Pedicures For Men: Guide For Male Toenail Care

Not so long ago, many might’ve felt squeamish or insecure about walking into a nail salon. That's not for dudes, right? Wrong.

Natasha Ray, owner of Noir Men’s Grooming Lounge in Beverly Hills, California, has done over 10,000 pedicures for men. When she first started working with male clients, she was “floored."

“There was so much dry skin, fungus, infections. And I realized that men just aren’t taught. They don’t even know how to wash their feet properly,” says Ray. Since then, she has dedicated her career to men's foot health, "something that’s going to really help people, rather than just putting some pretty polish on people’s nails,” she says.

If you've ever asked yourself, "do men get manicures or pedicures?" then keep reading to learn all about why you should get a mani-pedi, including benefits, what to expect, and how to give yourself treatment at home.

Is It Normal For Guys to Get Pedicures?

While some men certainly still get nervous on their way into a salon, foot care for men is in. If Machine Gun Kelly and Pete Davidson can confidently sit side-by-side and chat while getting their nails done, you and your buddy can, too. 

And you probably should. Manicures and pedicures, after all, are not only about appearance—though, really, do you want your friends, family, or coworkers eyeing up the dirt under your fingernails? Tending to your nails is about health, first and foremost. If you’re chewing on your fingernails and suffering painful hangnails or ingrown nails, or if your toenails have coarsened into thick shells even the best nail clippers have a hard time cutting through, it’s time for a treatment.

"There's nothing emasculating about grooming your nails—or even getting a manicure or pedicure," says Kally Papantoniou, M.D., a cosmetic, laser, and surgical dermatologist based in New York. "There are loads of men who get their cuticles cut back and nails groomed," she adds. And there are plenty of reasons to join them, aside from aesthetics.

What to Expect From Your Manicure or Pedicure

If you're a pedicure or manicure novice, you should at least know what you’re talking about. You shouldn’t blindly put your faith in every nail technician you meet. 

“If men know better, they will do better,” Ray says.

First, take a good, close look at your hands, but especially your feet, which are much easier to ignore. 

“Make sure that you don’t have fungus growing in between the toes, that you are drying your feet off properly,” Ray says. If there are signs of an infection, like nail discoloration or an itchy, scaly rash on your foot, you should talk to your doctor.

But for everything else, from unkempt nails to hard calluses, manicures and pedicures may be just what you need. Ideally, your hands and feet should be a “clean, dry canvas all the time,” Ray says. And getting these treatments should clue you into how to achieve that.

That starts with choosing the right salon, which is a clean salon. “Sanitation is the number-one thing. Make sure they’re sanitizing everything,” Ray says. Technicians should be wearing gloves. “Everything should be one-time use, packaged. They should not be pulling instruments out of their drawer.”

Related: Grooming Awards: The Best Nail Clippers

Another cleanliness item to consider? Clean jets in the washing bin. “I’ve worked at some of the most high-end salons, and they were not cleaning the jets. Then the fungus is just sitting in there waiting to be pushed out,” Ray notes. 

In addition to basic hygiene, comfort is essential. Manicures and pedicures are intimate experiences, so you want to find a space where you feel at ease. For example, Ray dims overhead lights for her clients to make it more relaxing and less like a hospital setting.

Similarly, your manicurist should be asking a lot of questions to tailor the experience to your specific needs. How sensitive are your feet? Are you allergic to certain additives in soaps or exfoliants? Are you diabetic, in which case your technician needs to be more cautious, since decreased circulation and nerve damage can more easily lead to infection? And even, what entertainment would make you more comfortable? (Ray hands clients the TV remote for this exact reason).

Experts generally advise getting a pedicure about once a month, but if you’re dealing with a hectic schedule or frequent travel, waiting six weeks or even two months is fine.

Benefits of Pedicures For Men

Once you’ve cleared those hurdles, it’s time to get into the manicure or pedicure itself. 

1. Removal of dry skin

Exfoliation is central to any pedicure. When you exfoliate, you are removing dead skin cells, which not only makes your skin feel really nice, but also fights excessively dry spots and clogged pores that lead to breakouts. Ray uses a pumice stone on her clients, which helps to remove calluses and keep skin clean and healthy. She sends them home with a Mr. Pumice pedicure scrubber as well as a natural exfoliating oil to add to their daily grooming routine. (She sells her own calming lavender oil, along with a rosemary and lavender scrub.) 

2. Healthy, trimmed nails

Your technician should know well enough to cut your fingernails and toenails “straight across,” Ray says, not at an angle, which can lead to ingrown nails, where the nail actually grows into your skin. Likewise, the clipper itself should run straight across or curve only slightly to follow the natural shape of the nail. Ray is a fan of Tweezerman’s nail clippers.

Your manicurist or pedicurist will also push back your cuticles, which in addition to making your nails visibly clearer, helps prevent bacteria and germs from infiltrating your nail root. But make sure your technician doesn't cut them. “I’m not big on cutting cuticles,” Ray says, which can go too far and cause bleeding. Your manicurist should instead push your cuticles back and buff your nails.

3. Looking and smelling good

Clean skin and nails smell like, well, nothing. Which for some is the best scent of all. Athletes and heavy sweaters can attest to the repellant odors trapped in socks that, if not dealt with, can linger far too long.

But also pay attention to the smells involved in polishing, which is ultimately a personal preference. You may be averse to the fumes (especially if you have respiratory issues like asthma, which can be exacerbated). 

You can even get a clear coat, which makes your newly-cleaned nails shine, or a colorful polish to show a little personality. It's all up to you. Some men might not be into the aesthetic of shiny or colorful nails for themselves. Others may delight in a coat of emo black on their fingernails (we’re looking at you, Pete Wentz). As long as your nails are getting buffed, they will look nice and pristine—no coat necessary.

4. Relaxation

Hey, you’re paying for this. You might as well get some luxe perks out of the treatment. Your manicurist will massage your skin along the way, using lotion and hot towels. This is time “to relax and also bring up anything that I may have missed in the service and educate my customer, tell them what they need to do at home,” Ray says. Think of it like a dental check-up—except way, way more pleasant. “I like my customers to look at coming to me as an investment in themselves.”

Related: Grooming Awards: The Best Under-Eye Patches

How to Give Yourself a Pedicure at Home

If you'd rather not even set foot in a nail salon, we feel you. Follow these tips to perfect your at-home nail-grooming skills.

1. Take a shower or bath, then use a pumice stone or other device to gently buff away calluses. 

"The thick skin on your feet will be softer immediately after a good soak making it easier to exfoliate," Papantoniou says. "This should be done no more than once per week if needed, and shouldn't be painful!" After exfoliating, apply a moisturizer that contains urea or salicylic acid to help prevent dry rough skin and calluses, she adds.

2. Cut. 

"Trim your nails in a straight line across the top-most part of your nail to help prevent ingrown nails from forming," Papantoniou suggests. "It's okay to trim your nails short, to the point where there's no white of the nail remaining, but you want to make sure you don't trim too much as this can be painful and lead to infection," she explains. Essentially you don't want to clip the nail bed; that's what's considered "too short."

3. Shape and smooth. 

Go the extra step and file your nails to make smooth borders; this way you don't have any sharp edges that'll snag on clothing, making it prone to fissures and breaks. "The nail should be trimmed and shaped straight across and not have a rounded or triangular shape," Papantoniou. This is the best shape to prevent breaks. "And if your cuticles tend to fray, try applying coconut oil to them after trimming—and avoid biting or picking!—so they can heal faster," she says.

What Products Should I Use For a Pedicure?

Trim your nails at home with a good set of clippers. Ray prefers Tweezerman over the many brands out there.

[$10; amazon.com]

With this best-selling tool in your cabinet, you'll never have to worry about split cuticles again.

[$7; amazon.com]

Ray doesn't let customers leave without a Mr. Pumice callous remover. It's an easy solution for smooth and exfoliated feet.

[$5; amazon.com]

If you want your nails to look good, clipping won't be enough. You'll need these Tweezerman filers to hone them into a nice shape.

[$7; amazon.com]

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By: Paul Schrodt
Title: Pedicures For Men: Guide For Male Toenail Care
Sourced From: www.mensjournal.com/style/manicures-and-pedicures-for-men
Published Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2020 23:55:53 GMT

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