If you ask me, nothing says “I have my sh*t together” quite like a fresh manicure. Having my nails done always boosts my confidence, which is why I was inclined to believe in the red nail theory when I came across it on TikTok. TikTok user Robyn Delmonte explained in a viral video that wearing red nail polish attracts more men. And ever since then, endless women have shared their experience, claiming that their polish did, in fact, make them more desirable to potential suitors.
This got me thinking: Could the red nail theory also apply to women in relationships? After all, if red nails make you more alluring to prospective partners, it stands to reason they can also make you more enticing to someone you’ve already locked down, too. Right? To put this to the test, I applied red polish to my nails to see if the color would entice my partner to initiate sex more. Ahead, I’m sharing what happened. But first, we’ll get into the logic behind the red nail theory before I give you my honest thoughts on whether the red nail theory actually works.
What’s the logic behind the red nail theory work?
The red nail theory might seem like nothing more than an internet fad, but there’s actually solid logic behind it. “When we were growing up, women had red nails a lot,” Delmonte said in her video about the theory. “And I weirdly think guys are attracted to red nails because it reminds them of their moms when they were taking care of them.”
If you think about it, this makes sense. Red nails were super popular in the 90s and early 2000s, and we tend to gravitate toward romantic partners who remind us of the adult figures that were in our lives during childhood. We do this because something about them feels familiar and comfortable. So if a man grew up around women who wore red nail polish, he’ll likely find the shade appealing. Plus, psychologists have found that men are innately attracted to the color red and women who are wearing it. This is hardly surprising, especially since red’s the shade society commonly associates with passion, love, and sexuality.
What happened when I tried the red nail theory
To test the theory myself, I strategically gave myself a red manicure for a low-key, cozy date night with my husband. The plan that evening was to grab a drink or two at a restaurant overlooking the ocean, then head back home to watch a movie and cook dinner together. I figured this ample one-on-one time would let me fully test the red nail theory and see if red nails enticed my partner to initiate sex.
At first, it seemed like the experiment was working in my favor. My husband not only complimented my nails while we were out but also made more appreciative glances in my direction than normal. I attributed the latter to the manicure since I hadn’t done my hair and makeup differently, nor was I wearing an outfit he hadn’t seen before. It felt like something sexual was brewing, and I assumed my husband would try to jump by bones as soon as we walked through the door. So, imagine my surprise when the opposite happened: He beelined to the couch and plopped down on it to watch a movie like we’d planned. And because physical touch is his love language, I couldn’t gauge whether he was more affectionate than normal during the movie and the remainder of the evening. Unsurprisingly, I felt defeated when I went to bed that night.
“When I was wearing red nails, my husband got creative with initiating sex, offering me massages, and inviting me to take a shower with him.”
I’d all but forgotten about my red nails when I woke up the next morning until my husband, yet again, said he liked the polish as I was sipping my morning coffee. Then, he shocked me by initiating sex slightly after noon—something he rarely does because he prefers having sex in the early evening or at night. What’s more, the attraction didn’t stop there. We had sex again later that day, and subsequently got it on the following three days after he got home from work.
Obviously, having sex regularly isn’t a groundbreaking feat. But what made this unique for us is that my husband became bolder in his approach. Normally, he’ll ask me if I want to have sex or playfully hug and kiss me to see how I respond whenever he’s in the mood. When I was wearing red nails, though, my husband got creative with initiating sex, offering me massages, and inviting me to take a shower with him.
So, does the red nail theory work?
Despite my success with the red nail theory, I have mixed feelings about its validity. On the one hand, red is a statement color that’s meant to grab your attention, meaning a red manicure capturing the eyes of admirers is not out of the realm of possibility. Plus, when I asked, my husband couldn’t articulate exactly what prompted him to initiate sex earlier and more boldly. This suggests he was subconsciously drawn toward the color, which tracks with the psychologists’ findings I mentioned earlier.
On the other hand, assuming every male out there is automatically attracted to red nails is naive. Yes, there’s evidence that the color elicits feelings of desire in men, but attraction is subjective. Plus, red isn’t everyone’s color. While you can absolutely find a shade of red that suits your skin tone and undertone, we all have certain colors that make us naturally stand out. Orange is one of those colors for me, so who is to say whether my husband would find me more desirable or feel inclined to initiate sex more with an orange manicure, too? Similarly, one woman shared that rocking a red manicure boosted her confidence, and she found herself seeking out and talking to more people as a result. There are so many factors that play into this theory, which make its validity hard to decipher.
Based on the above and my personal experience, it seems as though the red nail theory isn’t universally applicable. Red might cause a spark of attraction, but what draws two people goes beyond superficial color. When it comes down to it, I believe that feeling confident and fully comfortable with who you are naturally lures people in. If that means wearing a red manicure, great! But if that means wearing a pink, orange, or blue manicure, that’s fine, too. At the end of the day, the right person will come your way regardless of what nail color you’re wearing.
Arianna Reardon, Contributing Writer
Arianna is a freelance writer and journalist, and the self-proclaimed hot and dirty martini queen. At The Everygirl, Arianna uses her authenticity and relatability to empower, inspire, and motivate women everywhere. Whether she’s writing about sex and relationships, career and finance, beauty and fashion, wellness, or home and living, Arianna’s passion shines through in all her work.
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