go at it yourself. Men generally don't decorate their nails to improve their appearance, like women do, it's just a convention, like wearing make up, women do, men don't. I think the idea of a straight man going to a nail salon to get his nails done, is quite frankly, ridiculous, I'd have the same view if a mate of mine decided he wanted to start putting on mascara and lipstick before going out for a pint with me, I wouldn't put up with it. There is this drive lately to take offence when someone like me says what I have just said, that I should not be offended or taken aback when a straight man wants to start behaving like a woman.

Back in the dark ages, men didn't get their hair cut professionally either. Real me - like you, obviously - put a pudding bowl on their heads and had at it.

A manicurist is skilled in dealing with rough skin, callouses, cuticles and hang nails and can leave rough looking claws looking like new. It's not behaving like a woman to get your hands done, anymore than it's emasculating to get your hair cut by a hairdresser.

You can be as taken aback and as judgy as you want, it still doesn't make it wrong. I don't think anyone is offended when they hear opinions like yours, they just wonder if they got the decade right and if it's still the '80s.

I'm neither a man nor a manicurist btw.

LordNorbury

Candie wrote: »

Back in the dark ages, men didn't get their hair cut professionally either. Real me - like you, obviously - put a pudding bowl on their heads and had at it.

A manicurist is skilled in dealing with rough skin, callouses, cuticles and hang nails and can leave rough looking claws looking like new. It's not behaving like a woman to get your hands done, anymore than it's emasculating to get your hair cut by a hairdresser.

You can be as taken aback and as judgy as you want, it still doesn't make it wrong. I don't think anyone is offended when they hear opinions like yours, they just wonder if they got the decade right and if it's still the '80s.

I'm neither a man nor a manicurist btw.

I don't see what the problem is advising the OP though that if he is straight and wants to sort his nails out, that he can't take care of it himself... Get a nail file and a scissors, simple...

MagicMarker

I've never gone to a professional for a manicure, but I did have an ex who was particular bored one evening and decided for me that she was going to give me a manicure.

TBH, I'm not sure men realise the level of detail that goes into one, I certainly didn't, and was amazed at the results. My hands simply looked fabulous! :pac:

LordNorbury

LordNorbury wrote: »

I don't see what the problem is advising the OP though that if he is straight and wants to sort his nails out, that he can't take care of it himself... Get a nail file and a scissors, simple...

You're doing more than offering advice, you're pouring scorn on the whole idea and questioning his masculinity. He mentioned he thought it looked relaxing and wanted to try it. Big deal, leave him at it.

You came out with :

I'd have the same view if a mate of mine decided he wanted to start putting on mascara and lipstick before going out for a pint with me, I wouldn't put up with it.

Which quite frankly isn't advice, and sounds a little sinister.

LordNorbury

Candie wrote: »

You're doing more than offering advice, you're pouring scorn on the whole idea and questioning his masculinity. He mentioned he thought it looked relaxing and wanted to try it. Big deal, leave him at it.

You came out with :



Which quite frankly isn't advice, and sounds a little sinister.

Can't understand what is 'sinister' about suggesting to a guy that if he wants to sort his nails out that he does what practically every other guy on earth does and takes care of them himself. How on earth is that sinister?

LordNorbury

LordNorbury wrote: »

Can't understand what is 'sinister' about suggesting to a guy that if he wants to sort his nails out that he does what practically every other guy on earth does and takes care of them himself. How on earth is that sinister?

What I quoted is a bit sinister. You equate a man getting a manicure with wearing makeup to go out for a pint and you said

I wouldn't put up with it.

So what does that mean? You'd dump him as a friend for getting a manicure?

LordNorbury

Candie wrote: »

What I quoted is a bit sinister. You equate a man getting a manicure with wearing makeup to go out for a pint and you said

Yeah I do.

Candie wrote: »

So what does that mean? You'd dump him as a friend for getting a manicure?

I have trouble making any distinction between a guy going for a manicure to get his nails done, and deciding that he wants to go out wearing make up. In either case, I wouldn't be going out for a pint with a mate if he started acting like this, that is genuinely how I feel about the subject, I'm not homophobic, I'm very much live and let live, but I do not have any gay friends and that is my choice and I am entitled to make that choice.

LordNorbury

LordNorbury wrote: »

Yeah I do.



I have trouble making any distinction between a guy going for a manicure to get his nails done, and deciding that he wants to go out wearing make up. In either case, I wouldn't be going out for a pint with a mate if he started acting like this, that is genuinely how I feel about the subject, I'm not homophobic, I'm very much live and let live, but I do not have any gay friends and that is my choice and I am entitled to make that choice.

You certainly are.

But if I said that I had no black friends and that is my choice and that I wouldn't be friends with someone if I found out they were black, then I don't think I could reasonably describe myself as not racist.

MagicMarker

LordNorbury wrote: »

Yeah I do.



I have trouble making any distinction between a guy going for a manicure to get his nails done, and deciding that he wants to go out wearing make up. In either case, I wouldn't be going out for a pint with a mate if he started acting like this, that is genuinely how I feel about the subject, I'm not homophobic, I'm very much live and let live, but I do not have any gay friends and that is my choice and I am entitled to make that choice.

lol, I'm not homophobic but....

Classic.

LordNorbury

MagicMarker wrote: »

lol, I'm not homophobic but....

Classic.

What a silly remark, I don't have any gay friends, it's just not my thing and that is my right to make that choice, however I fully respect someones right to be gay.

LordNorbury

Candie wrote: »

You certainly are.

But if I said that I had no black friends and that is my choice and that I wouldn't be friends with someone if I found out they were black, then I don't think I could reasonably describe myself as not racist.

We aren't discussing someones race here, we are talking about a guy who is suffering with jagged nails or whatever and wants to sort that out, how come the 3.5 billion men on the planet can do this without having to go to a nail salon that are exclusively used by women? What is wrong with saying that the way a guy should sort this issue out is to do what all other men do and sort it out themselves? What is the problem with saying that?

MagicMarker

LordNorbury wrote: »

What a silly remark, I don't have any gay friends, it's just not my thing and that is my right to make that choice, however I fully respect someones right to be gay.

Just the fact that you've made a conscious decision not to have gay friends clearly highlights that you have an issue with homosexuality in general. Does it mean you're a homophobe? Hmm, not necessarily, maybe you're afraid you'll like having a gay friend too much?

Privileged White Male

Candie wrote: »

You could also cut your own hair with a scissors at home, but it's commonly accepted that a salon or barber would do a better job. Why is that ok but getting your hands sorted at a salon worthy of a good sneer?

Nails are no different, and the op thought it might be relaxing. Let him get his nails and hands sorted and enjoy the experience, it's got nothing to do with anything or anyone else.

Let him wear a dress and prance on down to the nail salon if he wants. No way I or any of the men I know could respect him if did though.

LordNorbury

MagicMarker wrote: »

Just the fact that you've made a conscious decision not to have gay friends clearly highlights that you have an issue with homosexuality in general. Does it mean you're a homophobe? Hmm, not necessarily, maybe you're afraid you'll like having a gay friend too much?

No, maybe I need to explain this a bit better, although it is nothing to do with what we are meant to be discussing here... I have worked with gay men and know several, those that I know have an extremely feminine or what is known as a 'camp' persona, that I just can't identify with, that I would find hard to relate to. I am not intimidated by such men, I have no issue with such men, but would I go out for a pint with a camp gay lad and maintain a friendship with one, no, because we would not have anything in common.

I believe gay people should enjoy all the rights that the rest of us have, including marriage. But I do think rather traditionally that men should act like men and women should act like women. I have never understood why gay men for some reason, decide at a certain point in their lives, to start acting like and presenting themselves as women and take on what is basically a completely separate feminine persona, as an expression of their sexuality.

My confusion in that regard extends to the current subject, why can't a guy who wants to maintain his nails, do it himself? It's a fair question I think. Men do not maintain their nails like women do, they do not maintain their nails to improve their appearance. Not that long ago, the cosmetic industry were trying to get David Beckham to start pushing the idea that men could start wearing make up, I think that is a ridiculous departure and I've no problem saying it.

fits

I am not a person who is into beauty treatments, but I get a very odd manicure to tidy up the nails. I don't think some men realise what it involves and how much it can improve the appearance of your hands and I do notice nicely kept hands on a man (even some farmers maintain them well.).

Just asked the OH would he get one and he said it'd be no harm

Privileged White Male

LordNorbury wrote: »

No, maybe I need to explain this a bit better, although it is nothing to do with what we are meant to be discussing here... I have worked with gay men and know several, those that I know have an extremely feminine or what is known as a 'camp' persona, that I just can't identify with, that I would find hard to relate to. I am not intimidated by such men, I have no issue with such men, but would I go out for a pint with a camp gay lad and maintain a friendship with one, no, because we would not have anything in common.

I believe gay people should enjoy all the rights that the rest of us have, including marriage. But I do think rather traditionally that men should act like men and women should act like women. I have never understood why gay men for some reason, decide at a certain point in their lives, to start acting like and presenting themselves as women and take on what is basically a completely separate feminine persona, as an expression of their sexuality.

My confusion in that regard extends to the current subject, why can't a guy who wants to maintain his nails, do it himself? It's a fair question I think. Men do not maintain their nails like women do, they do not maintain their nails to improve their appearance. Not that long ago, the cosmetic industry were trying to get David Beckham to start pushing the idea that men could start wearing make up, I think that is a ridiculous departure and I've no problem saying it.

You disgusting sexist homophobe, how dare you express an opinion of your own. Don't you know race and gender don't exist and we're all the same?

Seriously though, I agree with everything you said.

Thoie

LordNorbury wrote: »

. I am not intimidated by such men, I have no issue with such men, but would I go out for a pint with a camp gay lad and maintain a friendship with one, no, because we would not have anything in common.

How would you know? What if it's a colleague, who follows the same football teams as you, and enjoys reading the same books/playing the same video games that you do, and enjoys the same films that you like?

Anyway, OP, if your nails are broken right down to the quick, see if you can give it a few days or a week to let them grow a tiny bit so that they have somewhere to file them back to - it will be more comfortable that way.

Privileged White Male

Privileged White Male wrote: »

Let him wear a dress and prance on down to the nail salon if he wants. No way I or any of the men I know could respect him if did though.

Ah, cross dressing and prancing. Both essential components of a manicure and central to the question posed in the OP. Oh, wait...

I think you and your friends ought to use some kind of metric that matters to judge on what basis a person does or doesn't deserve respect.

LordNorbury

Candie wrote: »

Ah, cross dressing and prancing. Both essential components of a manicure and central to the question posed in the OP. Oh, wait...

I think you and your friends ought to use some kind of metric that matters to judge on what basis a person does or doesn't deserve respect.

Some guys on here find the idea of a guy going to a nail salon for a manicure, to be somewhat ridiculous and silly. I reckon you'd struggle to find a guy who would consider it normal and who wouldn't pass remark upon it.

LordNorbury

LordNorbury wrote: »

Some guys on here find the idea of a guy going to a nail salon for a manicure, to be somewhat ridiculous and silly. I reckon you'd struggle to find a guy who would consider it normal and who wouldn't pass remark upon it.

I guess it all depends on the people you ask. In the US it's commonplace. Since there's nothing wrong with it, and it's a harmless, pleasant experience, I'd wonder why it provokes such a reaction in some other men. A very disproportionate reaction. The Op says:

My hand are generally fairly battered, my nails have that awesome hacked off look.

And he just wants to get it sorted. No big deal, you'd think.

What a shame in the 21st century that there are still men who cling to such narrow definitions of masculine behaviour. It's almost like they're threatened by anything they feel is outside what they personally feel comfortable with.

LordNorbury

Candie wrote: »

I guess it all depends on the people you ask. In the US it's commonplace. Since there's nothing wrong with it, and it's a harmless, pleasant experience, I'd wonder why it provokes such a reaction in some other men. A very disproportionate reaction. The Op says:



And he just wants to get it sorted. No big deal, you'd think.

What a shame in the 21st century that there are still men who cling to such narrow definitions of masculine behaviour. It's almost like they're threatened by anything they feel is outside what they personally feel comfortable with.

I'm not threatened in the slightest, I've just simply communicated how I feel about it, I don't agree with it. A lot of the time, these trends are completely driven by a selfish and often subtle commercial agenda, in particular I recall when David Beckham was exploring the whole thing of men wearing make up when out on the town, trying to see if it would catch on as a fashion trend, in tandem with the cosmetics industry, as it happened it didn't catch on as men just didn't buy it. There is no such commercial agenda here but it sounds silly to me to suggest that men should go to a nail salon to take care of their nails when there is no meed to do so. Men don't wear nail varnish, they don't maintain their nails to anywhere near the same standard as women, so why not do what every other guy does and look after your nails yourself? It's just part of your everyday grooming, why would you feel the need to outsource that exercise to a woman's nail salon?

EDIT: Men are entitled to hold as narrow (or as wide) a view as they like as to what constitutes normal male/masculine behaviour. I'm completely free to say that I find men wearing handbags, or men going to nail salons, or men wearing make up, to be men demonstrating feminine behaviour. Same goes for women being free to comment on women btw...

MagicMarker

LordNorbury wrote: »

I'm not threatened in the slightest, I've just simply communicated how I feel about it, I don't agree with it. A lot of the time, these trends are completely driven by a selfish and often subtle commercial agenda, in particular I recall when David Beckham was exploring the whole thing of men wearing make up when out on the town, trying to see if it would catch on as a fashion trend, in tandem with the cosmetics industry, as it happened it didn't catch on as men just didn't buy it. There is no such commercial agenda here but it sounds silly to me to suggest that men should go to a nail salon to take care of their nails when there is no meed to do so. Men don't wear nail varnish, they don't maintain their nails to anywhere near the same standard as women, so why not do what every other guy does and look after your nails yourself? It's just part of your everyday grooming, why would you feel the need to outsource that exercise to a woman's nail salon?

EDIT: Men are entitled to hold as narrow (or as wide) a view as they like as to what constitutes normal male/masculine behaviour. I'm completely free to say that I find men wearing handbags, or men going to nail salons, or men wearing make up, to be men demonstrating feminine behaviour. Same goes for women being free to comment on women btw...

There's no such thing as a woman's nail salon.

There's no need for women to visit such places either, but they do. A man may go to get a manicure for the exact same reason you may go to an expensive barbers for a straight razor shave. You don't need to, you just want to.

LordNorbury

MagicMarker wrote: »

There's no such thing as a woman's nail salon.

In theory there isn't but I think in practice there actually is.

368100

I'd do it if I had the balls, would probably prefer to go to Dublin rather than the local town though. I know that's wrong but I just wouldn't feel comfortable being seen.

MagicMarker

LordNorbury wrote: »

In theory there isn't but I think in practice there actually is.

Except there isn't.

LordNorbury

MagicMarker wrote: »

Except there isn't.

Well I've never seen a man going into a nail salon to have his nails done, I've never heard of a man going into a nail salon to have his nails done until I read this thread today, so that's what I'm going on and that is good enough for me. if you happen to have a different frame of reference, then more power to ya!

baby and crumble

Can someone tell me what the hell sexuality has to do with nails? I GAURANTEE a guy with manicured nails (not painted, just groomed) will be more favourably looked upon by most women than a guy with grotty nails. I know nobody- man or woman- who can smooth nails as well as a manicurist. Yeah, you can use a scissors, or a nail clippers, but they well still look worse than getting it fone professionally. Who gives a damn how someone grooms, so long as they do?

LordNorbury

baby and crumble wrote: »

Can someone tell me what the hell sexuality has to do with nails? I GAURANTEE a guy with manicured nails (not painted, just groomed) will be more favourably looked upon by most women than a guy with grotty nails. I know nobody- man or woman- who can smooth nails as well as a manicurist. Yeah, you can use a scissors, or a nail clippers, but they well still look worse than getting it fone professionally. Who gives a damn how someone grooms, so long as they do?

It's fairly obvious that clean nails are a substantially better reflection of someone than dirty nails, a guy doesn't need to go to a nail salon to get that result, he just needs to wash himself daily.

MagicMarker

LordNorbury wrote: »

Well I've never seen a man going into a nail salon to have his nails done, I've never heard of a man going into a nail salon to have his nails done until I read this thread today, so that's what I'm going on and that is good enough for me. if you happen to have a different frame of reference, then more power to ya!

Oh wow, you haven't seen it so it must never happen. Well done you.

Here you go...

http://www.thegroomingrooms.com/

Pedicures, manicures, facials, waxing, massages. JUST. FOR. MEN. All in the heart of Dublin.

Chance The Rapper

LordNorbury wrote: »

Yeah I do.



I have trouble making any distinction between a guy going for a manicure to get his nails done, and deciding that he wants to go out wearing make up. In either case, I wouldn't be going out for a pint with a mate if he started acting like this, that is genuinely how I feel about the subject, I'm not homophobic, I'm very much live and let live, but I do not have any gay friends and that is my choice and I am entitled to make that choice.

So you are homophobic.

frag420

My housemate does mine every week. It's helped me to stop biting them although this last few days I have had a nibble!

They look awesome afterwards and I tend not to bite at all.

Ignore the begrudgers op and get em done!!

LordNorbury

MagicMarker wrote: »

Oh wow, you haven't seen it so it must never happen. Well done you.

Here you go...

http://www.thegroomingrooms.com/

Pedicures, manicures, facials, waxing, massages. JUST. FOR. MEN. All in the heart of Dublin.

Still doesn't alter the plain and simple fact that I have never heard of any guy I know using such a service. If I told any of my mates that I went to a nail salon to get my nails done, they would just ask me straight out to my face was I gay.

MagicMarker

LordNorbury wrote: »

Still doesn't alter the plain and simple fact that I have never heard of any guy I know using such a service.

I'm not sure what your point is. The world is bigger than your social circle, and clearly plenty of men do avail of such of service if there are establishments providing it specifically for men alone.

czechlin

And here I thought we're living in a modern respectful society. Oh wait...

OP there's no shame in going for a manicure, don't mind the mean comments. I don't know where you live but any nail bar and/or beauty salon should do it without questioning your idea. Lots of beauty salons in Dublin have treatments for men. I went for a massage recently and the girl told me they have enough men coming and not only for massages. And no, they all aren't gay or metrosexual. I wouldn't want my man to spend more time in front of the mirror than I do but I do like it when men are groomed. All my female friends agree. On nice hands especially. If you feel like your hands could do with a special care (because there actually is a lot more involved in manicure than just nail clipping) go and get it done

czechlin

frag420 wrote: »

My housemate does mine every week. It's helped me to stop biting them although this last few days I have had a nibble!

They look awesome afterwards and I tend not to bite at all.

Ignore the begrudgers op and get em done!!

Did it really help you stop biting your nails? I'd love if my bf got rid of that habit but I don't know how to go about it

Thoie

LordNorbury wrote: »

Well I've never seen a man going into a nail salon to have his nails done, I've never heard of a man going into a nail salon to have his nails done until I read this thread today, so that's what I'm going on and that is good enough for me. if you happen to have a different frame of reference, then more power to ya!

Well, I've never seen a man throw such an almighty hissy fit over someone else's grooming until I read this thread today, but here we are. In comparison, your standard main street unisex beauty salon fades into insignificance.

baby and crumble

LordNorbury wrote: »

Still doesn't alter the plain and simple fact that I have never heard of any guy I know using such a service. If I told any of my mates that I went to a nail salon to get my nails done, they would just ask me straight out to my face was I gay.

And?

LordNorbury

Chance The Rapper wrote: »

So you are homophobic.

I've already clarified that I am not homophobic, please go back and read where I said I have no issue with gay people getting married and being gay if they want to be gay. I've already clarified that I believe in live and let life, but I choose not to maintain friendships with gay men as I find this completely separate 'camp' persona that gay men often emulate, to be somewhat false and pretentious and I question why gay men often feel the need to adopt this completely alternative and obviously false persona, for the purposes of expressing their sexuality. Variations of this adopted persona often include the selective adoption and taking up, of other feminine norms, such as wearing manbags/handbags, wearing make up, going to nail salons, etc. I don't accept these things as normal male behaviour, and this is completely independent of someone's sexuality I should add.

To be fair to the OP and everyone on thread, this discussion is for a different thread, if anyone wants to start one, I'll discuss it there, otherwise I've said all I wish to say on this subject.