Why do men grow their pinky nail? Large round nails for men. Character by shape of nails in men and women Long toenails in men

With your own hands

Often men pay little attention to caring for their hands and nails in particular, but in vain. After all, men's hands do not have to be covered in fuel oil and have black nails.

Well-groomed and delicate hands look as attractive as a good watch or shoes. Black, broken or crooked nails in men are unlikely to attract approval from the fair sex.

This article will discuss how a man should take care of his nails, as well as such an unusual phenomenon as a long nail on the little finger in men.

Prejudice or laziness?

The reason many men refuse to take care of their nails is the prejudice that by visiting a nail salon, they will lose their masculinity, become too much like women, etc.

But judge for yourself, won’t a man always be a man? Or is his gender determined by his clothes, hairstyle, jewelry? Or is the standard of true masculinity the image of a smoky plumber with nasty nails and a yellow smile?

Some men are often just too lazy to take care of their nails. This category of men is too lazy to even cut their nails on time, without thinking that long men’s nails look very unattractive. By the way, some ladies, thinking about the question of why men grow a nail on their little finger, are inclined to conclude that they simply forget to trim all 10 nails and accidentally leave one nail long. But more on that later.

Nail care

Most likely, some representatives of the stronger sex should reconsider their views regarding nail care. If your manicure set is limited to just scissors, then it would be a good idea to purchase some more tools:

  • First- These are manicure scissors for trimming nails.
  • Second- nail scissors for trimming cuticles and peeled skin near the nails, the so-called hangnails.
  • Third- These are two nippers for cutting the skin around fingernails and toenails.
  • And lastly- a file made of emery or glass.

If performing manicure operations yourself is difficult or unusual, you can turn to your wife or friend for help. You are unlikely to hear a refusal, rather the opposite.

Before starting nail procedures, wash your hands well with warm water and do not skimp on soap. Next, carefully trim the nail in a semicircle, but not to the edge, but leave a little, because if you always cut your nails completely, they will shrink each time and take on an ugly and unkempt appearance.

The next step is to work with a nail file; we use it to shape the nail.

Next, you need to deal with the cuticle, but to do this you need to hold your hands in warm water for ten minutes so that the cuticle softens and can be easily removed. You can also use a special gel to soften it.

When working with the cuticle, you need to lightly press on it with a manicure spatula and move it towards the nail. Cut off the parts that remain, along with the burrs, with scissors. Be careful not to harm the skin by cutting the hangnail too far. As practice shows, such painful places take a long time to heal.

Your feet also require care. When treating your feet, do the same, just don’t touch the cuticles. After all, its main function is protective, and therefore it is recommended to leave it on your feet.

And finally: use hand cream and don’t forget to take care of your nails regularly, because not only beauty, but also health depends on it.

If you don’t want to bother yourself, you can visit spa centers. Today, such establishments are even opened specifically for men. There you will be offered several types of manicure and pedicure. But with the same success you will be well served in a regular salon.

So we got to a topic that is interesting to many, how long nail on the little finger for men. Probably many people noticed this phenomenon on an often well-groomed male hand and could not understand why it was happening. After all, such a spectacle often looks not just ridiculous, but also disgusting.

The tradition of growing a long nail on the little finger dates back to the 17th century. The aristocrats did this in order to quickly type letters in case they did not have the necessary tool at hand.

The French did this for a different reason. It was customary for them not to knock on the door, but to scrape.

In the 19th century, and later in the 70-90s of the 20th, such a nail was used to measure out doses of cocaine. Consequently, long nails on the little finger were common among drug addicts. People who did not know this also adopted this fashion.

Another group of people who grew fingernails on their little fingers in the last century were convicted criminal bigwigs, sharpers, and robbers who did not work out of principle, but were engaged only in thievery.

There is also a version that such a nail was worn by Freemasons, and it was by this sign that Tropinin learned that Pushkin was a Freemason.

Also in the past, there was a long nail on the little finger of men standing in the position of assistant driver to tighten the tape with information about the speed and stops of the train.

Today, such a fetish is made for themselves by those who consider it original and want to stand out. Some, having noticed this, simply inherit, while others truly consider the long nail on the little finger stylish. True, in such cases, any other nail can grow.

Here are the main versions of why men grow nails on their little fingers.

Even if in modern society a common reason for a pinky nail is a manifestation of style. However, it cannot be ruled out that the man you met was not a “catala”, not a thief, and not a Freemason.

What do you think, should men’s nails be well-groomed, clean and even?

Every girl dreams of meeting the ideal man who would become her soul mate, with whom she can create a strong family. However, men, in principle, like girls, have certain character traits that define them as a person. Based on the shape of their nails, men can be divided into four types. Thanks to this distribution of character traits, it will be easier for a representative of the fair sex to understand what kind of man is in front of her.

The Modest Prince (Nails. Photo No. 1)

Men who belong to this type are shy. They cannot take the first step and be the first to meet a girl. Even if such representatives of the stronger sex have a beautiful appearance, their shyness prevents them from feeling that they are worthy and to be loved. Because of this, they become even more withdrawn and never dare to express themselves. In turn, a girl who wants to meet such a man must take all the initiative into her own hands. This, of course, does not mean that a lady should impose herself in communication; rather, she should show the young man that she is interested in him. Also, after meeting, it is worth considering that in the future such a man always needs to be set up for a certain action and his self-esteem increased. If you are ready for this, your humble prince will appreciate your initiative. Click on photo to enlarge.

Confident knight(Nails. Photo No. 2)

Such a man will make a girl feel like a real princess. His intentions and feelings will always be clear. His self-esteem is not low, he feels harmonious with himself, he is who he is and the girl will have to accept it. However, you will always be aware of his plans for the future.

If a relationship with a girl does not suit him, he will not be modest, but will tell it like it is. On the one hand, you will really feel the support of a strong man nearby, on the other hand, you may encounter his selfishness and excessive self-love. A real knight will be able to win the heart of a princess; whether to accept such courtship or not, it all depends on you.

High flying bird(Nails. Photo No. 3)

An amazing and unpredictable man with charisma. He knows what girls like and is confident. However, his arrogance can be off-putting, because he only plays by his own rules. Such a man believes that he has no equal rivals, which means he is a winner. Belittling someone's abilities, loving criticism, using pressure when communicating with other people is a clear disadvantage of men of this type. This happens for the reason that they consider themselves superior and smarter than everyone else. Do you like the type of man like this, are you sure you can win his heart? Perhaps this will be the case, because if such a man has chosen his beloved woman, then she is the best. Another woman simply cannot be with him. If you feel ready to fly that high, then your bird is perfect for you. Forward to victories and conquering heights!


Favorite clown (Nails. Photo No. 4)

A man of this type will not let you get bored, because he is the life of the party, and the holiday would not be complete without him. And his friends love him for his amazing sense of humor. Such a man attracts the attention of many women, because he will always find an approach to the heart of a beautiful lady. If you like to have fun and joke, then this man is perfect for you. However, we should not forget that sometimes under the mask of a clown there is a very vulnerable person who can sometimes become sad. If you are ready to support your “favorite clown” in difficult moments, you are lucky, because such a man will appreciate your attention and give you many more smiles.


What does a long nail on the little finger mean? Why, why do men grow it?

Let's start not with the version that it is so fashionable. Let's put it off, perhaps, a little later. However, let us not forget that such a “version” will have the right to exist.

Even aristocrats began to grow their pinky nails. It was with the nail on the little finger that they opened the letters. Quite a convenient way, by the way! Previously, there were no mobile phones, no Internet, or other means of communication.

Ancient China also “reminds” the nail on the little finger. It was in this city (in ancient times) that the “caste” affiliation was determined by the length of the nail (the longer the nail, the higher the caste, the more noble).

In the seventies and eighties, in the USA, long “little finger” nails were used for bad purposes: drug addicts snorted cocaine from such little fingers (starting around the twentieth century).

Card sharpers also grew their nails. With the help of its length it was much easier for them to “perform” their extraordinary tricks. And also shuffle card decks.

Sources “claim” that Alexander Pushkin had the nail on his little finger. On it he wore his case (gold). It is unknown how true this information is, but it sounds quite interesting.

France…. In medieval times, it was customary to knock on the door with your little finger to avoid knocking on it with your fist (knocking with your fist was considered very bad manners and disrespect).

Why do men need a long nail on their little finger (why do men grow it):

  1. Doesn't find time to cut his hair. Or laziness has completely “permeated” his consciousness. It’s stupid to assume that all the scissors in the world have disappeared somewhere, disappeared!
  2. Works in a jewelry store. Use your imagination and immediately understand how you can “intertwine” your nails and jewelry.
  3. For comfort. So to speak…. A nail for all occasions! And life often shows such cases.
  4. Seriously interested in computers. It's convenient to clean your keyboard and mouse from dirt with your fingernail! If you have a laptop, then there is a touchpad.
  5. He is a person with a non-traditional orientation. Few people will be ashamed of this (in our times). Vice versa! Homosexuals strive in every possible way to defend their rights.
  6. Relates to people from aviation. The fact is that a little finger with a grown nail is a symbol of faith for them, it is an airplane mascot. Do you know such a pilot... Maresyev! So here it is. It was the long nail that saved his life. With this nail he was able to get food for himself, and cut his stilts, and cut his parachute lines. By the way, this nail is still kept in the museum. Now you understand the relationship between the long nail and aviation.
  7. He believes that with such a nail you need to caress a woman’s body and its intimate parts so that she feels incredibly pleasant.
  8. He is not indifferent to the career of a hairdresser and works in this “romantic” field.
  9. Uses the nail as a tool. Open something, take it apart, “pick” something…. A healthy “tool of labor.”
  10. Considers himself a Freemason. A long nail (on the little finger) is their distinctive sign. Who are the Masons? Representatives of the most controversial and secret religious association. Signs by which they can be easily recognized and distinguished from others: Love of the sun. For the Masons, the sun is a kind of talisman, something divine and wonderful - beautiful. A special handshake. “Ban” on truthful testimony against each other. Despite their love of truth, Masons will never betray their own! The gallows noose is a “participant” in their rituals. Taboo on atheism. Masons will believe in God even if the whole world doubts his existence.
  11. Why does a man grow a nail on his little finger? - He decided to “imitate” the driver’s assistant. They (these same assistants) twirled a tape for them, which depicted speed and other “necessities”.
  12. He cleans the keyboard with his fingernail. Quite an unusual method of cleaning, you will agree. This may not be the case in the world.
  13. Opens bottles and door locks with his little finger. Of course, now you’ll think about thieves! And not in vain. They used the nail in the same way (that is, for their criminal purposes). But now we will talk about a man who often loses the keys to his apartment, and who is simply tired of constantly making duplicate keys.

Why does the nail on the little finger (long) have anything to do with fashion? Because she is always watched in everything (both women and men). The fact that the long nail of the little finger is fashionable was “warned” by gossip. Who alone believed in them and told others. And someone, by the way, can “invent” such a fashion as a joke in order to develop it and spread it.

One - a single long nail is often observed on a small female finger. The fact is that the little finger is “lucky”. The nail on it rarely breaks and is the strongest of all others.

It happens that a woman or girl gets her nails extended, and one of them breaks accidentally. I have to cut off almost everything because the beauty of my hands has been lost. But since the little finger is considered the most beautiful female finger, the nail on it is left untouched (in memory of its former beauty, for the sake of peace).

Since we've already talked about fashion... There is something to add. Some representatives of the fair sex have one unusual point. They specifically grow the nail on only one finger. They wear their favorite little ring on it. And the nail itself is decorated with rhinestones, thus trying to draw the attention of passers-by to its length.

“Nail” (“pinky”) fashion is not clear to everyone. But few people care about this aspect! People are built in a peculiar way: they believe (and continue to believe) that they are doing the right thing, that their fashion is the most… Women are a separate issue. A long nail on the little fingers can be a banal manifestation of capriciousness or extraordinaryness.

Finding out what kind of man is standing in front of you and what kind of character he has is quite simple. Look at his nails. They can tell you a lot. So how can you tell a man's character by his nails?

Nail length

If a man’s nails are cut very short, almost to the root, then this is a man-leader. He likes to dominate both in his work and in his personal life. He does not like to be argued with and his words are not taken for granted. Such a man needs a special approach. With a kind word and due attention. Requests for help or assistance should not be ordered, but gently and unobtrusively. In response, such a man...will lend you his reliable shoulder.

In society, a long nail says more negative things about a person than positive things. In Europe, this issue is treated tolerantly, so the question of why they grow the nail on the little finger does not arise. This is explained by the fact that the fashion for wearing such a nail came from Europe. Back in the 17th century, the French bourgeoisie wore long nails.

This is because before entering a room it was customary not to knock on the door, but to scratch a little on it. Every man was required to wear a long nail. A century later, the bourgeoisie of England used such a nail to open envelopes with correspondence. In modern China, a long nail on the little finger, on the contrary, is considered a beautiful and emphasizing element of every man. Also, in Asia there is a belief that a long nail brings good luck.

A long nail can be observed in hard-working men. Some people use it to tighten small bolts or cogs. Also, these men may have a nail not only on the little finger. If a man is comfortable with a long nail on his index finger, he will grow it there. When working with wood, some men may make marks with their fingernail if they don't have a pencil or marker handy.

Not the most aesthetic reason for wearing long nails is picking your nose or ears. Yes, some people use long nails for these activities and sometimes do not hide it. Usually, in such people, the nail does not stand out much, because it is inconvenient to perform these actions with a nail that is too long.


It happens that a young man has a long nail, but looks quite neat, has no relation to various subcultures, etc. Most likely, this person plays the guitar. Many guitarists use a long fingernail to replace the pick. Some people like this way of playing the guitar. The only disadvantage of using the nail this way is its fragility.

Many jewelers have long nails on their hands. This is due to the fact that you have to work with small elements. By the way, not only jewelers can wear long nails. There are many professions that require working with small parts. People with such professions usually have 2 grown nails. Typically these nails are located on the thumb and index finger. Typically, such nails are used to replace standard tweezers.

Long nails can be seen in chefs. This is due to the fact that some dishes require very careful work or decoration. Also, chefs use the nail to taste dishes. There is no need to be afraid of eating such dishes. All chefs are required to maintain strict nail hygiene, which is checked very often and thoroughly.

When asking a man his reason for wearing a long nail on his little finger, you may not get any answer. In this case, this person is hiding something, and it is not recommended to contact him.

By chatting on forums, you can find out other people’s opinions about why they grow a nail on their little finger and why specifically on their little finger. There can be a lot of options, and their diversity will surprise you.

Every girl dreams of meeting the ideal man who would become her soul mate, with whom she can create a strong family. However, men, in principle, like girls, have certain character traits that define them as a person. Based on the shape of their nails, men can be divided into four types. Thanks to this distribution of character traits, it will be easier for a representative of the fair sex to understand what kind of man is in front of her.

The Modest Prince (Nails. Photo No. 1)

Men who belong to this type are shy. They cannot take the first step and be the first to meet a girl. Even if such representatives of the stronger sex have a beautiful appearance, their shyness prevents them from feeling that they are worthy and to be loved. Because of this, they become even more withdrawn and never dare to express themselves. In turn, a girl who wants to meet such a man must take all the initiative into her own hands. This, of course, does not mean that a lady should impose herself in communication; rather, she should show the young man that she is interested in him. Also, after meeting, it is worth considering that in the future such a man always needs to be set up for a certain action and his self-esteem increased. If you are ready for this, your humble prince will appreciate your initiative. Click on photo to enlarge.

Confident knight(Nails. Photo No. 2)

Such a man will make a girl feel like a real princess. His intentions and feelings will always be clear. His self-esteem is not low, he feels harmonious with himself, he is who he is and the girl will have to accept it. However, you will always be aware of his plans for the future.

If a relationship with a girl does not suit him, he will not be modest, but will tell it like it is. On the one hand, you will really feel the support of a strong man nearby, on the other hand, you may encounter his selfishness and excessive self-love. A real knight will be able to win the heart of a princess; whether to accept such courtship or not, it all depends on you.

High flying bird(Nails. Photo No. 3)

An amazing and unpredictable man with charisma. He knows what girls like and is confident. However, his arrogance can be off-putting, because he only plays by his own rules. Such a man believes that he has no equal rivals, which means he is a winner. Belittling someone's abilities, loving criticism, using pressure when communicating with other people is a clear disadvantage of men of this type. This happens for the reason that they consider themselves superior and smarter than everyone else. Do you like the type of man like this, are you sure you can win his heart? Perhaps this will be the case, because if such a man has chosen his beloved woman, then she is the best. Another woman simply cannot be with him. If you feel ready to fly that high, then your bird is perfect for you. Forward to victories and conquering heights!

Favorite clown (Nails. Photo No. 4)

A man of this type will not let you get bored, because he is the life of the party, and the holiday would not be complete without him. And his friends love him for his amazing sense of humor. Such a man attracts the attention of many women, because he will always find an approach to the heart of a beautiful lady. If you like to have fun and joke, then this man is perfect for you. However, we should not forget that sometimes under the mask of a clown there is a very vulnerable person who can sometimes become sad. If you are ready to support your “favorite clown” in difficult moments, you are lucky, because such a man will appreciate your attention and give you many more smiles.

Reasons for wearing long nails on the little fingers by men of different nationalities.

Each person looks individually and tries to highlight their best sides externally. Some people in this way pay tribute to fashion and the rules of etiquette in a particular society.

So there are standards for hair length, neatness of clothing, its style and combination with other accessories. You may object that these rules are not axiomatic to follow. Yes, this is true, but if a person wants to be accepted in the society in which he lives, then he will subconsciously begin to follow them.

There are a lot of legends, fictions and real explanations for such an unusual phenomenon as a long nail on the little finger of a man’s hand.

Let's look into history and take a closer look at the reasons that influenced this.

What does a long nail on the little finger mean for men?

the hand of a dark-skinned man with long nails on the little finger and thumb
  • Historical data says that growing a nail on the little finger in men dates back to the 17th century.
  • Then representatives of the strong half of humanity conducted active correspondence and communicated with the world in this way. And to quickly open letters, they found a way out - the nail of the little finger of the left hand, because the right hand was used for writing and firing weapons

However, with changes in the peculiarities of sealing postal envelopes, the need for nails of different lengths on men’s hands also disappeared.

  • At the same time, in France there was a rule of good manners when a guest did not knock on the door with his fist, but scraped it with his finger. Agree, it’s easier and faster to do this with a grown nail
  • The past century has been turbulent in events and changes in human appearance. So in the 70s, the United States was overwhelmed by a wave of youth addiction to drugs. Cocaine was especially popular

Young guys began to grow the nail on their little finger to make it easier to measure one dose of the drug. In their world, their own measure of the weight of white powder appeared - a fingernail.



the man just started to grow a nail on the little finger of his left hand

  • In Soviet times at the end of the last century, crime bosses grew their pinky nail to stand out among other prisoners. Since the former enjoyed special conditions for serving their sentences and did not work physically, they could afford to take care of their hands and nails
  • Card sharpers have jumped on the bandwagon with the long-nail fashion for performing exchange tricks. They placed it between the cards in the deck and performed a tricky removal called "volt"
  • Continuing the theme of those who do not respect the laws, let us remember about pickpockets. Among them there are representatives with an overgrown nail on the little finger, with which they carefully cut the bags and pockets of their victims
  • The real need to have a long nail on the little finger was accompanied by the work of an assistant driver. This man gave them a tape with information about speed, route stops, and braking distance. And this tape was akin to a black box on modern airplanes
  • Among pilots there are also many representatives who wear a long nail on their little finger. The history of the tradition dates back to the Second World War. The pilots then did not have time to really sleep, much less take care of their appearance. And they got used to cutting their nails on the spinning propeller. But one day Meresyev did not have time to cut them off completely; he was left alone on the little finger of his left hand. This is what saved the pilot. He was able to get food, cut the parachute cables, build himself stilts and get to his people. Since then, the elongated nail on the little finger of the pilot’s left hand has become the personification of the faith, resourcefulness and invincibility of the Soviet soldier
  • Employees of jewelry workshops have such a distinctive sign as a long nail on the little finger. They use it to grab small gems and chain links during repairs.
  • Many guitarists to this day leave long nails on their hands, which make it easier for them to play the guitar without a pick.

Although there are other explanations for wearing this phenomenon. For example, A.S. Pushkin had a long nail on his little finger because he was a member of the Masonic society.



portrait of A.S. Pushkin, who also wore a long nail on his little finger

A few unconfirmed explanations:

  • superpowers. In ancient times, sorcerers, magicians and wizards had nails of different lengths, which distinguished them from other people. Perhaps this tradition has become firmly entrenched in the family and now the descendants simply follow it
  • palmistry. The little finger symbolizes a person’s oratory abilities and his penchant for science. If a nail grows on it, then the owner wants to strengthen these traits in his character. Therefore, among teachers you can often meet men with long nails on their little fingers and in practice you can be convinced that talking with them is pleasant and interesting
  • a talisman, that is, the owner of a non-standard length of a fingernail thereby attracts good luck and success into his life

Unconvincing, but valid arguments in favor of the presence of different lengths of nails on the hands of men are:

  • to attract women
  • show your involvement in Satanists, the vampire movement
  • to be identified among sexual minorities

Nowadays, it is not uncommon for men's manicures and differences in the length of the nail plates on the hands. This is how representatives of the stronger half of humanity express themselves in order to simply stand out and follow a specific style. A striking example of this is the Chinese. They tend to rarely cut their nails and wear them very long.

Why do Asian, Armenian, and Muslim men grow their nails on their little fingers?



young asian man wears a very long nail on his little finger
  • The male population of the Celestial Empire everywhere loves to wear long nails on their hands, especially on the little fingers

If you go to China, you will come across this appearance feature on the streets and in transport. Loaders, builders, janitors, market sellers, posters, factory workers, taxi drivers wear long nails.

There are several explanations for this manifestation:

  • historical.
    During the reign of emperors and court nobles, the entire poor population worked hard in the fields to grow rice. But the nobility and the ruler were exempt from this, because they wore long nails on their hands. They served as a kind of symbol of difference and involvement in blue blood. To psychologically compensate for such injustice, in our time, Chinese men of all classes began to grow their nails
  • religious.
    There is an opinion that if the little finger is longer than the index finger, then the owner of such a hand has a good fate and karma. And since such a natural hand structure is extremely rare, the Chinese compensate for the situation by growing a nail on the smallest finger
  • for the convenience of performing specific actions, for example, tightening screws, taking care of your appearance, scratching an itchy spot, typing on a push-button telephone
  • esoteric.
    The Chinese believe that the long nail on the little finger of the left hand is a magnet for money and represents the health of their family. That’s why it is cherished and protected from breaking off. Otherwise, money will bypass their home, and relatives will become seriously ill and die
  • an attribute of a man that testifies to the well-developed qualities of a representative of the strong half of humanity and attracts beautiful ladies

Among Armenians, an elongated nail on the little finger is also not uncommon. This people has a tradition when the youngest son in the family acquires such a feature of appearance.



Muslim with a long nail on his little finger

Other examples:

  • household necessity.
    For example, for market workers, the nail comes to the rescue for cutting tape, cheering and unscrewing something
  • a tribute to fashion, when a person is surrounded by men with long nails and he likes it, then he will pick up this trend
  • imitating a person who commands respect, such as a crime boss

Men of Muslim countries are sure that a long nail on the little finger is their protection from evil spirits and destructive influences.

Whatever explanation for men wearing long nails on their little fingers resonates with you as reasonable, this phenomenon exists. Therefore, it is easier to accept and come to terms with it, rather than imposing your point of view and demands to be cut off.

We all tend to make mistakes, seek the truth, find it and change. The main thing is comfortable, peaceful communication and recognition of the other’s right to preserve their individuality.

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