At first glance, the pink polish and playful designs might seem like just another cute couple trend. But for a
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At first glance, the pink polish and playful designs might seem like just another cute couple trend. But for a growing number of men in Columbus, matching manicures with their girlfriends is turning into something much deeper — a public show of affection, solidarity, and evolving masculinity.
A recent viral photo posted on Facebook captured a couple showing off their strikingly coordinated nails. Her extra-long acrylics boast frog art, smiley faces, and hearts. His short nails mirror the color palette and designs with understated charm.
“I used to clown my cousin for going to the nail shop with his girl,” admitted Deonte Wells, 30, a native of Midtown Columbus. “But when my girl asked me to try it once, I did — and lowkey, I liked the vibe. The massage chair, the convo, the bonding — it ain’t just for women no more.”
Local salons are taking notice. Local nail tech Jaslyn Turner says she now frequently books couples almost every week. “It’s become a date idea — not a joke. The guys come in shy, but by the end, they’re picking polish and cracking up with their partners.”
Not everyone is on board, though.
“I ain’t doing all that,” said Tyrone Mason, 42, a delivery driver from South Columbus. “I’ll wait in the car. That’s her thing. I’ll hold her purse, but I’m not painting my fingers. I draw the line at pedicures.”
Still, some younger men say the backlash is more about perception than preference.
“Columbus got a lot of old-school mentalities,” said Isaiah Moore, 24, a CSU student. “But honestly, what’s more masculine than showing up for your woman? My girl likes frogs — now I got frogs on my pinky. And it’s fire.”
Darnell Brooks, 35, a Midtown Columbus resident, said it’s about setting a new example. “I’ve got a daughter. I want her to see that real men support their women — even in pink.”
Laila Harden, a psychology major at Columbus State University,urges that these small acts challenge traditional Black masculinity narratives in the South. “When a Black man steps into a nail salon — a historically feminine space — and proudly participates, he’s rejecting outdated ideas that say tenderness is weakness,” she said.
And it’s not just about romance. For some, it’s pure fun.
“My homeboy and I both got pandas on our ring fingers after a bet,” laughed Jerome King, 27, a Columbus native. “Now folks ask who did our nails more than who won the game.”
Whether it’s for love, laughs, or a luxe experience, men in Columbus are slowly but surely redefining the manicure — one design at a time.
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