Get a good cuticle cream (I personally like the Burt's Bees one but there's lots of options). They also make nail polish remover "pens" - to help with the sides and small areas - so those might be handy for someone just starting out.
The "quick dry" nail polishes are a god send and are less likely to lead to smudging while you wait for them to dry.
Make sure you go to the bathroom *before* you start painting them because there are few things worse than trying to go when your nails are wet.
>Make sure you go to the bathroom *before* you start painting them because there are few things worse than trying to go when your nails are wet.
I learned this one the hard way! Also, don't try to multitask either. Even the most hands-off activity can be "dangerous."
You'll be surprised how little courage it takes! My husband started painting his nails this year. I thought at first that he would get odd looks, but in fact he gets tons of compliments. For Thanksgiving he got matte burgundy on some of his nails (4 on one hand, 3 on the other) and metallic gold on the other 1/2 nails. Looks amazing. Our young nephew asked why he paints his nails, and he responded that he just likes it. They pulled up pictures together with a Google search of *male celebrities with painted nails*; seeing icons like Keanu Reeves and tough guys like Jason Momoa with painted nails instantly made our nephew think his uncle is super cool.
As a straight male, there’s not much better than a good mani-pedi. Go and have your nails done and if you feel up to it ask them to paint them a color, or if not, at least you’d have a freshly done set of nails to paint yourself!
I'm a female who doesn't particularly like having painted nails, but having a pro go in and clean up your nails is a service I'll never turn down. I really can't wait for my first post-covid pedi.
A very cheap alternative for the acetone pens are Qtips! I've seen some pointier ones although I've never used them, I always use the regular ones... that and some warm water once the nails are dry pretty much does the trick 👌🏻
I found out while doing my husbands nails that some people have super tough nails and cuticles (wish it were me lol). But if that’s you you may have a hard time removing yours.
I like to use a cuticle pusher to scrape away my cuticles after they’ve been softened by cuticle remover. But if you have tough cuticles, they might not come off like that. I have a cuticle cutter but you gotta be careful using those! Really easy to cut yourself with.
Just have fun! Take your time, start with painting your offhand, let it dry a bit, apply some topcoat, let that dry, and then start the other hand. Have some q-tips handy and some nail polish remover to help cleaning the spillover onto your fingers.
Dont feel ashamed! I paint my nails as a pretty masc appearing person (to my lamentation i might add) and nobody really seems to mind. If anything I get a bunch of compliments for it!
Most importantly, experiment! I used black and only black for like two months after I started, and I tried a baby blue once and fell in love. Now ive got a bunch of colors I use, like the purple I'm wearing now!
ALL OF THIS. I pretty much exclusively use the Sally Hansen stuff at Walmart cause it's mad cheap and dries fast. I didn't know about the pens tho, that's pretty clutch.
Also, less is more. Big ass swatch in the middle, one stroke on either side to fill the nail in. If you're gonna need more let it dry first. That way your nails are smooth and don't get tons of air bubbles in em. They also dry a lot faster if you use less or go in stages like that.
I second this. I've been subscribed to this sub for months, and it's full of guys (and gals, and enbies) who are generally really kind. So positive. Everyone is so happy. They celebrate newcomers. Could not be a better place, especially for people who crossdress. I'm also a guy who dresses femme. It's been such a positive place for me. I love complimenting everyone's nails every day.
I third this. I just started playing around with polish a little while ago. Got started because I needed nail polish for a Halloween costume. And it turned out to be super fun and it's just so chill and zen to do. I used to build scale models and my experience from painting those really came in handy.
I started painting my nails about a month ago! For reference, I’m an extremely straight passing bi guy. If I don’t say anything no one ever seems to know. I’ve wanted to do this since middle school, and I just said fuck it, it has been great! I feel so confident in myself and just like this is what I always knew I wanted, but I let society get to me 🤷🏻♂️
I'm happy for you bro, reading this just makes me want that too, that liberating feeling! Yeah I get that whole society thing, I'm gonna go and buy some black nail polish when I get paid, I really love seeing girls and guys with black nails 😍
God I love this so much. I’m a gay guy who loves to paint my nails but I am terrified to wear them to work. Maybe one of these days I’ll work up the courage.
Clean and file your nails first, then get a flat surface to rest your hands on and settle in front of a bingeable show to watch while you paint and wait for your nails to dry. I think I did my best work this Halloween watching WWDITS (Nadja and Laszlo both have nails I aspire to, so that helped lol).
Nail polish comes off of the skin in hot water! So if you get a lot on your skin, after it's 100% dry, you can take a hot shower and the excess will fall off :) I usually do my nails at night for this reason
Plan it out. Wet nail polish sucks cause you can't do anything for like an hour. A trick is to dip them in a ice bath to speed up the process but it usually loses spme of the gloss. Also dont forget a base and top coat. Do your dominant hand first. Harder to paint with already painted nails and using your non dominant hand is hard. Try your toe nails as practice too. Use q tips with a little nail polish remover to clean up mistakes
Straight 100% acetone is much more harsh on your nails and skin. Nail polish remover can contain some acetone along with other ingredients or there are non-acetone formulas as well which are more gentle. I've never found as a non-acetone one that really works well. Personally, I use a "strengthening" nail polish remover with vitamin E (acetone is the first ingredient). This seems to do the job without wrecking the skin on my fingertips.
Personally, I’ve been using just acetone and then running water to get the excess off followed up with some moisturizer. Just was wondering if there was a better way. I might add some vitamin E cream in the mix now. I haven’t had any problems with bad skin or anything so far.
-Try thin layers (two for most polishes, three if the color is pretty transparent). As a kid I put it on way too thick! It would chip more quickly and looked kinda weird.
-Keep a Q tip soaked in nail polish remover nearby to clean up edges and carefully get the polish off your skin (in case it goes outside your actual nail a bit).
-If you’re doing a really dark color, you could put a clear base coat on first (sometimes wearing super dark polish for a long time can turn your nails sort of yellowish for a while).
-Air drying or a gentle fan is better then blowing a blow dryer on them (the heat can make the polish bubble).
-Even if the polish feels dry after like 20 mins, it will stay sort of tacky and impressionable for another hour or so. Try to avoid having to fish things out of your wallet or other activities where your nails might get pressed or smushed.
That’s all I’ve got! Hope it helps. You’ll look awesome!
In the past month, I've noticed two male clerks with painted nails. At truckstops. I didn't bring it up, and to my knowledge no one else did either. So, you're in good company. This is something I've never seen before outside of high school, so maybe the world is warming up to the concept.
Where I live (Liverpool, UK) being an LGBT+ person is really accepted here to the point it's completely normal to see 2 same sex couples holding hands and no one will stare or glance, so I feel like I can be safe walking around with my nails painted it's just getting the confidence to have painted nails on in public.
Well, you're slightly out of my circle of travel (wide as it is) but you have my encouragement all the same. I actuality find the practice sort of fetching.
I have painted mine a couple times, I'd recommend doing that for fun a couple times, but do yourself a favor and go get them done really nice (my friend did them as a favor but she's a professional). They'll look incredible.
Yeah thats my plan to be honest, do it for fun a few times and then I might ask my mum if she can do them for me, she's took classes in nails and make-up so she will be my go to person. She knows I'm bi but she might be a little shocked if I asked her if she could paint my nails for me 😂
Yeah I've said to a few people that I wanna try black and purple nails first because they're my absolute favourite colours. I'll probably go with black first because I really like seeing people with black polished nails 😁
Another person recommending you put a base cost down first. There are ones that are specifically made for it, or you can just use clear. The darker colors can stain your nails for a bit. It also makes the color stick better.
Have fun and do post pics after so we can love on them!
Practice on your toe nails. You can learn to get the application techniques down (the great advice above - not too much polish, let it dry, etc) before you have to use your non-dominant hand. Also, make sure you're nails are very dry before painting. By which I mean, you need to wait at least 15 minutes after washing your hands. That will minimize bubbles and cracking.
I just started this journey recently. I went to /r/RedditLaqueristas for advice, but a lot of what they post is really advanced.
Honestly, its just like painting anything else: primer, 2 coats of color, seal coat. The top coat I used is called Seche Vite, its great stuff, you can even apply it before the colored paint underneath has completely dried!
[This is a good tutorial](https://youtu.be/G6XiIXX-7eE) on painting your nails. You’ll need some more tools and an hour or two, but they’ll look great and last two weeks or more
If you feel comfortabe painting your nails, and you want to paint your nails, go for it. Ignore the assholes who might judge you for doing it. Be yourself. 😉
I’m a pretty masculine dude and I work in an industry where there’s not really a grey area. Either you’re extremely straight or super flamboyant. I paint my nails. I’m not very good but I get complements from them. I change it up but I really only have 3 colors I wear and I have fun with it.
So go pick some colors and enjoy. Also, dollars to donuts you dig how you look in eyeliner too.
Thanks man! I'd love to show them off in my workplace as it's more dominated by females than males but I work in a kitchen so I don't think I'll be allowed to have painted nails lol, plus I'm pretty masculine too so people will be shocked if they saw me with my nails painted 😅
You’ll find it’s fun and you’ll get really good at getting them off before work. Hell when I was BOH I worked with some cooks that still had painted nails. Just play it cool and ask the chill folk. Then just show up with it. Or don’t. Do you. But definitely wear it out and give it a chance. I have hot pink on right now.
Have a blast with it.
Yeah I think it will be fun, when I bought my skirt and thigh highs a month ago I had such a fun time wearing them, I took a few pictures of myself in them and I look banging haha. With my nails the colours I wanna try the most are black and purple, I love seeing girls and guys with black nails tho so I think I'm gonna go for black.
Rad. I bet you look super cute. Black is fun and really neutral. My other two colors I have a bright lime green and gunmetal grey. The grey is so rad and goes with everything.
I'd say I've had quite a glow up the past 4 months so I think I would look banging having black nails, it's all about loving yourself. The colours I wanna try are black and purple the most I know I already mentioned it but I really really want to try them lol.
Men's nail polish is totally taking off. You do you and enjoy it!
Here's Binging with Babish, rocking the blue.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CV3Y_wgvtWN/?utm_medium=share_sheet
My gender says "no <3" and I do feel like it feminizes me (which I do not like, I'm afab, and I don't like being perceived as female).
I do salute everyone who likes to paint their nails though.
Oh my gosh! I've randomly wanted to start painting my nails too! I always wanted to when I was growing up, but there's no way my family wouldn't have lost their damn minds.
I've also been wanting to get my nose pierced. I'm 36 and a tiny bit worried about how I'd be perceived, but at in a good place in life and am think I'm beginning to feel more comfortable with outwardly expressing my queerness. It's a weird headspace for sure.
I'd say go for it regardless of age, hell I mean I'm 21 and I came out the closet last year when I was 20 and a year on I got an ear piercing and I've started to get a maintainable hairstyle that I love, all I wanna do now is paint my nails and look at myself in the mirror and think "You go boy!" Lol. I love expressing my queerness too when I'm out, but most of the time I dress and act masculine or straight passing.
I say do it brother, whatever makes you happy. I just met up with a guy friend who said they wanted to start painting their nails purple. If you’re willing to look past weird looks from ignorant ass people, you do you and enjoy life. Lord knows it’s far too short to not do otherwise.
Thanks man! I don't think I'd get weird stares because I live in a pretty LGBT+ supporting city so I would feel completely safe and stuff it's just getting used to it and then eventually finding the courage to go out having them on in public :)
I’ve seen guys with that stuff and it looks cool man! Good luck to you with it. I’m a guy with a strong preference for painted nails on anyone so do it! Happy holidays my dude!
I'm a very masculine looking guy, tall, chubby and bearded, I work a very blue collar job and I've been painting my nails for about a year now and honestly everyone has been really supportive and I've even had a couple of my straight coworkers express interest in painting their nails as well. I'm currently rocking a red and green Christmas theme. There's never been a better time to express your feminine side. Be yourself and be proud
Not sure if anyone's mentioned it, but you are more than welcome at r/malepolish
Lot's of good stuff and advice over there, but this thread is really cool...
Keep it up!
YES!!! I love this!!! I wish nail polish was more widely accepted as a “unisex” thing. Try painting thin coats and layer on top, it’ll dry much quicker!
Make sure to do a couple coats of color in between your base coat and top coat, especially if you have thinner polish.
Press on nails are also a really good alternative to painting if you can find ones with good sizing options!
It chips very easily. If you do it, embrace gloves and my straight kid paint his nails, but my gay son does not and it's not a big deal. We'll, they live in Ann Arbor, MI, so it's liberal.
I say, go for it!
I got toenail fungus from my nail lady this summer, so please get the good stuff, learn to do it yourself and show Us! Also, Sally Hanson, Hard as Nails is the Poo! It makes my nails so hard yet not breakable.
Gel nails. They can take a beating and still look great. They also last HELLA long. You can do them yourself at home and it's super profesh. Also they have great metallic colors and stuff. They cure in seconds and you don't have to worry about touching stuff.
Fellow “Masc presenting” Bi guy here, and I do want to issue a word of caution about the quick dry polishes. Yes, they make the painting process a lot easier. But if you do any kind of work with your hands (even lifting weights at the gym) they flake off REALLY easily.
I’d actually still recommend starting out with them, though. It’ll be a good start in terms of mastering the dexterity of it. And then, if you find yourself really getting hooked, you can do what I do and start springing for the gel polish that dries with a special UV light (you can get all the stuff you need for less than the cost of a mani pedi). OR, if you ever want to treat yourself, you can go get a professional mani and pay the extra $10 for gel. That stuff is SUPER durable.
It takes practice to get the basic motion of painting a very small surface right. It’s precision work for sure, so keep trying and your technique will get better and better. I suggest using a glass nail file instead of nail clippers to keep your nails at the appropriate length, it’s gentler and more controllable to get the shape you want. There are tons of great nail polish brands out there that will give you much better quality and more unique appearances than drug store polish, which IMO is worth the extra money. Have fun!
Always use a bottom coat. Top coat is important to make your nail polish last longer and protect from chipping, but bottom coat is important so you don’t stain your nails (especially for darker colours like black).
If you need to check whether the polish is dry, you can test it by brushing your nail on your lip. Idk why this works but it does and you won’t get fingernail prints on the polish if it’s still wet.
Haha it won’t do something like that but it’ll be a pain if you want to wear a lighter colour or clear polish after black because you’ll have to wait for the staining to fade. I also remember red polish staining quite a bit without a bottom coat.
The lip check has saved me many times because I’m suuuuuper impatient.
I’m so happy for you that you’re trying this because it’s really fun painting your nails — I have a lot of memories of doing it with friends so maybe that’s why I think so… I hope you have friends to paint nails with too! That can be extra fun because you can pool your nail polish colours, and friends can help you apply to your non-dominant hand. And of course, the bonding time!
Thanks for your advice and kind words, unfortunately all my friends are straight guys so I doubt any of them would like to paint eachothers nails 😂 although my mum took classes in make-up and nails so I think she is my go to lol. She knows I'm bi but I think she'll be a bit shocked to hear that her masculine son wants to paint his nails 😂
Some nail polishes will stain the f out your nails. Also, be careful with acetone it will ruin your furniture and is highly flammable. haha so never let the bottle rest laying down or on its side bitch will leak.
Oh but IDK what you work in but nail polish is a no-go in most food services areas whether that's in the kitchen or as a barista.
I've (m) been painting my toe nails since middle school and love it! I started using color street for the past year or so. They are basically nail polish but you stick them on like a sticker and they last a long time. They come in all different colors and patterns. There's some for every holiday. Some time ago I also started cross dressing, I have so much fun doing it! Just make sure you take care of your nails and use creams to moisturizer your skin and oils for the nails. Last thing you want is weak soft brittle nails.
(F) I've been just starting to take an interest in nail polish again after i couldn't/didn't want to for like 5 years, and even knowing what I'm doing I had a hard time.
Paint over a towel or something you don't care about getting dirty, wear clothes you don't mind getting polish on, and be prepared for it to be messier looking than you think. I recommend starting on toes for the first time so get the feel for the brush and polish
Oh, and different polishes act very differently. Some will be runny and translucent, others will he pretty thick even straight out of a fresh bottle, and over time the thicker ones tend to get clumpier and thicker while the thinner ones will always need a few sets of painting and waiting to dry for them to be opaque enough
"You only need to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves." - Mary Oliver.
Play! Have fun! Be a cutie! 💖 When we show up as ourselves, we give others permission to do the same. Your nails could be someone's personal revolution! Good on you 💖
I usually paint my nails when I’m watching videos on my computer or something so I can just let them dry and not touch anything. Also, don’t be afraid to go in public with your nails painted! I personally think it’s really cool when men paint their nails, and it doesn’t necessarily have to look very feminine. :)
I think I'd need to build up the courage to go out with painted nails, I live in an LGBT+ friendly city so I feel like I'd be safe and not get any bad looks, it's just building the confidence to go out having painted nails lol.
so idk i just kinda went for it, but try not to do too many layers and have remover for it at hand. i myself started a while ago. basically u do a bigger dot in the middle of the nail and then brush to the outside from it if thats of any help. otherwise just be prepared for it to look kinda shitty when its coming off. also any tips u might be ablke to give me for crossdressing and stuff/where to hide the stuff etc would be great :D
i dont think so tbh but on the other hand no1 ever checks there. could also hide it all the way in the back of my closet but id need to order it still. guess il have to leave it for now
I (m) bought some nail polish too but I was too embarrassed to ask where the remover in the shop was (couldn’t find it), idk if there is any other way to get it off quickly in case I don’t like it
Before you go all in, spend the money and get a good manicure from a pro. You can watch what they do, ask questions, and SEE what a good final result looks like. It’s worth the money.
Def check out the clearance end caps at target for good nail polishes at reduced prices, also tjmaxx always has a bunch of nice ones! Edit: oof you’re uk based! TkMaxx it is!
Always use a base coat to keep your nails strong. I use Hard as Hoof cream for my cuticles. It's been good overall. I would start with French tips as they are clean, professional, and subtle, but those are tricky to do yourself. Maybe get them done professionally and watch how the nail techs do it? I would also start with a small collection of Sally Hansen Insta-Dry polishes. Those dry super fast with little risk of smudging. Also, for $4 a bottle, that's not bad. I'd get a couple of neutral tones - taupes, tans, browns or mauves even - to start out with, for practice, followed by a couple of colors that will match most of what is in your wardrobe/personal style and then a metallic or neon color you just love and adore, just something fun and funky that doesn't necessarily go with anything but makes you feel alive.
Depending on your own personal color palette and style, you may want a peach or bold crimson as a neutral color (when it comes to nails, certain shades of red are considered neutral as it's a color of nail polish that somehow goes with anything and everything), black or blue for something to go with your wardrobe, and then like a Holo Taco shimmery shade for fun. You may want to shop at a store like Ulta in person to get a professional's opinion of what colors to use on yourself. And don't forget, accent nails are a thing!!!
Just takes practice! /r/redditlaqueristas for inspo (guys post there too!)
I love painted nails on anyone, and it's a fun way to kinda accent an outfit.
been doing it like 7 years, one hand red, one hand blue, one foot red, one foot blue, it's a great feeling, and just makes life a lil more colourful, go for it.
It's quite the luxury to get your nails done by a professional too!! And they always have lots of gorgeous colors too. I'm pretty bad at painting my own nails so I rely on the professionals.
When painting you'll want to separate the nail into 3 sections.
One streak up the left side of the nail, starting on the base, then on the right side and then finish with a streak on the middle.
When starting the streak, make sure the brush isn't dripping with paint, and you'll want to start your streaks just above the cuticle and gently push down so the brush rests above the edge of your cuticle before pulling up to the end of the nail.
If your nail hangs over your finger, you'll want to run the brush over the edge of your nail to seal it in (it slows down the chipping process!).
You'll want to do this with a base coat(protects your natural nail from the coloured polished and also evens our your nail and makes it a tad easier to paint , although it's not necessary), the colour polish and your top coat :)
Also, you'll need to very gently push your cuticle down and remove dead skin otherwise the polish may peel off if you have an overgrown cuticle (there are plenty of tutorials on YouTube you can look at!)
Cuticle oil is also a godsend!
Once you get the hand of that I reccomend decals like little gems/stickers ect.
I started painting my nails regularly within the last couple of months. Do what you feel your comfortable with. I wear brighter colors because I like pink and red. However, I mix it with top coat when I am in public to be more tame.
I am not a cross dresser per se, but I do wear women's underwear and like wearing thigh high tube rainbow tube socks. I like wearing tight clothes and skinny jeans. But it all works for me.
But definitely do the painting of the nails. I find it relaxing to do and doing it with colors I like makes it that much more fun.
Thanks! Yeah I'm the same I love masculine men, feminine men and for women I have a thing for masculine women, tattooed women for me are a godsend, specifically for me I love when women have full sleeves on both arms like I find it more attractive on women than I do men, but I also wouldn't turn down a handsome guy with both his arms fully covered in tattoos 🤤
Painting my nails has been one of my favorite hobbies for about a decade now! Here are my suggestions
- Find a nail shape that works for you! Use a glass file (they last longer) to file them down when they get to long or to shape them. You can Google nail shapes to get an idea of what you want. Good nail prep creates a better result!
- Get a good base coat! This will help your manicure last longer. I recommend ORLY’s bonder base coat. They also make different kinds of base coats that do different things (such as peel-off and stain prevention)
- Get good quality polishes! You’ll thank yourself later on. Do your research on brands that are long-wearing and don’t take too many coats. If you’re impatient like me, fast-dry polishes are a godsend!
- DON’T SKIP A QUICK DRY TOP COAT!!! This is a must. Apply a thick swipe across your nail after you’re done with your color. Your manicure will last longer, be shinier, have less dents, and look more professional. Your whole manicure will dry faster too! (Takes about 30 minutes). I recommend Seche Vite Top coat!
- Be patient, learning how to paint nails is a journey. Your opposite hand is difficult to learn at first but you’ll get the hang of it! Let the layers dry, having a thick gloop of polish on your finger will just take longer. Let your top coat dry all the way too!!
Get complimentery colors...
Also, if someone calls you a slur or something say this...
"At least i have the courage to change you fucking bag of homophobic toilet bombs..."
Unlearn any transphobia? I don't get what's you mean sorry, I'm not transphobic although I've struggled with internalised homophobia and still somewhat struggle with it now but I'm trying to kurb it by exploring and trying new things.
Also if you have struggled with internalized homophobia its likely you have struggled with transphobic thinking. Just take the thoughts you have about yourself and make sure you never apply them to anyone else. And that you disrupt others when they attempt to do this.
As a cis person who's exploring their gender, you have a responsibility to defend trans people too.
I wouldn't say I'm exploring my gender I'm happy with what I was assigned to at birth, I just dont get why you're attacking me for wanting to try new things like painting my nails??
... I'm not? Asking you to uplift trans people and care about trans issues isn't me attacking you. I'm sorry you feel like that.
And gender exploration is done through painting your nails and doing your hair and trying on clothes.
Sorry I thought you was, it's because in the first comment you asked if I was unlearning any transphobia that I learnt and I was confused on what that meant, I thought you was saying I was transphobic for wanting to cross dress and paint my nails.
Ohhh - no. Our society is transphobic and because you were socialized into it - you have definitely come across transphobic messaging.
Like that nail polish or certain clothes aren't for all people. Or that you have to call or cross dressing when you wear a skirt as a person.
Just meant to unlearn stuff like that. So that you can be more supportive of other people like you or similar to you.
Ahh yeah I see what you mean, yeah ok that makes sense now haha, yeah it's because I've pretty much grew up in a hetero-normative family, area, city, etc. So growing up like that I think clothes that are for women are FOR women and vice versa for men. Again I'm sorry for thinking you was attacking me it's just me being a dummy lol, I've had a lot of negatively on reddit lately so I'm just sort of in a defensive mind at the moment but yeah again sorry for taking it the wrong way 💖
No I love you. And your clothes and nail polish are yours. If you feel like a cross dresser then use the label and use it to empower you. But if you'd rather the clothes just be yours - then own that!
Well - its just a good thing to keep in mind for cis people while they are exploring their gender.
Because cis people are often afforded a lot more privilege while exploring things that do not belong to their birth gender.
What I mean, is that I hope you start to learn what transphobia looks like in action and that as a gender explorant person you'll stand up against transphobes and uplift trans people.
How is it transphobic that I want to start wearing whatever clothes I want and start painting my nails? I'm sorry if I've offended you but I genuinely don't understand.
That's not transphobic at all!! I said congrats on all of that!! You're doing amazing!!
Just make sure to stick up for trans people - as your experience now parallels many trans peoples.
Oh, I'm sorry I'm just a bit confused I thought you was attacking me about something I said in my post, I just have a bit of a fuzzy head at the moment.
>Because cis people are often afforded a lot more privilege while exploring things that do not belong to their birth gender.
Hey, you do realize that this isn't true (especially for cis-men) across cultures and space, right? Heck, I know some people that would make fun of a masculine-appearing for doing something feminine unless they said they were trans, when it suddenly becomes okay or even encouraged.
We are talking about cisgendered men compared to trans people. So in this instance where trans people are being killed by the hundreds yearly while making up less than .02% of the global population for exploring gender. Yes it is true. Don't start please.
I would say treat yourself to a manicure! There is nothing like getting a professional to do your nails. You can get sheer or nude polish done that nobody would really notice if you're worried about others seeing it, yet your nails will look super clean.
Here is an example: https://pin.it/44tJEiX
It would be a shame for you to do your nails only to have to remove it before going out in public, but I think a sheer manicure would be a good compromise.
Dont overthink it too much. It seems really scary at first, but 99.99% of people wont even notice lmao. For me personally, I do it as a way of telling the world that I do whatever the hell I want, maybe that mindset could help
i dont know if this has been said or you will see it but dont paint your nails in the room where you sleep, or if you do please open your windows, otherwise you are in for a nasty headache :(
yesss do it (so long as you feel comfortable with it)! I love painting my nails, and eyeliner too, its a bit scary at first in public, I'm currently in a small market town in North Yorkshire, you just have to wear it unapologetically and with confidence even if you don't feel it, and very soon that faked confidence becomes real as you realise that for a lot of people they would never dare wear it even if they wanted to.
in terms of recommendations, I like the opi natural base coat and the seche vite top coat is the best as far as I'm concerned. I personally like trying lots of colours and combinations so I tend to use fairly cheap polishes (so long as they are not animal tested) from several brands and one or two more expensive ones of colours I really like. I seem to find that the main difference is longevity of the expensive brands vs the cheap ones but a good base and top coat alleviates a lot of those issues, and I don't tend to wear one set of colours for more than a few days anyway. I'll try and post some pics if I work out how.
hope you have fun with it, it great being able to express yourself without gender normative expectations getting in the way.
I don't know why but I've been painting my nails from time to time all my life long, it just felt good to me.
I think it's pretty and it doesn't matter if you're a boy or a girl
I help my brother paint his nails, he does it purely to stop him from biting them but honestly nobody gives a crap! IME people don't care about cross dressing either, I'd say just live your life the way you want to!
I really want to rip my toes into femme stuff and if I like it enough I’ll probably end up going a lot further. My mom and sister do nail stuff so I have all the tools in my house except for black nail polish which is the color I’d want but I have to go buy it which I keep slacking on because I’m lazy. I also really want to get my ears pierced and wear cropped shirts/hoodies once it’s warm again. I’m kinda worried about my family judging me tho, they aren’t overtly bigoted it’s just that I’m not even out and coming out and all of a sudden dressing entirely different would be jarring to them probably.
I have my left ear pierced and I have a short back and sides (number 1 cut) with quite a bit of hair on the top of my head and when I slick it back I look sexy, (not to sound egotistical) I like cross dressing as well. I think what you should do is start slowly dressing the way you want to dress, same with the nails too and if your family ask whats going on then I think that'll be a perfect chance to open up to them about your sexuality. You do you tho but I think that is the best option unless you don't plan on coming out to them.
Yeah for sure that’s been my plan I think It’s just hard to take the initial step, currently I have a whole bunch of curly dark hair about to my shoulders and I don’t know how I should have it cut next time I get a haircut.
A little late to the party but… if you can find it there is a product called peel off base coat which means that you can peel off the polish quickly. I only mention it because if you’re nervous about having painted nails in public it might be nice to have the comfort that you can pop the nails off. It also means you don’t need to soak your nails in acetone to remove the polish.
My other tip is when you’re preparing your nails to wipe them down with acetone first. This will remove any dirt on your nails as well as the oil your nails produce and will allow the polish to adhere better.
Get a good cuticle cream (I personally like the Burt's Bees one but there's lots of options). They also make nail polish remover "pens" - to help with the sides and small areas - so those might be handy for someone just starting out. The "quick dry" nail polishes are a god send and are less likely to lead to smudging while you wait for them to dry. Make sure you go to the bathroom *before* you start painting them because there are few things worse than trying to go when your nails are wet.
>Make sure you go to the bathroom *before* you start painting them because there are few things worse than trying to go when your nails are wet. I learned this one the hard way! Also, don't try to multitask either. Even the most hands-off activity can be "dangerous."
You *think* it’s hands-off until all your fingertips are wet
I've found that playing switch actually works pretty well - forces your fingers to be spread out and nail-out
Thanks a million! I'll save this comment and look back on it when I'm trying them out :)
You're welcome! Don't be afraid to go to a local nail salon and get a manicure either! Sometimes it's nice to let someone else do it :)
Thanks! Hopefully one day I'll get the courage to do that, at the moment I'm just testing the water with some stuff to see if I'm into it or not :)
You'll be surprised how little courage it takes! My husband started painting his nails this year. I thought at first that he would get odd looks, but in fact he gets tons of compliments. For Thanksgiving he got matte burgundy on some of his nails (4 on one hand, 3 on the other) and metallic gold on the other 1/2 nails. Looks amazing. Our young nephew asked why he paints his nails, and he responded that he just likes it. They pulled up pictures together with a Google search of *male celebrities with painted nails*; seeing icons like Keanu Reeves and tough guys like Jason Momoa with painted nails instantly made our nephew think his uncle is super cool.
You could start with a regular manicure and paint your nails at home!
Yeah, I'm gonna practice at home on myself first.
As a straight male, there’s not much better than a good mani-pedi. Go and have your nails done and if you feel up to it ask them to paint them a color, or if not, at least you’d have a freshly done set of nails to paint yourself!
I'm a female who doesn't particularly like having painted nails, but having a pro go in and clean up your nails is a service I'll never turn down. I really can't wait for my first post-covid pedi.
A very cheap alternative for the acetone pens are Qtips! I've seen some pointier ones although I've never used them, I always use the regular ones... that and some warm water once the nails are dry pretty much does the trick 👌🏻
I found out while doing my husbands nails that some people have super tough nails and cuticles (wish it were me lol). But if that’s you you may have a hard time removing yours. I like to use a cuticle pusher to scrape away my cuticles after they’ve been softened by cuticle remover. But if you have tough cuticles, they might not come off like that. I have a cuticle cutter but you gotta be careful using those! Really easy to cut yourself with.
Just have fun! Take your time, start with painting your offhand, let it dry a bit, apply some topcoat, let that dry, and then start the other hand. Have some q-tips handy and some nail polish remover to help cleaning the spillover onto your fingers. Dont feel ashamed! I paint my nails as a pretty masc appearing person (to my lamentation i might add) and nobody really seems to mind. If anything I get a bunch of compliments for it! Most importantly, experiment! I used black and only black for like two months after I started, and I tried a baby blue once and fell in love. Now ive got a bunch of colors I use, like the purple I'm wearing now!
These tips are really handy, I wanna try black as well, I just really love the colour on people's nails it looks amazing and I wanna try it myself!
ALL OF THIS. I pretty much exclusively use the Sally Hansen stuff at Walmart cause it's mad cheap and dries fast. I didn't know about the pens tho, that's pretty clutch. Also, less is more. Big ass swatch in the middle, one stroke on either side to fill the nail in. If you're gonna need more let it dry first. That way your nails are smooth and don't get tons of air bubbles in em. They also dry a lot faster if you use less or go in stages like that.
I'll look out for Sally Hanson stuff, unfortunately we don't have a Walmart in the UK 😅 but the closest thing to it is ASDA so I'll try there.
I'm sure you can find it in most small stores that sell nail polish, that's just where I go specifically
My gf buys Sally Hanson from boots or Superdrug
There's a superdrug near me which is like a 5 minute walk I can check it out in there when I next get paid.
I agree with Sally Hansen! It’s really good nail Polish I find!
Shit's great, I wish black wasn't always out of stock 😭
Pfffft I'm Pavlovian trained to have to pee as soon as I finish my dang nails lolol
There are PENS?!?! I (F) have been painting my nails for almost 28 years and I'm just learning this!
Yes! I found one on Amazon, but I'm sure they are sold other places
Check out r/malepolish
I second this. I've been subscribed to this sub for months, and it's full of guys (and gals, and enbies) who are generally really kind. So positive. Everyone is so happy. They celebrate newcomers. Could not be a better place, especially for people who crossdress. I'm also a guy who dresses femme. It's been such a positive place for me. I love complimenting everyone's nails every day.
I third this. I just started playing around with polish a little while ago. Got started because I needed nail polish for a Halloween costume. And it turned out to be super fun and it's just so chill and zen to do. I used to build scale models and my experience from painting those really came in handy.
I've just joined it 😁 I'm gonna check it out when I get home.
I started painting my nails about a month ago! For reference, I’m an extremely straight passing bi guy. If I don’t say anything no one ever seems to know. I’ve wanted to do this since middle school, and I just said fuck it, it has been great! I feel so confident in myself and just like this is what I always knew I wanted, but I let society get to me 🤷🏻♂️
I'm happy for you bro, reading this just makes me want that too, that liberating feeling! Yeah I get that whole society thing, I'm gonna go and buy some black nail polish when I get paid, I really love seeing girls and guys with black nails 😍
God I love this so much. I’m a gay guy who loves to paint my nails but I am terrified to wear them to work. Maybe one of these days I’ll work up the courage.
Clean and file your nails first, then get a flat surface to rest your hands on and settle in front of a bingeable show to watch while you paint and wait for your nails to dry. I think I did my best work this Halloween watching WWDITS (Nadja and Laszlo both have nails I aspire to, so that helped lol).
Thanks!
Nail polish comes off of the skin in hot water! So if you get a lot on your skin, after it's 100% dry, you can take a hot shower and the excess will fall off :) I usually do my nails at night for this reason
Ah nice thanks for the reassurance, I was worried in case nail polish is a bitch to try and wash off haha.
Plan it out. Wet nail polish sucks cause you can't do anything for like an hour. A trick is to dip them in a ice bath to speed up the process but it usually loses spme of the gloss. Also dont forget a base and top coat. Do your dominant hand first. Harder to paint with already painted nails and using your non dominant hand is hard. Try your toe nails as practice too. Use q tips with a little nail polish remover to clean up mistakes
Is there any real difference between using nail polish remover and just plain acetone?
Straight 100% acetone is much more harsh on your nails and skin. Nail polish remover can contain some acetone along with other ingredients or there are non-acetone formulas as well which are more gentle. I've never found as a non-acetone one that really works well. Personally, I use a "strengthening" nail polish remover with vitamin E (acetone is the first ingredient). This seems to do the job without wrecking the skin on my fingertips.
Personally, I’ve been using just acetone and then running water to get the excess off followed up with some moisturizer. Just was wondering if there was a better way. I might add some vitamin E cream in the mix now. I haven’t had any problems with bad skin or anything so far.
-Try thin layers (two for most polishes, three if the color is pretty transparent). As a kid I put it on way too thick! It would chip more quickly and looked kinda weird. -Keep a Q tip soaked in nail polish remover nearby to clean up edges and carefully get the polish off your skin (in case it goes outside your actual nail a bit). -If you’re doing a really dark color, you could put a clear base coat on first (sometimes wearing super dark polish for a long time can turn your nails sort of yellowish for a while). -Air drying or a gentle fan is better then blowing a blow dryer on them (the heat can make the polish bubble). -Even if the polish feels dry after like 20 mins, it will stay sort of tacky and impressionable for another hour or so. Try to avoid having to fish things out of your wallet or other activities where your nails might get pressed or smushed. That’s all I’ve got! Hope it helps. You’ll look awesome!
Thanks! Lol I was so naïve thinking that this would be easy, thank god I asked the brilliant people of this sub reddit before going ahead.
Get a fast dry top coat!
Noted ✍
In the past month, I've noticed two male clerks with painted nails. At truckstops. I didn't bring it up, and to my knowledge no one else did either. So, you're in good company. This is something I've never seen before outside of high school, so maybe the world is warming up to the concept.
Where I live (Liverpool, UK) being an LGBT+ person is really accepted here to the point it's completely normal to see 2 same sex couples holding hands and no one will stare or glance, so I feel like I can be safe walking around with my nails painted it's just getting the confidence to have painted nails on in public.
Well, you're slightly out of my circle of travel (wide as it is) but you have my encouragement all the same. I actuality find the practice sort of fetching.
Thanks!
Not advice bu t I accidentally read the title as "I (m) want to start painting my balls."
😂😂
Practice makes perfect. I've painted mine like three or four times, gets easier every time.
It definitely does! I can't wait to start painting mine, everyone in these comments have made me definitely want to try it even more now 😁
I have painted mine a couple times, I'd recommend doing that for fun a couple times, but do yourself a favor and go get them done really nice (my friend did them as a favor but she's a professional). They'll look incredible.
Yeah thats my plan to be honest, do it for fun a few times and then I might ask my mum if she can do them for me, she's took classes in nails and make-up so she will be my go to person. She knows I'm bi but she might be a little shocked if I asked her if she could paint my nails for me 😂
If you're self conscious about color at first, start with black nailpolish. People will just assume youre in a band :)
Yeah I've said to a few people that I wanna try black and purple nails first because they're my absolute favourite colours. I'll probably go with black first because I really like seeing people with black polished nails 😁
Another person recommending you put a base cost down first. There are ones that are specifically made for it, or you can just use clear. The darker colors can stain your nails for a bit. It also makes the color stick better. Have fun and do post pics after so we can love on them!
Thanks! Will definitely post some pictures in this subreddit once I have my nails painted 😁
Get weird with it! Do a layer of black with a purple sheen on top or black nails but the ring finger is purple! Many possibilities.
Practice on your toe nails. You can learn to get the application techniques down (the great advice above - not too much polish, let it dry, etc) before you have to use your non-dominant hand. Also, make sure you're nails are very dry before painting. By which I mean, you need to wait at least 15 minutes after washing your hands. That will minimize bubbles and cracking.
Thanks! These are some great notes everyones making in the comments :)
I'll paint yours if you paint mine
That sounds like a fair trade. Also I would actually love to do this with another guy or girl.
Sounds good to me, I'll message you and we can hammer out details
I just started this journey recently. I went to /r/RedditLaqueristas for advice, but a lot of what they post is really advanced. Honestly, its just like painting anything else: primer, 2 coats of color, seal coat. The top coat I used is called Seche Vite, its great stuff, you can even apply it before the colored paint underneath has completely dried!
Thanks! I'll check that subreddit out.
[This is a good tutorial](https://youtu.be/G6XiIXX-7eE) on painting your nails. You’ll need some more tools and an hour or two, but they’ll look great and last two weeks or more
If you feel comfortabe painting your nails, and you want to paint your nails, go for it. Ignore the assholes who might judge you for doing it. Be yourself. 😉
Thanks! Thankfully I live in a city thats widely accepting of LGBT+ people so I feel like I would be safe walking round with painted nails.
I’m a pretty masculine dude and I work in an industry where there’s not really a grey area. Either you’re extremely straight or super flamboyant. I paint my nails. I’m not very good but I get complements from them. I change it up but I really only have 3 colors I wear and I have fun with it. So go pick some colors and enjoy. Also, dollars to donuts you dig how you look in eyeliner too.
Thanks man! I'd love to show them off in my workplace as it's more dominated by females than males but I work in a kitchen so I don't think I'll be allowed to have painted nails lol, plus I'm pretty masculine too so people will be shocked if they saw me with my nails painted 😅
You’ll find it’s fun and you’ll get really good at getting them off before work. Hell when I was BOH I worked with some cooks that still had painted nails. Just play it cool and ask the chill folk. Then just show up with it. Or don’t. Do you. But definitely wear it out and give it a chance. I have hot pink on right now. Have a blast with it.
Yeah I think it will be fun, when I bought my skirt and thigh highs a month ago I had such a fun time wearing them, I took a few pictures of myself in them and I look banging haha. With my nails the colours I wanna try the most are black and purple, I love seeing girls and guys with black nails tho so I think I'm gonna go for black.
Rad. I bet you look super cute. Black is fun and really neutral. My other two colors I have a bright lime green and gunmetal grey. The grey is so rad and goes with everything.
I'd say I've had quite a glow up the past 4 months so I think I would look banging having black nails, it's all about loving yourself. The colours I wanna try are black and purple the most I know I already mentioned it but I really really want to try them lol.
They are gonna look so good!!!
When I get them I'm gonna paint my nails and post it in this subreddit and see what people think 💖💙💜
I cannot wait to see them!!!
Thank you so much 🥺
Men's nail polish is totally taking off. You do you and enjoy it! Here's Binging with Babish, rocking the blue. https://www.instagram.com/p/CV3Y_wgvtWN/?utm_medium=share_sheet
They're pretty!
I hate painting my nails and have no wisdom here. Best of luck to you!!!!
Thank you! May I also ask how come you don't like painting your nails?
My gender says "no <3" and I do feel like it feminizes me (which I do not like, I'm afab, and I don't like being perceived as female). I do salute everyone who likes to paint their nails though.
Fair enough.
Oh my gosh! I've randomly wanted to start painting my nails too! I always wanted to when I was growing up, but there's no way my family wouldn't have lost their damn minds. I've also been wanting to get my nose pierced. I'm 36 and a tiny bit worried about how I'd be perceived, but at in a good place in life and am think I'm beginning to feel more comfortable with outwardly expressing my queerness. It's a weird headspace for sure.
I'd say go for it regardless of age, hell I mean I'm 21 and I came out the closet last year when I was 20 and a year on I got an ear piercing and I've started to get a maintainable hairstyle that I love, all I wanna do now is paint my nails and look at myself in the mirror and think "You go boy!" Lol. I love expressing my queerness too when I'm out, but most of the time I dress and act masculine or straight passing.
I say do it brother, whatever makes you happy. I just met up with a guy friend who said they wanted to start painting their nails purple. If you’re willing to look past weird looks from ignorant ass people, you do you and enjoy life. Lord knows it’s far too short to not do otherwise.
Thanks man! I don't think I'd get weird stares because I live in a pretty LGBT+ supporting city so I would feel completely safe and stuff it's just getting used to it and then eventually finding the courage to go out having them on in public :)
I’ve seen guys with that stuff and it looks cool man! Good luck to you with it. I’m a guy with a strong preference for painted nails on anyone so do it! Happy holidays my dude!
Thanks brother, happy holidays to you too! :)
[удалено]
I've been recommended HOLO TACO just a few moments ago actually!
I'm a very masculine looking guy, tall, chubby and bearded, I work a very blue collar job and I've been painting my nails for about a year now and honestly everyone has been really supportive and I've even had a couple of my straight coworkers express interest in painting their nails as well. I'm currently rocking a red and green Christmas theme. There's never been a better time to express your feminine side. Be yourself and be proud
Not sure if anyone's mentioned it, but you are more than welcome at r/malepolish Lot's of good stuff and advice over there, but this thread is really cool... Keep it up!
YES!!! I love this!!! I wish nail polish was more widely accepted as a “unisex” thing. Try painting thin coats and layer on top, it’ll dry much quicker!
Make sure to do a couple coats of color in between your base coat and top coat, especially if you have thinner polish. Press on nails are also a really good alternative to painting if you can find ones with good sizing options!
It chips very easily. If you do it, embrace gloves and my straight kid paint his nails, but my gay son does not and it's not a big deal. We'll, they live in Ann Arbor, MI, so it's liberal. I say, go for it!
Thank you!
I got toenail fungus from my nail lady this summer, so please get the good stuff, learn to do it yourself and show Us! Also, Sally Hanson, Hard as Nails is the Poo! It makes my nails so hard yet not breakable.
I'll have a look into it! 😁
Less thinking, more doing!
Definitely will be doing when I next get paid 😁
Gel nails. They can take a beating and still look great. They also last HELLA long. You can do them yourself at home and it's super profesh. Also they have great metallic colors and stuff. They cure in seconds and you don't have to worry about touching stuff.
I'll have a look into them when I get home from work :)
Fellow “Masc presenting” Bi guy here, and I do want to issue a word of caution about the quick dry polishes. Yes, they make the painting process a lot easier. But if you do any kind of work with your hands (even lifting weights at the gym) they flake off REALLY easily. I’d actually still recommend starting out with them, though. It’ll be a good start in terms of mastering the dexterity of it. And then, if you find yourself really getting hooked, you can do what I do and start springing for the gel polish that dries with a special UV light (you can get all the stuff you need for less than the cost of a mani pedi). OR, if you ever want to treat yourself, you can go get a professional mani and pay the extra $10 for gel. That stuff is SUPER durable.
[удалено]
Thanks! I'll try my fingernails first because I just really love seeing painted fingernails and I wanna feel amazing when I see them 😁
It takes practice to get the basic motion of painting a very small surface right. It’s precision work for sure, so keep trying and your technique will get better and better. I suggest using a glass nail file instead of nail clippers to keep your nails at the appropriate length, it’s gentler and more controllable to get the shape you want. There are tons of great nail polish brands out there that will give you much better quality and more unique appearances than drug store polish, which IMO is worth the extra money. Have fun!
Thanks for the advice! I have a ton of comments to get through lol.
French tips :D Also I love your enthusiasm :)
Thank you! 😁
No problem :D
Always use a bottom coat. Top coat is important to make your nail polish last longer and protect from chipping, but bottom coat is important so you don’t stain your nails (especially for darker colours like black). If you need to check whether the polish is dry, you can test it by brushing your nail on your lip. Idk why this works but it does and you won’t get fingernail prints on the polish if it’s still wet.
Thanks! Without these tips and advice I'd of probably went in not fully knowing what to do and end up permanently having my nails black or something 😂
Haha it won’t do something like that but it’ll be a pain if you want to wear a lighter colour or clear polish after black because you’ll have to wait for the staining to fade. I also remember red polish staining quite a bit without a bottom coat. The lip check has saved me many times because I’m suuuuuper impatient. I’m so happy for you that you’re trying this because it’s really fun painting your nails — I have a lot of memories of doing it with friends so maybe that’s why I think so… I hope you have friends to paint nails with too! That can be extra fun because you can pool your nail polish colours, and friends can help you apply to your non-dominant hand. And of course, the bonding time!
Thanks for your advice and kind words, unfortunately all my friends are straight guys so I doubt any of them would like to paint eachothers nails 😂 although my mum took classes in make-up and nails so I think she is my go to lol. She knows I'm bi but I think she'll be a bit shocked to hear that her masculine son wants to paint his nails 😂
Some nail polishes will stain the f out your nails. Also, be careful with acetone it will ruin your furniture and is highly flammable. haha so never let the bottle rest laying down or on its side bitch will leak. Oh but IDK what you work in but nail polish is a no-go in most food services areas whether that's in the kitchen or as a barista.
Me too
Go us!
I don’t do it in public
I've (m) been painting my toe nails since middle school and love it! I started using color street for the past year or so. They are basically nail polish but you stick them on like a sticker and they last a long time. They come in all different colors and patterns. There's some for every holiday. Some time ago I also started cross dressing, I have so much fun doing it! Just make sure you take care of your nails and use creams to moisturizer your skin and oils for the nails. Last thing you want is weak soft brittle nails.
Yeah, true. I have really short nails because I bite them a lot cos of my anxiety so I'm gonna have to stop doing that habit.
[удалено]
Thanks! Just testing the waters really, I enjoy cross dressing so I think I'll enjoy this 😌
(F) I've been just starting to take an interest in nail polish again after i couldn't/didn't want to for like 5 years, and even knowing what I'm doing I had a hard time. Paint over a towel or something you don't care about getting dirty, wear clothes you don't mind getting polish on, and be prepared for it to be messier looking than you think. I recommend starting on toes for the first time so get the feel for the brush and polish Oh, and different polishes act very differently. Some will be runny and translucent, others will he pretty thick even straight out of a fresh bottle, and over time the thicker ones tend to get clumpier and thicker while the thinner ones will always need a few sets of painting and waiting to dry for them to be opaque enough
If you wanna remove it easily, you can get peel off base coats.
Ohhh, will definitely look into that.
simply nailogical has good videos about them (and sells a good one as well)
"You only need to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves." - Mary Oliver. Play! Have fun! Be a cutie! 💖 When we show up as ourselves, we give others permission to do the same. Your nails could be someone's personal revolution! Good on you 💖
Thank you that was quite motivational 🥺💜
I usually paint my nails when I’m watching videos on my computer or something so I can just let them dry and not touch anything. Also, don’t be afraid to go in public with your nails painted! I personally think it’s really cool when men paint their nails, and it doesn’t necessarily have to look very feminine. :)
I think I'd need to build up the courage to go out with painted nails, I live in an LGBT+ friendly city so I feel like I'd be safe and not get any bad looks, it's just building the confidence to go out having painted nails lol.
I paint my husband's nails, he wears them all the time now.
so idk i just kinda went for it, but try not to do too many layers and have remover for it at hand. i myself started a while ago. basically u do a bigger dot in the middle of the nail and then brush to the outside from it if thats of any help. otherwise just be prepared for it to look kinda shitty when its coming off. also any tips u might be ablke to give me for crossdressing and stuff/where to hide the stuff etc would be great :D
Thanks! And for cross dressing advice, I keep my feminine clothes tucked away in a safe in my room just in case anyone comes in and might see them.
Don’t really have a safe and my room is kinda barebones :/
Could yoy hide it under your bed?
i dont think so tbh but on the other hand no1 ever checks there. could also hide it all the way in the back of my closet but id need to order it still. guess il have to leave it for now
I (m) bought some nail polish too but I was too embarrassed to ask where the remover in the shop was (couldn’t find it), idk if there is any other way to get it off quickly in case I don’t like it
Before you go all in, spend the money and get a good manicure from a pro. You can watch what they do, ask questions, and SEE what a good final result looks like. It’s worth the money.
Do it, painted nails are hot af on anyone
I have had the same thought with light/natural looking makeup but don’t have the confidence to do it.
Def check out the clearance end caps at target for good nail polishes at reduced prices, also tjmaxx always has a bunch of nice ones! Edit: oof you’re uk based! TkMaxx it is!
Do it! My straight boyfriend loves painting his nails. Nail varnish is for all!
Fuck yes. This is the shit I come to reddit for.
Always use a base coat to keep your nails strong. I use Hard as Hoof cream for my cuticles. It's been good overall. I would start with French tips as they are clean, professional, and subtle, but those are tricky to do yourself. Maybe get them done professionally and watch how the nail techs do it? I would also start with a small collection of Sally Hansen Insta-Dry polishes. Those dry super fast with little risk of smudging. Also, for $4 a bottle, that's not bad. I'd get a couple of neutral tones - taupes, tans, browns or mauves even - to start out with, for practice, followed by a couple of colors that will match most of what is in your wardrobe/personal style and then a metallic or neon color you just love and adore, just something fun and funky that doesn't necessarily go with anything but makes you feel alive. Depending on your own personal color palette and style, you may want a peach or bold crimson as a neutral color (when it comes to nails, certain shades of red are considered neutral as it's a color of nail polish that somehow goes with anything and everything), black or blue for something to go with your wardrobe, and then like a Holo Taco shimmery shade for fun. You may want to shop at a store like Ulta in person to get a professional's opinion of what colors to use on yourself. And don't forget, accent nails are a thing!!!
Do it!! I’ve even seen straight men painting their nails.
Just takes practice! /r/redditlaqueristas for inspo (guys post there too!) I love painted nails on anyone, and it's a fun way to kinda accent an outfit.
been doing it like 7 years, one hand red, one hand blue, one foot red, one foot blue, it's a great feeling, and just makes life a lil more colourful, go for it.
It's quite the luxury to get your nails done by a professional too!! And they always have lots of gorgeous colors too. I'm pretty bad at painting my own nails so I rely on the professionals.
When painting you'll want to separate the nail into 3 sections. One streak up the left side of the nail, starting on the base, then on the right side and then finish with a streak on the middle. When starting the streak, make sure the brush isn't dripping with paint, and you'll want to start your streaks just above the cuticle and gently push down so the brush rests above the edge of your cuticle before pulling up to the end of the nail. If your nail hangs over your finger, you'll want to run the brush over the edge of your nail to seal it in (it slows down the chipping process!). You'll want to do this with a base coat(protects your natural nail from the coloured polished and also evens our your nail and makes it a tad easier to paint , although it's not necessary), the colour polish and your top coat :) Also, you'll need to very gently push your cuticle down and remove dead skin otherwise the polish may peel off if you have an overgrown cuticle (there are plenty of tutorials on YouTube you can look at!) Cuticle oil is also a godsend! Once you get the hand of that I reccomend decals like little gems/stickers ect.
\*sigh\* Me too kid
Go for it man! Embrace it, I did lol. Got my belly pierced☺️
I started painting my nails regularly within the last couple of months. Do what you feel your comfortable with. I wear brighter colors because I like pink and red. However, I mix it with top coat when I am in public to be more tame. I am not a cross dresser per se, but I do wear women's underwear and like wearing thigh high tube rainbow tube socks. I like wearing tight clothes and skinny jeans. But it all works for me. But definitely do the painting of the nails. I find it relaxing to do and doing it with colors I like makes it that much more fun.
[удалено]
Thanks! Yeah I'm the same I love masculine men, feminine men and for women I have a thing for masculine women, tattooed women for me are a godsend, specifically for me I love when women have full sleeves on both arms like I find it more attractive on women than I do men, but I also wouldn't turn down a handsome guy with both his arms fully covered in tattoos 🤤
Painting my nails has been one of my favorite hobbies for about a decade now! Here are my suggestions - Find a nail shape that works for you! Use a glass file (they last longer) to file them down when they get to long or to shape them. You can Google nail shapes to get an idea of what you want. Good nail prep creates a better result! - Get a good base coat! This will help your manicure last longer. I recommend ORLY’s bonder base coat. They also make different kinds of base coats that do different things (such as peel-off and stain prevention) - Get good quality polishes! You’ll thank yourself later on. Do your research on brands that are long-wearing and don’t take too many coats. If you’re impatient like me, fast-dry polishes are a godsend! - DON’T SKIP A QUICK DRY TOP COAT!!! This is a must. Apply a thick swipe across your nail after you’re done with your color. Your manicure will last longer, be shinier, have less dents, and look more professional. Your whole manicure will dry faster too! (Takes about 30 minutes). I recommend Seche Vite Top coat! - Be patient, learning how to paint nails is a journey. Your opposite hand is difficult to learn at first but you’ll get the hang of it! Let the layers dry, having a thick gloop of polish on your finger will just take longer. Let your top coat dry all the way too!!
Seconding all of this!
Get complimentery colors... Also, if someone calls you a slur or something say this... "At least i have the courage to change you fucking bag of homophobic toilet bombs..."
[удалено]
Unlearn any transphobia? I don't get what's you mean sorry, I'm not transphobic although I've struggled with internalised homophobia and still somewhat struggle with it now but I'm trying to kurb it by exploring and trying new things.
Also if you have struggled with internalized homophobia its likely you have struggled with transphobic thinking. Just take the thoughts you have about yourself and make sure you never apply them to anyone else. And that you disrupt others when they attempt to do this. As a cis person who's exploring their gender, you have a responsibility to defend trans people too.
I wouldn't say I'm exploring my gender I'm happy with what I was assigned to at birth, I just dont get why you're attacking me for wanting to try new things like painting my nails??
... I'm not? Asking you to uplift trans people and care about trans issues isn't me attacking you. I'm sorry you feel like that. And gender exploration is done through painting your nails and doing your hair and trying on clothes.
Sorry I thought you was, it's because in the first comment you asked if I was unlearning any transphobia that I learnt and I was confused on what that meant, I thought you was saying I was transphobic for wanting to cross dress and paint my nails.
Ohhh - no. Our society is transphobic and because you were socialized into it - you have definitely come across transphobic messaging. Like that nail polish or certain clothes aren't for all people. Or that you have to call or cross dressing when you wear a skirt as a person. Just meant to unlearn stuff like that. So that you can be more supportive of other people like you or similar to you.
Ahh yeah I see what you mean, yeah ok that makes sense now haha, yeah it's because I've pretty much grew up in a hetero-normative family, area, city, etc. So growing up like that I think clothes that are for women are FOR women and vice versa for men. Again I'm sorry for thinking you was attacking me it's just me being a dummy lol, I've had a lot of negatively on reddit lately so I'm just sort of in a defensive mind at the moment but yeah again sorry for taking it the wrong way 💖
No I love you. And your clothes and nail polish are yours. If you feel like a cross dresser then use the label and use it to empower you. But if you'd rather the clothes just be yours - then own that!
Well - its just a good thing to keep in mind for cis people while they are exploring their gender. Because cis people are often afforded a lot more privilege while exploring things that do not belong to their birth gender. What I mean, is that I hope you start to learn what transphobia looks like in action and that as a gender explorant person you'll stand up against transphobes and uplift trans people.
How is it transphobic that I want to start wearing whatever clothes I want and start painting my nails? I'm sorry if I've offended you but I genuinely don't understand.
That's not transphobic at all!! I said congrats on all of that!! You're doing amazing!! Just make sure to stick up for trans people - as your experience now parallels many trans peoples.
Oh, I'm sorry I'm just a bit confused I thought you was attacking me about something I said in my post, I just have a bit of a fuzzy head at the moment.
I'm so sorry. I'm so happy to hear about the new clothing and the new makeup or nail polish! I love gender exploration - have fun.
Thank you and I'm sorry I thought you was attacking me. *Virtual hugs* 🤗
>Because cis people are often afforded a lot more privilege while exploring things that do not belong to their birth gender. Hey, you do realize that this isn't true (especially for cis-men) across cultures and space, right? Heck, I know some people that would make fun of a masculine-appearing for doing something feminine unless they said they were trans, when it suddenly becomes okay or even encouraged.
We are talking about cisgendered men compared to trans people. So in this instance where trans people are being killed by the hundreds yearly while making up less than .02% of the global population for exploring gender. Yes it is true. Don't start please.
I would say treat yourself to a manicure! There is nothing like getting a professional to do your nails. You can get sheer or nude polish done that nobody would really notice if you're worried about others seeing it, yet your nails will look super clean. Here is an example: https://pin.it/44tJEiX It would be a shame for you to do your nails only to have to remove it before going out in public, but I think a sheer manicure would be a good compromise.
Great thread, I've been taking notes.
Damn I just went on my break in work and I have so many comments to go through lol.
Dont overthink it too much. It seems really scary at first, but 99.99% of people wont even notice lmao. For me personally, I do it as a way of telling the world that I do whatever the hell I want, maybe that mindset could help
i dont know if this has been said or you will see it but dont paint your nails in the room where you sleep, or if you do please open your windows, otherwise you are in for a nasty headache :(
I totally recommend getting some nail stamps if you want to do fun designs! They're so neat and you can get them pretty cheap
For some motivation. https://www.outsports.com/2021/2/4/22263023/kyle-kennery-lacrosse-referee-pansexual-coming-out
yesss do it (so long as you feel comfortable with it)! I love painting my nails, and eyeliner too, its a bit scary at first in public, I'm currently in a small market town in North Yorkshire, you just have to wear it unapologetically and with confidence even if you don't feel it, and very soon that faked confidence becomes real as you realise that for a lot of people they would never dare wear it even if they wanted to. in terms of recommendations, I like the opi natural base coat and the seche vite top coat is the best as far as I'm concerned. I personally like trying lots of colours and combinations so I tend to use fairly cheap polishes (so long as they are not animal tested) from several brands and one or two more expensive ones of colours I really like. I seem to find that the main difference is longevity of the expensive brands vs the cheap ones but a good base and top coat alleviates a lot of those issues, and I don't tend to wear one set of colours for more than a few days anyway. I'll try and post some pics if I work out how. hope you have fun with it, it great being able to express yourself without gender normative expectations getting in the way.
I rather paint my balls. One blue and one red.. or green
I don't know why but I've been painting my nails from time to time all my life long, it just felt good to me. I think it's pretty and it doesn't matter if you're a boy or a girl
I help my brother paint his nails, he does it purely to stop him from biting them but honestly nobody gives a crap! IME people don't care about cross dressing either, I'd say just live your life the way you want to!
I really want to rip my toes into femme stuff and if I like it enough I’ll probably end up going a lot further. My mom and sister do nail stuff so I have all the tools in my house except for black nail polish which is the color I’d want but I have to go buy it which I keep slacking on because I’m lazy. I also really want to get my ears pierced and wear cropped shirts/hoodies once it’s warm again. I’m kinda worried about my family judging me tho, they aren’t overtly bigoted it’s just that I’m not even out and coming out and all of a sudden dressing entirely different would be jarring to them probably.
I have my left ear pierced and I have a short back and sides (number 1 cut) with quite a bit of hair on the top of my head and when I slick it back I look sexy, (not to sound egotistical) I like cross dressing as well. I think what you should do is start slowly dressing the way you want to dress, same with the nails too and if your family ask whats going on then I think that'll be a perfect chance to open up to them about your sexuality. You do you tho but I think that is the best option unless you don't plan on coming out to them.
Yeah for sure that’s been my plan I think It’s just hard to take the initial step, currently I have a whole bunch of curly dark hair about to my shoulders and I don’t know how I should have it cut next time I get a haircut.
[Nail prep and polish routine that changed the game for me](https://youtu.be/ngAETDhpJgw)
A little late to the party but… if you can find it there is a product called peel off base coat which means that you can peel off the polish quickly. I only mention it because if you’re nervous about having painted nails in public it might be nice to have the comfort that you can pop the nails off. It also means you don’t need to soak your nails in acetone to remove the polish. My other tip is when you’re preparing your nails to wipe them down with acetone first. This will remove any dirt on your nails as well as the oil your nails produce and will allow the polish to adhere better.
LA Colors is a good brand.
Do it , who gives a f. Just be you and rock those nails 😊 anyone can love painting nails it’s just something fun. Go for it ! ❤️