Wearing nail polish

[Heather B.]

I'm curious how many other people that are on this forum paint their nails all kinds of different colors, being born a man, (when youre not out in full dress) that go out in public or to work or anywhere else with their nails painted. Ive got mine painted purple right now, and for the time that i have had jobs i've gone into industrial/commercial work enviorments with my nails painted pink. does anyone else here do this? Its not that im trying to make a statement besides that I like to paint my nails, and that socially should not be just limited to women. I mean its just a thing we like to do so why should society look at it as if its a bad thing?

[KimberlyS]

I have color on my toes at times. I did a clear flat polish on my fingers for a little while but it was a lot to keep up and the guy side of me said that was enough of that.

[Carol Ann]

Carol does it the easy way, I use glue on nails and have learn there is a trick to keeping them on until you are ready to remove them.

For me I feel it just adds to your appearance and to tell the truth I love looking a bright red nails

[Heather B.]

Im sorry kim, I really like having nail polish on, it sucks that your situation/male side wont let you get away with just a simple flat coat. truthfully when i started painting my nails alot i really didnt use anything besides the color i wanted. I always wondered my my nail color looked flat and totally forgot about clear coat and base. changed everything. I do agree with you Carol, I love having red on my finger nails, I need to find a pink that i think works with my skin tone tho, the one i have i think it too bright and in some way almost seems like its on the same color pallette as my skin lol.

[DonnaT]

I've worn color on my finger nails at work and out-n-about. Of course, at work, the color was a light pink or berry.

I've worn red and violet out-n-about in guy mode.

[Carole Hill]

I wear a gel nails all of the time and a pretty polish on my nails as much as possible. Whenever I am in male mode I wear a light colored polish that does not attract attention.

[Davita]

My toes can be anything any time. Depending, I just might show them off in sandals when drab too. As for my fingers, I tend to wear a pale shade but they tend to shine in bright blues, pinks or purples when the light shine on them at the right angle. I've been painting my nails for years now. If anyone asks what's with the color, I simply say I'm just not a "clear" person. Never a negative comment, but do get teh compliment now and then.

[Betty B.]

I love to pain my toes in different colors. I've noticed that if I pick a dark color, I need to make sure it's not obvious thru my white socks if I'm going to a family gathering where we might take our shoes off indoors (carpet protocol). As to my fingers, I would love to paint my nails full time, but that's not going to happen. I also have the issue with super soft finger nails. My nails can bend back, tear, fray, delaminate and generally self destruct just by looking at them. I've been doing a lot of home improvement tasks lately, and all my nails are shattered nubs. I have a couple of clear nail strengtheners that I have used in public with no comments, but not sure if that fly's for going out in drab, and my wife discourages it in public. I've even done the clear polish with 600 grit sand paper to remove the shine, which actually seems to work. Question, is clear nail polish considered 'normal/acceptable' on guys at this point?

I know press/glue on nails are an option, and I don't know much about them, but they might work for dress up. I would like to have real, functional fingernails in any event. I've heard that eating Jello helps with the nail hardness. Any other suggestions out there?

[Carla Michelle]

My fingernails are almost always painted these days. And usually a bright color, different shades of pink mostly. I am going to get some gel polish today and re do them for the show I'm going to see tonight. Rosanne Cash in a free concert at an outdoor venue. I expect to see a few of my friends there.

[Davita]

Betty, shiny clear on men has been just fine for at least a year now. Actually recall the term "metromen"? they have been doing ti for years. As for taking a shiny polish and scratching it all up? Yuk. One it's not so good for your nails if you scrath them up, two making the finish even must be a pain in the tushy and three.. just buy a matt finish is you're so worried. Now your funny for this. I keep grabbing one of my fave colors and I continue to forget it's a matt. I wind up follwoing with a coat or two of a good shining clear.

[MichelleZ]

Painted toes in hose is a must, imo....and I wear nylons everyday....I find it quite enjoyable to paint them a different color every other week. I miss the good old days when women wore nylons and enjoyed their femininity.

[Jen]

I get manicure and get pedicure in pink but if have go work I take my nail polish off my fingers but leave my toes because no one see them

[KymmieL]

I normally keep my toes painted. On my finger nails I wear a shear pink which is almost blends in.

Kymmie

[Michelle Diane]

As I type this my nails are painted with L'Oreal (I think) 60 second polish in nude. That is worn most days unless we're expecting to go out somewhere or company is coming over. Days when we're staying in I experiment with a range of colours.

A quick side note which pertains to the original post. Since coming out I have discovered my wife has a fetish for collecting nail polish. There is hardly a trip to the store where she doesn't grab a couple, or six, different polishes to try out. We're going through remover like it's water, wish they sold it in gallon jugs.

**EDIT** Sorry Rimmel 60 second "Lets get nude"

[Davita]

To maybe slow down the polish remover use, try something like this, http://www.walmart.com/ip/Onyx-Professi ... z/34754420. Yeah I know it's full of acetone. As I use up the remover, I just add a no acetone remover. The nice thing about this remover is the bristles. They strip the polish off that contains glitter and anything else, fairly quickly and easily. There is no need for balls of cotton and tin foil etc. soaking and resoaking the cotton. You can soak and scrub at the same time. I just wish I was a contortionist so I could do my toes.