When some people think of nail art, they rarely think of it as something we would see on men; however, plenty of men are ready to sport art on their nails. As an artist and a nail tech, there have been many moments where I have had to explain why I am wearing decorated nail polish. After having been in the nail industry for nearly 20 years, I have seen many changes from the boom of soak-off gel colors to the rebirth of acrylics and now the obsession with nail art.
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When some people think of nail art, they rarely think of it as something we would see on men; however, plenty of men are ready to sport art on their nails. As an artist and a nail tech, there have been many moments where I have had to explain why I am wearing decorated nail polish. After having been in the nail industry for nearly 20 years, I have seen many changes from the boom of soak-off gel colors to the rebirth of acrylics and now the obsession with nail art.
Previously, art on nails was considered almost taboo. Now, it is everywhere we look. We see countless designs on many social media outlets, and it is getting to be the norm, even among male celebrities. We have seen rockstars and musicians wearing nail art, but that does not mean the everyday man cannot rock some badass nail art as well.
There are many options for men to get nail art that will make their buddies jealous. Although there is a plethora of online nail art tutorials, I suggest he find a salon to get a professional service. Getting a good manicure can help extend the wear of the lacquer or gel color. After finding a salon, it is a matter of finding the right nail tech to do the nail art that best fits his taste, personality and lifestyle.
I have always been into fine detail art and darker images—skulls and tattoo-style art have been a constant favorite of mine. I also think Old English lettering looks great on men’s nails. This is a style of art that easily allows men to express themselves and have pride in any number of things, including themselves, without being overly bold or overly noticeable. Also, there are very cool glow-in-the-dark options that are not visible during the day, which are especially beneficial for those at workplaces with strict dress codes or various rules about the overall appearance of their employees.
In addition to more traditional artistic avenues, newer products such as chrome pigments are fantastic for men’s [and all] art as they can help create some of the coolest metallic looks. If he is not concerned with how long the nail art will last and wants to ease himself into it, then there are some handy DIY options as well. Decals, for example, can be efficient for someone who wants art but does not necessarily want to go to the salon. These self-adhering stickers are available in an array of sizes, styles and colors, allowing something for everyone. [However, licensed nail techs can apply the decals to create more intricate nail art for clients.]
I hope to see this trend flourish and grow into something that allows men’s self-expression to be seen proudly on their nails as an everyday occurrence
About the Author
With almost 20 years in the nail industry, Vu Nguyen has achieved many awards for his artistic talents. He has been part of the Nailpro top 10 competitors, has created many covers for trade magazines, and is a member of Nailpro’s 2022 advisory board. For the past 15 years, he has been educating nail techs around the world and working with the industry’s top techs and competitors. He trained his younger brother, Robert, who was a finalist on TV’s Nailed It! Vu also works closely with the nail world’s best chemists on product development and still loves teaching nail techs nail art and says, “There is nothing more rewarding to me than to share my knowledge of art and give those without any artistic bone the ability to be an artist.”
This article was originally published in the June 2022 issue of Nailpro magazine.
