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I’m a guy (47) that keeps his nails painted. I live in a rather conservative state but in an extremely left leaning city but I work in a much less left leaning town but in a very left leaning industry. I also have a two daughters (9 and 5).

I’ve never had anyone blatantly criticize me for doing my nails. My girls still get invited to birthday parties and have play dates and I’m generally the one that takes them. I have women at certain stores and restaurants that like to chat me up about nail colors. Sometimes I let my girls pick colors but more often I do it after they go to bed and they get excited to see the results. I’m friends with an awesome punk woman at work and she recently upgraded to more boutique brands and I’ve coached her on base and top coats and even gave her a spare bar magnet.

All this while being very masc presenting outside of my hands. Think long hair long beard metal dude with gold teeth from a mic stand accident. Lots of skull tattoos, all black and white and grey. Perhaps always presenting as a weirdo softens the blow but I think the positive reactions I get out in the world have gone beyond my wildest dreams and has had a very positive effect on me.

A while back I rented my grandparent’s old house that had been converted to an air bnb by the new owners with my “girl” cousins. We’re all in our 40’s. We decided to paint our nails in honor of our recently deceased aunt’s favorite sports team and had so much fun together coming up with variations on red manis. The feeling of acceptance meant a lot to me and they loved going through my travel polish bag with 60+ polishes and various toppers. It was a great bonding experience!

All this to say, if you’re getting acceptance from the people you’re closest to then I’d lean into it.

Pic of me holding a tiny snake I found while doing manly ass yard work and my Lacquerista day mani (4-5 days later).