We call it like we see it—in 2025, the notion of a man sporting a full set of painted, embellished digits is far from brow-raising. In fact if we are to get pedantic about it, male celebrity manicures have been a mainstay amongst a specific subset since the ‘70s. See: rock and roll icons in the vein of David Bowie and Kurt Cobain, as well as notable figures within the pop-punk space such as Pete Wentz and Gerard Way. And if recent happenings are anything to go by, its appeal is far from limited to a specific musical genre. A$AP Rocky, for one, stated in an interview with Vogue US in 2019 that “men should be able to do nail art without feeling feminine.” This was followed by the launch of Pleasing in 2021, a venture by Harry Styles which kicked off with a series of polishes in hues of electric blue, pastel pink, and more. Not forgetting, of course, the Hollywood circuit, with bigwigs such as Jared Leto, Ben Platt, and Billy Porter gracing the red carpet with varnished nails.
All of this to say that there is no time like the present to try out a fresh new set of talons. For the maximalist at heart, look to South Korean rapper G-Dragon who displays a preference for intricate nail art set against bright, Skittle-inspired shades. The8 from K-Pop boy band, Seventeen, on the other hand, prefers a more graphic take, while Machine Gun Kelly opts for fun detailing with a checkerboard design. See our full curation of the most stellar male celebrity manicures, below.
1 / 8
G-Dragon
Take a leaf from G-Dragon’s book and usher in the summer season with nails that truly pop. For added dimension, incorporate zany touches in the form of animal prints, polka dots, and the like.
2 / 8
Win Metawin
It’s safe to say that G-Dragon isn’t the only one with summer-inspired nails on their agenda. Thai actor, Win Metawin, shows off a more pastel iteration that makes for a striking statement.
3 / 8
Dokyeom from Seventeen
Spicing up a neutral manicure is made easy when 3D elements are in play. Dokyeom from Seventeen opts for gauzy, amoeba-like structures for the band’s most recent comeback.
4 / 8
Machine Gun Kelly
Nothing tempers stark red nails quite like a hint of monochrome. Machine Gun Kelly presents a fun and contemporary take with a checkerboard pattern that feels like a homage to the punk and emo wave.
5 / 8
Billy Porter
You can’t go wrong with a classic black hue—Billy Porter is living proof.
6 / 8
Yoshi from Treasure
In this case, imperfection is key. Yoshi from Treasure amps up the grunge factor by ensuring that no single nail is painted the same way.
7 / 8
Mark Tuan from GOT7
Get those head turnings by amalgamating all your favourite metallics into a single nail set. Mark Tuan from GOT7 keeps ensures it doesn’t appear OTT by limiting these hues to the smallest details—think borders, singular lines down the middle, and gems.
8 / 8
The8 from Seventeen
Minimalists are sure to adore this intriguing twist on chipped, gritty nail polish. The8 from Seventeen takes it a step further by incorporating his stage name within the assortment.
