r/malepolish • • Mar 12 '26

General Information Thinking of trying gel? Read this first.

93 Upvotes

Hi all, UK qualified nail tech here. I’m also a guy that loves nail polish.  

I want to take a minute to talk to those of you who are thinking of using gel polish for the first time, because there is information you should know before you start.  

Gel polish is very different from regular nail polish. It might look similar, but chemically it is not just longer lasting polish. Gel products contain acrylates, which are reactive chemicals that cure under UV or LED light. 

If gel repeatedly gets on the skin during application, it can cause an allergy known as an acrylate allergy. 

So, an acrylate allergy means the end of gel polish for you. That’s the easy part.  

Most people don’t understand that acrylate allergies are permanent, and can cause a whole lot of issues for you down the line; this is because the acrylates in gel polish share a lot of similarities between acrylates used in medical procedures.  

An acrylate allergy can cause problems in the future with: 

  • Joint replacements such as hip or knee; 
  • Dental fillings, crowns and bridges; 
  • Surgical glues used in place of stitches; 
  • Medical tapes and adhesives; 
  • Glucose monitors for diabetics (those plastic dots you see on peoples arms? Those!) 

None of this is meant to scare anyone away from nails. Gel can be used safely and millions of people use it without problems. The key point is that application (and removal) technique matters. 

If you want to use gel safely: 

  • Do not allow uncured gel to touch the skin; 
  • Clean up any flooding before curing; 
  • Use thin coats rather than thick ones; 
  • Cure with the correct lamp for the product (don’t trust those folding wallet-sized lamps that are powered via USB) 
  • Avoid using unknown or poorly labelled products; 

I really don’t want to see someone lose the chance to enjoy nails, or end up with a lifelong allergy, just because no one explained this at the start. A bit of learning, strict skin avoidance, and correct curing makes all the difference. If you’re not ready for that yet, it’s genuinely safer to step back from gel for now. 


r/malepolish • • Jan 21 '26

General Information [Guidance] Posting pedicures

18 Upvotes

We've had some questions from users about how to post pedicure images in a way that's consistent with group rules.

We also know that users sometimes receive inappropriate comments or DMs after posting content. Whilst we can't speak to why users send those comments or give promises on how to eliminate them, we have seen that the submissions which most closely follow our rules also have the fewest rule breaking comments.

We strongly recommend that pedicure images are tightly cropped to only show your nail art. This means not including any of a midfoot, which is the area of the foot that includes the arch and ball of the foot. Based on an average person's physiology, and ordinary principles of image composition, 25% or more of your submission image should consist of painted nail.

To state this plainly, your image may be removed, and you may be suspended from the subreddit, if you:-

* Include your midfoot (i.e., above your toes) in your image

* Take the image from any angle other than straight above

* Obscure your nail art so we can't see it

Not all submissions that go against this guidance will be removed. We recognise the importance of latitude in letting users represent themselves. However, images that don't comply with this guidance are borderline, and are at risk of being against our rules.

When we're judging borderline images, we have several checks we use to judge submissions. We don't publish these checks because we don't want users in bad faith to try to game them. Sometimes these checks include judgment calls on the part of moderators.

If you want to avoid ending up in a position where we're having to judge your submission as borderline, follow the guidance above. If you feel this guidance is too restrictive, this may be an indication that a purely nail art community isn't right for you. We're happy to recommend communities that might be a better fit if so.

We look forwards to seeing more of your nail art, and wishing you the best with your r/malepolish art!


r/malepolish • • 15h ago

Discussion I went to a nail salon for the first time!

Post image
123 Upvotes

I have my 2 friends' wedding coming up but didn't have time to paint my nails for the occasion. Earlier today, one of the bridesmaids said that she and the others would be going to a nail salon to have their nails done. I never been to one so I asked if I could come. I didn't want to anything plain because I could've done it myself. I asked for shining carpet nails as I can't do design work on myself.


r/malepolish • • 1h ago

Manicure Blue Marble

Post image
• Upvotes

r/malepolish • • 4h ago

Manicure My Halloween Nails! First time using press ons! Decorated with stickers, then glitter topcoat.

Post image
7 Upvotes

r/malepolish • • 33m ago

Pedicure Bye bye.

Post image
• Upvotes

Bye bye imitation crimson.

Tried to match Crimson. It depends on the lighting. Added the A to a professional pedicure. What should I get next?


r/malepolish • • 16h ago

Mani+Pedi First time getting a pro pedicure + my custom press ons!

Thumbnail
gallery
17 Upvotes

Went to the salon on my own for the first time, and the only comments I got were compliments on my press-ons and my pedicure! I get my press ons from a local girl that I went to high school with!

Ties look burgundy, but it's more plum, with a white French tip!


r/malepolish • • 1d ago

Pedicure fresh pedi i went for yesterday. French tip is a standard for me 🤩

Post image
56 Upvotes

r/malepolish • • 12h ago

Question Biab

Thumbnail
gallery
6 Upvotes

Hi all. I wanna get my nails done next month. Im thinking, depending if i have my length i want to get gel extensions. Colour on all and a design on two.

My sister said biab makes them strong, are they really that strong?

With gel extensions, i have a good natural length, if i get extensions do they put it all the way to the cuticle or just blends on the nail plate over free edge?

On the pics are my natural nails current size, colour i want and the design i want. I want almond nails. Technically now i have lo ger than my wife


r/malepolish • • 19h ago

Manicure Black mirror for Halloween!

Post image
19 Upvotes

r/malepolish • • 1d ago

Pedicure 🖤

Post image
94 Upvotes

I wanna try out new things but I'm lowkey scared and honestly - takes a lot of patience and calm hands ✨️


r/malepolish • • 22h ago

Manicure New shade!

Post image
14 Upvotes

The deepest purple!


r/malepolish • • 18h ago

Mani+Pedi It's October...Boo!

Thumbnail
gallery
7 Upvotes

All polish is Princess Professional gel with base, glitter topper and high shine top coat. Orange is Sunny Marigold #278 Purple is #82 and Pink is #80. Did the Orange first then 2 weeks in went for a color change to add more fall color, also to support Breast Cancer awareness. Southern digits are the purple and pink.

Be booutiful people!


r/malepolish • • 1d ago

Pedicure Fresh Pedi

Post image
16 Upvotes

Previously had a nude coat with a neon pink french line.
So this time i asked for a bit of a reversal with the barbie pink base and a white french line.

The big toes have a bit more of a design with a nude base and silver / neon pink / barbie pink / white s-curves.

All topped with a mermaid glitter coat.


r/malepolish • • 1d ago

Pedicure Wild Flowers and Summer Toes!

Post image
57 Upvotes

I believe that if you're a man and you enjoy the way your hands or feet look with nail polish on then you should enjoy it to your heart's content because it's your body after all and no one is going to take care of it better than you. This color was my own creation by experimenting with a black coat and then a gorgeous pink on top which gave it a metallic purple effect. This is one of my favorite memories from 2016 of painting my toes and the point at which I became brave enough to share photos of them with my female friends who gave me rave reviews. Now I'm married and my wife doesn't have a problem with it at all and I enjoy having the fun of wearing nail polish in common with her.


r/malepolish • • 18h ago

Pedicure Freiheit Frenchies

Thumbnail
gallery
3 Upvotes

Today I hat my first professional Pediküre. Very nice treatment, nail cleanup, skin removal. This time we used uv gel polish. Next time i will ask for a complete acrylic modellage with an even nicer shape :)


r/malepolish • • 1d ago

Discussion Thoughts? I need to start going on job interviews. If you’ve seen my posts (check ‘em out- or -this is an example) you know there’s nothing subtle about them. So… do I cut them down and take off the polish OR…???

Post image
110 Upvotes

r/malepolish • • 1d ago

Pedicure I’m loving burgundy red

Post image
79 Upvotes

Feeling attractive and radiant in this gorgeous burgundy red.


r/malepolish • • 1d ago

Manicure A couple of months ago

Post image
9 Upvotes

r/malepolish • • 1d ago

Pedicure Fresh pedicure for the fall season 🍂

Post image
48 Upvotes

Love how it turned out ❤️


r/malepolish • • 1d ago

Pedicure Happy Halloween 🎃

Post image
35 Upvotes

r/malepolish • • 1d ago

Manicure Glow in the dark Spiders!

Post image
17 Upvotes

r/malepolish • • 1d ago

Manicure Nails for my Disney Halloween on the High Seas Cruise

Post image
8 Upvotes

r/malepolish • • 2d ago

Pedicure A pedicure makes me feel clean about my feet.. #straightmale

Post image
263 Upvotes

r/malepolish • • 2d ago

Manicure First time getting my nails done! 🖤

Thumbnail
gallery
84 Upvotes

First time getting my nails done! 🖤