Think you’re too tough, masculine, or old school to get a men’s manicure or a men’s pedicure?

Too bad for you. You don’t know what you’re missing. There’s a good reason top athletes like LeBron James are fans of nail care for men. And the growth of popularity in all kinds of personal care services for men is clear evidence that guys like this stuff. The market is expected to grow to $81 billion by 2025.

This isn’t just for the rich and famous. If you work on your feet all day long or rely on your hands to earn a living, you really should appreciate them more. After all, they’re your money makers - and they deserve a little maintenance and TLC.

Too many men suffer through blisters, misshapen nails, and other uncomfortable issues with their hands and feet that are totally unnecessary - and can be addressed with a manicure or pedicure.  

When your job demands heavy use of your hands, it is critical to avoid any hang nails or awkward nails that could get in your way. Adding regular men’s manicures to your grooming routine can help you avoid these annoyances.

Considering getting a manicure or pedicure for the first time? Here’s an introduction to help make the whole experience as positive as possible.

Getting a Manicure - A Step by Step Guide for Men

At its most basic level, a manicure for men entails softening the skin on the hands, filing down the nails, and shaping the cuticles.  

It might seem like a lot if you’re new to the idea, but the process is quite simple. In fact, you can even easily do it yourself at home with a men’s manicure set (though getting one done professionally is a much better experience). These are the basic steps:

Step 1: Cut the Nail

A manicure for men starts with cutting your nails with a nail clipper (here’s one we recommend). 

Clip only the white part of the nail and try to perform as few clips per nail as possible. Extra clips leave your nail edge uneven and could lead to uncomfortable and unattractive hang nails.

Step 2: File the Edges

Start by taking a nail file (we like this one) and gently file from one side of the nail to the other. Pretend as if the file is sanding back the nail. 

Use this action to round the top of the nail, stopping when you feel the file starting to come into contact with your finger tip. It will be easy to get impatient and try to rush this, but take your time to avoid disturbing the tips of your fingers. Slow down - nail care for men is self care time.

Step 3: Cut Back the Excess Cuticle

The cuticle is the area where your nails meet your skin. Remove excess cuticle with a cuticle clipper (here’s our pick) - not with your fingers. 

Ripping at a loose cuticle may cause a jagged look and will lead to bleeding, swelling, and hang nails. Don’t do it. 

If your cuticles are way out of shape, start by using a cuticle stick to push them back gently towards the end of your finger nail.

Step 4: Hydrate the Hands 

To finish up, rinse your hands and apply a hand lotion. This will help soothe any dry skin and heal any nicks that occurred when performing your manicure. 

Our Maximum Strength Hand Cream is designed to improve the skin on your hands. It’s made with powerful natural ingredients - vitamin E, shea butter, and jojoba - and its lightweight formula absorbs quickly.

Does all of this nail care sound like a lot of work? We promise you that it isn’t. If you’d rather not do it yourself (or just want to treat yourself from time to time), you can always visit your nearest men’s grooming lounge to have your manicure done professionally.

Pedicure for Men: A Simple Guide

Similar to manicure, a men’s pedicure entails taking care of your nails, cutting back the cuticles, and hydrating - but this time, your feet.  

Like a manicure, you can easily (and quite inexpensively) do all of these things at home. But splurging on a professional pedicure for men really is worth it. Depending on where you go, it might include a foot massage, a warm water foot bath, and other little luxuries. If you’re looking for a simple way to treat yourself, this is it. 

If you’re on your feet all day, consider scheduling yourself a monthly pedicure. Your feet will look, feel and smell better. 

Regular pedicures contribute to improved nail care. They remove excess dead skin on your feet, reduce sore spots, and remove and prevent gunky buildup around the nails.  

Getting at least one professional pedicure for men in your lifetime - perhaps for a special occasion - is a must. Why? Because they feel incredible and the professionals can reach areas you never could.

Not only that, but your feet come out looking, smelling, and feeling great. Who knows, after only one visit you may even find yourself becoming a regular in the pedicure chair. 

Whether you go to a pro or DIY your pedicure at home, these are the basic steps. If you’d rather perform one at home yourself, grab a men’s pedicure set and follow these steps:

Step 1: Soak the Feet 

Use warm water in the bath tub, a large bucket, or a foot bath. This will start to soften the skin and allow for a more thorough treatment. Let your feet soak for 2-5 minutes. 

Adding a little aromatic body wash - like one of our Invigorating Body Wash scents made with essential oils - can add a nice touch to the experience. 

Step 2: Exfoliate the Skin

While your feet are still wet, exfoliate your feet with a scrubbing product - like our Polishing Body Scrub made with walnut powder, oat straw, and glycolic acid.

This will remove dead skin that has built up on them. Removing all that accumulation helps prevent the growth of bacteria and fungus. This will also remove painful calluses that form where your feet strike most.

Step 3: Clip the Nails

Clip only the outermost white part of the nail and (if possible) make only one clip per nail. That helps prevent ingrown nails, hang nails, and other issues.

Step 4: File the Edges

Use a nail file to gently file from one side of the nail to the other. Round the nail and stop once you feel the file coming into contact with the tip of your toe.

Step 5: Cut Back the Cuticles

Cut any extra cuticle with a cuticle clipper - not with your fingers. Don’t get too aggressive here because ripping at loose cuticle can cause bleeding, swelling, hang nails, and even infections. Nail care for men should be gentle and easy, not harsh.

If your cuticles are really out of shape, use a cuticle stick to push them gently back towards the end of the toe nail.

Step 6: Rinse and Hydrate

Rinse your feet with warm water and apply lotion - like our Deep Moisture Body Lotion made with vitamin E, shea butter and jojoba. This will help soothe dry skin and heal any nicks that occurred when performing your pedicure.