16 Nail Rules for Men (2024)

You are allowed to have long fingernails only if you are a flamenco guitarist. And even then, it might not be worth it. Long fingernails on a man evoke images of reclusion and wizardry.

A man's nails should be no longer than the width of a dime. This should be achieved with the help of a nail clipper. The small one is fine. (The big one is for toes.)

No nail clipping in public.

Also, no biting or chewing, in public or otherwise. Men who find it hard to break this habit should remind themselves that they are adults with a free will.

Never cut your cuticles. In fact, never think about your cuticles.

Hangnails? Like a loose thread: Trim them, don't pull them.

As bad as calluses can look, it's no worse than being seen wearing gloves in the gym.

And if the skin on your hands starts to crack, then hand cream. There is no shame in hand cream. Correction: There is a certain shame in hand cream. But when a man needs hand cream, a man needs hand cream.

Unacceptable Places to Trim Your Nails:

• On the bed.

• Near a baby.

• At the dinner table.

• At a friend's house.

• Over shag carpeting.

• Anywhere on the Sabbath (Jewish readers only).

• On the subway (system).

• At Subway (restaurant).

Rodney Cutler is an Ironman triathlete and the owner of the Cutler Salons in New York City and Miami.