The Man-icure: A List of Male Music Artists Who Paint Their Nails
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Who was the first man to paint his nails?
The Babylonian warriors reveal the earliest records of men grooming their nails. Dating back to around 3500 BC, Babylonian warriors would prepare for battle with beauty rituals. “Warriors adorned their nails with ground minerals as part of a pre-battle ritual designed to intimidate their enemies” according to a 2018 paper from The University of Rochester Medical Center. So although nail grooming dates back centuries, there has been an uptick in discussion recently, revolving around men painting their fingernails, specifically athletes.Who was the first male Musician to paint his nails?
It is believed that Prince, was the first male musician to paint his fingernails in the early 1980s. Prince was said to frequently receive manicures and have clear nail polish painted on his fingernails. The late David Bowie also wore nail polish during the ‘80s, and pop culture icons such as Kurt Cobain and Dennis Rodman sported painted fingernails during the ‘90s.
Now, new artists such as Lil Yachty, ASAP Rocky, Kid Cudi, and Bad Bunny, challenge the conservative idea of fingernail painting being viewed as a feminine pastime. They are indeed not the only artists who choose to express themselves through nail polish.
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