Turns out, your man hands could be grossing her out. But, that's not the only reason you should man up and manicure those nails. While you're at it, your feet could probably benefit even more from a little grooming.
"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 in New York City. "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.
Why Fit Men Need to Groom Their Nails
For runners, athletes, and pretty much any active guy, nailcare can be as important as a warmup when it comes to your workout. "There's a lot more trauma inside the shoe when you have longer toe nails and calluses that aren't properly taken care of," says Papantoniou. Have you ever seen a runner's feet? Not the prettiest. All the rubbing and jarring movements during long bouts on the road or trail can leave toenails bruised and black. Keeping your nails short can reduce irritation.
Plus, the longer your toe nails and the more you let debris build up under the nail, the greater your chance of suffering infections and ingrown nails grows. "It's so much easier and smarter to prevent this all in the first place by maintaining nice short nails and staying groomed," Papantoniou says.
First Impressions Are Everything
Again, not to hone in too much on the fact first impressions are everything, but if you're a businessman, grimy paws aren't a great reflection on your professionalism. Your grooming reflects you as a person — your ability to take care of yourself and showcase the fact you have yourself together.
Remember this: Your hands are always on display. Men and women don't want to shake a claw or stare at filthy fingernails. Also, hygiene is a huge reason to keep your nails clean, short, and trimmed. If your idea of trimming your nails is gnawing on them, you're exposing yourself to a host of germs and bacteria.
How to Groom Your Nails Yourself
1. Once you're out of the shower, 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. After exfoliating, apply a moisturizer that contains urea or salicylic acid to help prevent dry rough skin and calluses.
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."
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. "The nail should be trimmed and shaped straight across and not have a rounded or triangular shape," Papantoniou adds. "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."