The men's varnish is becoming trivial, and it's very good news
On the TV sets, in rap clips, and at the corner of the street: the varnish is essential on the male fingers.Another little effort, and it will soon no longer be a subject.
PublicitéIt is his Sunday evening ritual, often in front of a series.First, the dissolving, to eliminate the traces of the past week, then a coat base to protect the nail, the varnish, a layer, two layers, a top coat ... An hour later, it is ready forDarken in the office the next morning.Fabien does not wear background, no makeup, but varnish is not the same, it's his style.And in this year 2021, there were many of them to think the same: varnish, it is a guy thing.
On Instagram, already, behind the hashtag #Malepolish, where fir decorations are made with colorful nails.On the red carpets, where personalities compete in inventiveness and colors, from Brad Pitt to Marc Jacobs.And even in rap and hip-hop clips, where masculinity were celebrated until the end of the nails.The wave arrives.And unlike the few (rare) previous models, the message has changed.It is no longer so much question of navigating between genres to the Bowie or of overthrowing the system, but of having fun, of having style, without worrying about what is male or female.
A little story of men's varnish through the ages
In ancient China, in Mesopotamia, or even in ancient Egypt, varnish was sometimes wooded on men's nails several millennia before our era, but in very specific circumstances: it was used to signify a social status (and differentiate itselfpeasants) or prepare for war (always have a small manicure before invading Babylon).It was not a simple ornament, as we would wear a ring or a watch, it was a message.Then it's very simple: it disappeared.While the makeup was sometimes male, sometimes feminine, according to the times and the places, the varnish was discreet among everyone.It was not until the beginning of the 20th century to reappear as we know today.But still on women's hands.
When he arrived on male fingers at the turn of the 70s, it was first to say "fuck".Fuck the system, fuck codes, fuck the bourgeoisie and, of course, fuck the genre, but that was not the primary reason.The punk has given way to the glam, which inspired grunge, and the varnish kept its place, modest, on a few muses: Kurt Cobain, David Bowie and others carried, as they wore everything that could break the codes.It was still the prerogative of well -defined clans: grunge, gothic, or drags, to summarize.
It is a completely different phenomenon that takes shape today: that of guys from all walks of life who want to wear varnish, period.Not to shock, not to feminize, not to integrate a tribe, just because, bah, it's pretty right?
The style above all
"Makeup on the face, like lipstick, is" the feminine sexy ", analysis Aymerik, 24 years old. And this is not the image I want to send back. So these are the nailsWho awarded, it's more jewelry. "
Colin, 42 -year -old computer engineer, put his first layer two years ago to give the example to his children."One of them said it was only for girls, I explained to them that no, and I joined the gesture to the speech."With his wife, they disgust a varnish that has exactly the same color as his bike."I found it too classy."Since then, every two or three months, he carefully chooses his color and has fun.
Same observation for Malik, 28, who released the brush for the first time in the techno evening.Since then, he carries it regularly, without asking too many questions."It is part of an aesthetic research at home. Sape for guys and male aesthetics in general is just annoying: it lacks colors, of attraction in general. I like to dress and we quickly arrivedat the end of the road."So to extend it, what could be better than a little blue?
Malik, Aymerick and Colin are straight, and they didn't really ask themselves if "it's gay" or if it brought out a part of feminine in them.On the other hand, they are well aware that it breaks the codes of the genre.
"In the metro, I sometimes look at me perplexed, or I am called Madam with the mask, details Malik. For the moment, it makes me laugh, I feel like I am causing something.Am a cis man, I have no problem with being a man, but I do not base my identity on that. "
Alternating engineer in a small village in Yvelines, Aymerik does not seek to feminize either.On the contrary, he realizes it, now: it is precisely because he feels comfortable with his masculinity that he can put varnish without asking questions."I was more effeminate before, and I did not wear a varnish. For the past few months, I know that I have been masculine so I feel less in danger with varnish."His priority remains the style."It has to match with the t-shirt!"As for the colors, he oscillates from black to red, especially depending on what his girlfriend has to offer him.
In the US, the business of unisex varnishes in the music industry
Aymerik, Colin and Malik come to join a long list that lengthens from days to guys who do not seek to shock the bourgeois or sail in the Entre-Genre, but simply to feel beautiful.In the US, there are no longer the rappers who proudly display their make -up fingers, sometimes with real miniature works of art.
Lil Nas X, obviously, but also machine Gun Kelly (the new darling of Megan Fox), who no longer goes out without his ultra -worked nail art.In April, he also launched a LAQR DN, his unisex varnish brand.In December, it was another rapper, Tyler, The Creator, who followed him with three shades: Geneva Blue, Georgia Peach, and a "classic" glitter, via his brand Golf Le Fleur.As for Lil Yachty, he launched his at the end of 2020 in support of an American student who had been excluded from his high school because of his varnished nails.And we do not forget Harry Styles ("The guy of one d") who launched his brand Pleasing last November with 2 creams ... and 4 varnishes."I think men should be able to do nail art without feeling female," explained the rapper A $ AP Rocky in Vogue.
In France, cosmetics for men Horace chose the varnish for their first make up, released in collaboration during the holidays."It is democratized slowly," we explain on the brand's side, but France, unfortunately, still arrives a little after. "And if, on the networks, there are always a few trolls to be indignant, the brand does not formalize."We were rather surprised to read" Thank you, let's stop Genrer these kinds of things "."
The basic idea, it is very stupid: "It is aimed at all guys, those who already put them and those who just want to try for the holiday season."And, possibly, to their friends who can prick them.For this first collaboration, they chose an intense blue, very dark, historic color of their brand.A sober color, which may pass more easily with some.
Colin, our 42 -year -old engineer, avoids red or pink for example."Some would not recover, I do not have the strength to type with endless discussions on the subject."When he took his new job, he even almost stopped, at least the time for his trial period."And then I saw that my N+1 was wore. It solved the problem."
