Most guys I know wouldn’t be caught dead getting their nails done at a spa. But buffed and filed nails look really nice on a man — especially compared to the dirty, scraggly nails I spot on some guys. Nails and cuticles get dry when guys do things like pull their hands in and out of their jeans, like my husband does a thousand times a day. And that’s just the least of it. As the weather cools, it’s a good time to suggest a little hand grooming to keep them looking healthy. Backstage at the J. Lindeberg spring 2013 show, the male models had their hands quickly, and magically transformed by Katie Hughes, global color ambassador for Butter London. She offered a few quick tricks you can suggest to your guy:
Tip 1: Cut nails short and mimic the shape of his cuticle line — that will make them look natural. Then have him buff the free edge to take away roughness and hard edges.
Tip 2: Don’t touch the cuticle. “The more cuticles are cut, the thicker they grow back,” says Hughes, so your man should avoid messing with them if he can. If the cuticle bothers him, Hughes recommends just gently pushing them back with his thumb nail.
Tip 3: Moisturize. Hook him up with a cuticle oil, like Butter London Handbag Holiday Cuticle Oil, $18 to use around the nail bed as a moisturizer when hands and cuticles are dry, suggests Hughes. It’s a good habit to apply right before bed to make sure nails look nice and supple by morning.
Does the guy in your life get manicures?
— Carrie Stern Kleiner
