Why we paint: The new love affair with nail designs and colours

There is something quietly beautiful about sitting in a salon chair, watching a tiny brush dance across your fingernail. A stroke of colour here. A tiny dot there. A flash of gold, a whisper of chrome. The UV lamp hums softly. And by the time you walk out, your hands tell a story your mouth never had to.

Nail art has become more than a beauty trend. It has become a language. And these days, more people are learning to speak it, both women and men, bold and shy, trendy and timeless.

For Rebecca Kaveza, nails are more than fashion accessories. They are confidence boosters that can completely shift her mood.

“When I am bored, I look for something that will make me be confident, so that I get out of the nail parlour happy again,” she says. “The nails can change my bad moods to good.”

Joshua Juma shares a similar love for nail trends, though his experience has also exposed him to criticism.

The young man says he chooses nail designs depending on trends, mood and what inspires him from his peers. One of his favourite looks was black nails with gold at the top, a design he says he would gladly try again.

But when he first started doing his nails, not everyone approved.

“My mom was so angry and even asked if I wanted to be a girl,” he recalls. “Some of my friends teased me, but my girl friends were the ones who gave me confidence with their compliments.”

Their experiences reflect a growing culture where nail art is increasingly becoming a form of self-expression among young people regardless of gender.

Wendy Nyambura says her nail choices are heavily influenced by both mood and trends from social media. Recently, she tried the viral “red nail theory” after discovering it on Pinterest.

“I never tried red before and when I tried it, it looked pretty on my skin colour,” she says. “Through nail art I can express what I truly feel without explaining verbally.”

Ivy Nelima also believes nails have become an extension of personality and creativity.

“Nail art reflects personality, mood and creativity,” she says. “Some people use bold colours and detailed designs to stand out, while others prefer simple styles that show elegance and confidence.”

Nail technician Emmanuel Lugedi says such sentiments are common among many of his clients. Having worked in the nail industry for five years, he has watched nail culture evolve into something much bigger than beauty.

“Nails are like a small canvas,” Lugedi explains. “People express themselves through colours, patterns or even tiny symbols that represent their personality or feelings.”

According to him, trends from social media now influence most customer choices, especially among young people eager to experiment with styles they see online. He says chrome nails, glitter designs, French tips and acrylics are among the most requested styles in salons today.

Still, not everyone is convinced by the growing nail culture.

Ronald Otieno says he has never understood the appeal of nail art, especially for men. Raised in a strict household, he believes grooming should remain simple.

“I am not into doing nails,” he says. “My strict parents will give me a lecture I would not want. Plus, I don’t think it’s my thing.”

Although he says he does not judge his friends who wear nail designs, he still sees it as unnecessary.

“It’s a waste of time and money,” he adds.

Lugedi says such opinions are still common, particularly among older generations who continue associating nail art with women. However, he believes attitudes are gradually changing as more men become comfortable exploring beauty and fashion trends once viewed as feminine.

“Nails aren’t gendered, they’re about self-expression,” he says.

“Trying nail art doesn’t make someone less masculine. It’s just another way to show style and creativity.”

The nail technician says more young men are now walking into salons, often beginning with simple neutral designs or clear polish before becoming more adventurous with styles and colours.

While criticism still exists, he believes confidence and creativity are slowly reshaping perceptions around nail art.

At a time when trends spread with a single scroll on social media, nail art has become more than polished fingertips for many young people. It is confidence, creativity, identity and self-expression painted in colour.

The only question left is, what will you put on your canvas next?