Men and manicure are two words you don’t hear in the same sentence all that often. But it turns out men have fingernails, too, and they need to be taken care of just like anyone else’s do. Whether you want to keep it simple and minimal or go all out with an elaborate men’s manicure, there are several reasons why it’s time to put the spotlight on nail care for men.
Why and how should men take care of their fingernails?
Take a look at your nails. Are they brittle? Do you bite them? Are your cuticles shredded and peeling? Is there dirt under them? If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s time to upgrade your nail care routine.
Brittle nails are likely to break, and this can cause sharp, jagged edges that catch on clothes and even skin—no one wants that. Peeling cuticles can lead to infection, another thing nobody wants. Trust me: if you invest a little bit of time in taking care of your nails, you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches in the long run.
For better or worse, your appearance says a lot about who you are. Neat, well groomed mens nails can give the impression of high social status. If that’s not your thing, maybe you think having some dirt under your nails makes you look rugged, hands-on, and capable. In reality, having dirty nails projects the idea that maybe you are rugged, hands-on, and capable, but you also don’t care enough to clean yourself up once you’re done doing all those rugged, hands-on things. It’s great that you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty! The world needs people like you! But seriously, you still have to clean your nails.
Not convinced? Consider this: romantic partners are not going to be comfortable with you touching them in, shall we say, intimate places, if your nails are too long, your cuticles have broken skin, or there’s dirt under your nails. Even if they do allow it, you could hurt them. And that is a surefire way to make sure you don’t get another date.
So now that you’re on board with the idea of a manicure for men, let’s talk about next steps. You probably have a lot of questions about men’s nail care, some of which you may have even googled already: How to clean your fingernails for men? Should guys cut their cuticles? What kind of manicure should a man get? But, first things first: step one is to get acquainted with the tools you’ll need, what they’re for, and how to use them.
Basic nail care products for men
The first requirement is a good nail clipper. If you’ve been biting your nails, or if you’ve been using a cheap, drugstore nail clipper, it’s likely that your nails have rough, jagged edges. Cheap clippers generally go dull quickly, fall apart, and crush the edges of your nail, which can cause problems. But a high-quality, high carbon stainless steel nail clipper can not only last a lifetime, it’s also a total gamechanger in terms of your nail health.
Next, you’ll want a glass nail file.
Emery boards are not the way—leave the sandpaper in the garage, my dude. A glass file will last way longer than an emery board because it never wears out, as long as you clean it between uses and don’t drop it (it is glass, after all). Plus, instead of shredding your nails like emery boards do, a glass file will actually seal the edges of your nails, and brittle, peeling nails will be a thing of the past. Metal files are also a good option. Many have a coarse texture etched onto one side and a finer texture on the other. They’re less breakable than glass files, and still way better than emery boards. Some even have a curved handle you can use to push back your cuticles.
A solid nail brush is another important thing to have, for obvious reasons—everyone’s nails could use a good scrub every now and then. And a nail cleaner is a tool you might not have heard of before, but it looks like a tiny metal spoon and it’s the perfect way to dig dirt out from under your nails, which is incredibly satisfying.
Beyond basic nail care products for men
Aside from the tools listed above, you could also consider a few other implements if you have specific problems, preferences, or requirements. Some people prefer to use a nail scissor instead of a clipper. A combination scissor is a great option if you often suffer from hangnails. With this tool, you can trim your nails and also take care of hangnails. You can even use it to trim your cuticles (see step 2, below).
Another tool to consider is a glass nail stick—if you’re a fan of multitools that do lots of different jobs, this one’s for you. It’s also great to have on hand if your cuticles are overgrown and need to be pushed back. With the pointy end, you can clean under and around your nails; then you can use the flat end to push cuticles back and even buff away small rough spots on your fingertips.
How to do a male manicure
Now that you’re a bit more familiar with the tools involved in male manicures, here’s a step-by-step guide to leveling up your nail care men!
- Fill a bowl with warm water and soak your nails in it for a few minutes. This will soften things up and make the next steps easier.
- Dry your hands and look closely at the bottom part of your nail, the part closest to the back of your hand. You’ll notice a narrow layer of very thin skin. This can sometimes build up too much, leading to hangnails and messy-looking nails. If this is the case, take the flat end of your glass nail stick or use a metal cuticle pusher to push the cuticle toward the back of your hand. If this is the first time you’re doing this, you might need to trim off the excess once you’re done pushing, using your combination scissors (do this in one continuous motion, to avoid cutting yourself). If you push them back regularly, you won’t need to trim them again.
- Trim your nails, using a clipper or scissor. Try not to cut them too short—you still want room to file them, and having a little bit of white on the edge is a nice look, as long as you keep it clean.
- Use your nail brush and soap to clean under your trimmed nails. If there’s dirt lodged too far underneath for the brush to reach, use a nail cleaner to get it out.
- File your nails with your glass or metal nail file. Your goal is to create a smooth line (some people prefer rounded edges, others like them squared off—either works, just try to be consistent), smoothing any pointy or ragged spots.
- Optional bonus step: buff your nails. A buffer is usually shaped like a three- or four-sided block, and each side has a different texture. First, use the coarse side to smooth any ridges on your nails. But don’t overdo it—if you do this too much or too often, you can actually wear away your nail. Five to ten strokes per nail, per week, max. Then use the medium side to smooth your nail even more, and then rub the fine grit or polishing side back and forth to bring out your nails’ natural shine.
- Now it’s time to apply some cuticle oil and/or hand cream. Cuticle oil is great if you’re prone to dry, peeling cuticles, especially if you’ve just pushed them back, but hand cream also works. When it comes to cuticles (and other things you might want to use your fingers for), lubrication is key.
Congratulations, you’re done!
Best mens nail grooming kit
Since it was so hard to choose just one, here are the three best kits for meeting the most common men manicure needs.
4 Piece Mens Manicure Set
This kit includes the basics outlined above: a nail clipper, a combination scissor, a glass nail file, and a glass nail stick.
Compact Mens Manicure set
Like the set above, this one includes a nail clipper and a combination scissor, but this one has a nail cleaner and a metal sapphire file. It’s perfect if you’re into tools that do many jobs—it has a medium texture etched onto on one side, a fine texture on the other, and the curved handle works great as a cuticle pusher!
This kit goes beyond the basics. It includes both fingernail AND toenail clippers, plus a sapphire nail file and a nail cleaner. For an added bonus, it also has a mustache scissor and a pair of the best tweezers you’ll ever use, for whatever manscaping needs arise.
