The reason why men have been spotted walking around with a single fingernail painted on just one hand is pretty awesome and all for a good cause!
The fingernail on a single hand that men choose to paint may vary, along with their color of choice. Some guys may even step it up a notch and add a little design on top the color, but the single meaning that it represents, regardless of design, remains the same.
This trend, for men only, began in Australia, but it has made its way to America by guys who also want to get in on this incredible idea.
The first man behind the movement to paint his nail and pass the idea along was Elliot Costello, who met a little girl name Thea while he was travelling with a group called Hagar International.
Elliot and the crew landed in Cambodia to see how they could make an impact in this underprivileged area. But in turn, the tiniest villager left the biggest impression on Elliot, who realized an issue that’s much bigger than Cambodia and effects children all over the world, especially here in America.
While getting to know little Thea, Elliot met her on her level and did things that she would think was fun.
For this girly-girl, that meant painting nails. He painted hers, and she painted one of his as they talked about her life and also her struggles.
He learned that she had been sexually abused.
“In that moment, as she put polish on one of my nails, I told her I would always leave that finger painted to remember her, which also meant I would remember her pain.”
Elliot came out of this endearing interaction invigorated with ideas to make a change among men for the sake of children’s safety from sexual abusers.
That’s when he came up with the Polished Man project, which encourages men to become a #PolishedMan by painting one fingernail for a week. That single nail on a hand of five nails, represents the 1 in 5 children who will tragically be a victim of sexual violence at some point in their lives.
According to the Polished Man’s website dedicated to awareness to stop sexual violence against kids, “being a Polished Man means challenging violent behavior and language, both locally and globally.”
Elliot found that men need to be the voice of change for this abuse on innocent children to end, since 96 percent of this type of violence on kids worldwide is perpetrated by males.
Ultimately, the hope is to not just to see a bright nail on a guy and remember for a few moments that there are hundreds of thousands of children being abused each day and suffering the consequences from that for a lifetime.
Rather, Elliot would like the fingernail to be a start of a conversation about this sad reality, that could lead to more ideas to end it and maybe even donations to “support educational programs and resources for child survivors of abuse,” APlus reported.
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FAQs
Men often paint one fingernail to help raise awareness about violence against children. The idea is that by painting one in five nails, it raises awareness that one in five children will be victims of sexual violence. The campaign is spearheaded by Polished Man, a nonprofit organization.
What does painted nails men mean? ›
They do it to break stereotypes.
If a guy's views of what's gender-appropriate are unconventional and his ideas of beauty are different, he has a chance to raise his voice. A man's nails can become a powerful message, telling people that he thinks outside the box.
What is the significance of painting one fingernail a different color? ›
Many people, including some prominent celebrities, have joined hands and painted a single fingernail in solidarity with the prevention of violence that is enacted against children.
Why do guys paint their nails black on one hand? ›
Men and boys worldwide have shown their solidarity with this cause by wearing black nail polish on one finger. This is their way to open up the conversation about the fight against the abuse of children.
What does one fingernail painted red mean? ›
Counterculture rock stars, such as David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, and Kurt Cobain, rebelled against gender norms by painting their fingernails, but the trend ended there until recently, when one Elliot Costello introduced the "Polished Man" campaign in which men with one painted fingernail on one hand represent the " ...
What does it mean if you see a man with one painted fingernail? ›
Men often paint one fingernail to help raise awareness about violence against children. The idea is that by painting one in five nails, it raises awareness that one in five children will be victims of sexual violence. The campaign is spearheaded by Polished Man, a nonprofit organization.
Why are men attracted to painted nails? ›
For one, it seems to suggest that men are more attracted to women who have red nails. This is likely because the color red is associated with passion and excitement, which are qualities that many men find attractive in a partner.
What does one fingernail painted blue mean? ›
You can't really talk about the blue nail trend without mentioning the case where men paint one of their fingernails blue in support of a movement called “The Polished Man”. This is a cause that supports men's role in ending violence against children and spreading awareness.
What nail colors mean single? ›
Urban Dictionary states: “If someone has white nail polish on it means that they are single and available.” This is something that has gone viral, with the belief that the nail color indicates a particular relationship status. On the other hand, what does it mean if someone has blue nails?
What nail color means relationship? ›
White nails symbolize purity, clarity, and new beginnings.
White nails can be used to signal your relationship status, just like red and light blue nails can. According to TikTok users, white nail polish means that you're single and open to dating someone.
As of late, men painting their nails is in vogue, especially for straight male stars like Bad Bunny and Harry Styles. GQ recently published an article, “Jeremy Allen White Can Pull off a Manicure, and So Can You“. These men are lauded for their self-expression and flare, protected by their straight privilege.
What does painting one of your nails black mean? ›
In the workplace, wearing black can be seen to represent authority and assertiveness. As an extension of your overall look, nail polish can also make a statement. Black nail polish will tell them that you are confident and serious.
What is the black nail theory? ›
The idea behind black nail theory is that a shiny black manicure can boost your confidence, which is not unlike the purported effects of a classic red mani. However, the goal of painting your nails black is not to attract attention from men. It's about doing it as an act of empowerment for yourself.
What does it mean when someone only has their pinky nail painted? ›
Raising Awareness For Violence Against Children
There is a campaign called Polished Man going around that hopes to raise awareness for violence against children. The campaign states that you should have one nail painted blue to represent the one in five children who will be victims of sexual violence in their lifetime.
What does a long pinky nail on a man mean? ›
Symbol of Wealth
Men and women of the upper classes grew their nails long to show that they didn't have to do manual labor, which would break longer fingernails. In some parts of the world, long pinky nails still symbolize prosperity, even when they aren't worn by the wealthy upper class.
What do pink painted fingernails mean? ›
If you're picking pink at the nail salon, Williams said it's likely that you're a people-pleaser. A pink manicure means you likely try to "make people feel happy," Williams said. FotoDuets/Getty Images. "They're pleasant and feel-good," she told Insider. "They try whatever they can to make people happy."
Why are male rappers painting their nails? ›
"It's a way of expressing ur feelings," he typed. "Being true to your self and self care." Rappers wearing fingernail polish is becoming more common these days, with artists like Lil Yachty, Lil Pump, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Kid Cudi and others often seen rocking colored nails and at times facing criticism for it.
What does white nail polish mean to guys? ›
Some guys get turned on when they see a girl wearing white nail polish because it makes her seem more “pure” or naive. For guys who prefer girls with less sexual experience, white nails are appealing because they represent the qualities they're looking for in a partner.
Why do athletes paint their nails black? ›
According to a source via German outlet Bild, athletes paint their nails or cover it with a protective layer to prevent their nails from fungi and bacteria. They said: 'Many top athletes do this to protect their nails from fungi and bacteria when they are stuck in sweaty shoes for hours. Even Mike Tyson. '
What does the painting nails emoji mean? ›
💅 Nail Polish emoji
Aside from tagging nail- and beauty-related images online, the nail polish emoji can serve as a tone marker indicating sass, fanciness, nonchalance, or self-confidence across a variety of digital contexts.
The 3 Little Overheard Words that Changed My View of Masculinity Forever
