Boys painting nails

[Anonymous]

Just curious, if you have an elementary age boy does he ask to paint his nails? Is there an age or scenario in which you either do or don't let him?

I have one 3rd grade boy and he loves nail polish. I have been letting him paint as much as he wants all summer. I hope he can keep doing so during the school year if he wishes but am just curious what the vibe is. He was at a private school until now where nail polish was against the dress code for everyone. I'm trying to navigate if other kids are going to tease him or comment in public school? He is super boyish, athletic, generally kind of disheveled and not in to fashion honestly, and I'm not sure what it is about the nail polish that he likes so much. The friends he has seen this summer, boy and girl either don't notice or tell him they like it. If he will stand out in a negative way come the school year I will try to think of how to prepare him for that. Part of my asking is that he will be the new kid this coming year.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[Anonymous]

My DD has two good friends who are boys who are into nail painting. One also enjoys a full face of makeup. This has been going on since mid elementary and the other kids don’t care, they just take it in stride.

[Anonymous]

My B/B twins are best friends with a pair of STB 12 yo B/B twins (rising 6th graders). Their mom periodically takes them to the salon to get mani/pedis. They usually end up with some combination of 1-5 nails per foot/hand painted. Sometimes they get one nail done in color and the rest clear, and so on. No one at school cares. Do what makes your kid happy. (and we and the BFFs are in public schools)

[Anonymous]

My rising 4th grade boy asks me to do his nails when I’m doing mine. Usually every nail ends up a different color. He also has neon colors in his hair and likes to dress like an exploded rainbow, so it’s just an extension of his color loving self.

The only time I’m aware that it has ever been mentioned negatively was by a girl in preschool who said nail polish is only for girls. Since elementary school it hasn’t been an issue, kids seem to roll with it.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate these responses. I wanted to clarify that part of my asking is because I have never told him "nail polish is for girls" or anything along those lines because I think anyone should paint their nails if they wish and didn't see a reason to discourage something he enjoys. I have told him "we have to take it off because of your school dress code" but never attached gender to it. His overall personality is not at all stereotypically girly (if it were, I would be far less inclined to crowd source this) and if new kids assume it is I think that would bother him. So I am trying to get a check on if kids are going to categorize or judge and if I should mention that to him. I am glad to hear so far that its not!

[Anonymous]

Color choice is where the teasing and raised eyebrows start. If it is a new school, he should go without nail polish for a while at first to get a feel for the social climate. He doesn't want to get nick named the nail polish boy on Day 1. Expressing yourself is great and all, but you can't be oblivious to others' reactions -- especially his teachers' reactions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Color choice is where the teasing and raised eyebrows start. If it is a new school, he should go without nail polish for a while at first to get a feel for the social climate. He doesn't want to get nick named the nail polish boy on Day 1. Expressing yourself is great and all, but you can't be oblivious to others' reactions -- especially his teachers' reactions.

This is terrible advice. Please ignore this person.

[Anonymous]

The comments really started picking up harshly in 4th and 5th grade. Lots of name calling. Lots of bullying. Lots of making fun of others. Best to remove it before he gets labeled and rumored about.

[Anonymous]

I'm glad our school's dress code prohibits it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Color choice is where the teasing and raised eyebrows start. If it is a new school, he should go without nail polish for a while at first to get a feel for the social climate. He doesn't want to get nick named the nail polish boy on Day 1. Expressing yourself is great and all, but you can't be oblivious to others' reactions -- especially his teachers' reactions.

This is terrible advice. Please ignore this person.

Why’s that? Should he wear a dress too so you can say it’s normal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Color choice is where the teasing and raised eyebrows start. If it is a new school, he should go without nail polish for a while at first to get a feel for the social climate. He doesn't want to get nick named the nail polish boy on Day 1. Expressing yourself is great and all, but you can't be oblivious to others' reactions -- especially his teachers' reactions.

This is terrible advice. Please ignore this person.

This person has no impulse control or situational awareness. Please ignore this person.

[Anonymous]

I have four kids and two stepkids. Of the kids left in the house, three are girls and one, the youngest, is an elementary school boy. You better believe he's had polished nails for a couple of years now. Between Covid boredom, Harry Styles, and now it's just fun, he has his nails done by a sister more often than not.

[Anonymous]

He's going to be the "new kid" in 3rd grade. OP and some posters do not seem to get this aspect. This is a very different situation than showing up with painted nails to hang out with old friends that he's known for years. Does he know anyone at all at this new school?

[Anonymous]

I have a DD who paints her nails rarely. She has 2 boy friends, one going into 4th one going into 5th, they both wear nail polish to school. It’s usually blue or green. No one has said anything

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Color choice is where the teasing and raised eyebrows start. If it is a new school, he should go without nail polish for a while at first to get a feel for the social climate. He doesn't want to get nick named the nail polish boy on Day 1. Expressing yourself is great and all, but you can't be oblivious to others' reactions -- especially his teachers' reactions.

This is terrible advice. Please ignore this person.

Why’s that? Should he wear a dress too so you can say it’s normal

It's not as if a dress will fly off of you because your father gave you a Y chromosome. Take your ancient views and put them where they belong -- in the past. So glad our culture is putting this gendered-clothing nonsense aside, finally.