Will red nails help you attract a partner? Here's what experts think (2024)

If you’re stuck in a romantic rut, you may want to try painting your nails red.

At least that is what some TikTok users are attempting in an effort to enhance their love lives.

The “red nail theory,” a term coined by TikTok creator Robyn Delmonte, aka @GirlBossTown, has become a viral sensation. The idea is simple: If you wear red nail polish, you're more likely to receive attention from potential suitors.

In her video, Delmonte said that every time she has red nails, a guy comments on the color. She was confused at first — until it hit her.

“In the ’90s when we were growing up, women had red nails a lot, especially like our moms,” she said in the video. “And I weirdly think guys are attracted to red nails because it reminds them of their moms when they were growing up taking care of them.”

As a result, the hashtag, #rednailtheory, has amassed over 164 million views on TikTok with the majority of users claiming there's truth to the theory.

Take TikTok user @melissevmartineau, for example. In a TikTok video, she said she has been asked out on five or six because of her red nails.

"I have never been asked out on so many dates or complimented as much as I have been in the past two or three weeks with these nails," she said.

Since the trend has gone viral, Trenna Seney, a celebrity nail artist who goes by @lovetrenna on TikTok, has seen an increase in clients requesting red nails — and she says they often return with success stories.

“I have clients that have come back after two or three weeks and tell me ‘Oh my god, I got so much attention’ or ‘People would come up to me and just start talking to me,’ or ‘I was at the bar and this guy started talking to me,’” she tells TODAY.com. “So I was just like, it’s real.”

So, will red nails actually lead to love? TODAY.com went straight to the experts to see how Delmonte's theory holds up.

Is the 'red nail theory' real?

Yes, according to psychologists, color experts and, well, science.

Red nails can be a magnet to attract male attention, but not necessarily for the reason the theory espouses.

When it comes to men associating red nails with female figures from their past, it is really dependent on previous individual experiences, Adam Pazda, assistant professor of psychology at the University of South Carolina, tells TODAY.com.

“Certainly you could see red nails or any color in any context and if you had experience with that it could remind you of that,” he says. “But I don’t know if that’s something that a lot of people share.”

The idea that red nails conjure up memories of their mother also sounds reasonable to Carla Marie Manly, clinical psychologist and author of "Date Smart: Transform Your Relationships and Love Fearlessly."

“If a male has a matriarchal figure where there was a great deal of power, and the woman did tend to wear red, it can absolutely be associated with a mother’s energy or a grandmother’s energy,” she tells TODAY.com.

But she also points out that many people associate mothers with pure colors like shades of white, pinks or blues, not red.

Experts do, however, universally agree that red has a powerful effect on men. A 2008 study of 27 men with a median age of 20 found that men consider women wearing red more attractive and sexually desirable. The same study found men are more willing to ask women out on a date and pay more during that date when they wear red.

This likely stems from our deep roots in associating red with romance, sexuality and passion.

“When we go back historically and look at the significance of the color red, go way back in time you see that red was often seen as a color of passion, of course it’s the color of blood, so it evokes that sense of ‘I will give anything for you. I will do anything to prove myself whether it is to a country or to a woman,'" Manly says.

Significance aside, it's still a hue with a hook, according to Amy Wax, color consultant and creator of the Color911 app.

“I see it as a physical stimulant," she tells TODAY.com. "I think it’s something that is invigorating. It’s exciting to us. It speeds up our heartbeat. It captures our attention and it grabs it."

And this phenomenon is not just limited to male attention. Wax clarifies that red is an attractor for all people, no matter how they identify.

"I think it has more to do with if you’re looking at a crowded social environment or a bar or whatever and there’s one guy who’s wearing this really beautiful, deep, rich, elegant red sweater, it’s going to grab your attention a little bit," she says. "You’re going to say ‘that’s a person that’s confident, that’s a person that knows himself, knows his emotions, has a sense of power to him.’”

Is the allure of red nails a self-fulfilling prophecy?

Turns out scoring dates may not be the only reason to get a fiery manicure.

“People choose to make their fingernails red when they are trying to make this certain impression,” Sally Augustin, environmental design psychologist, tells TODAY.com. “And then they start to act in a different way and it becomes like a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

Choosing red is a bold statement — in more ways than one. “You’re in a space where you’re looking to be noticed, to stand out a little bit in the crowd, so you’re not the same as everybody else," Wax says.

Generally speaking, Manly adds that women also tend to feel more confident when they take the time to invest in their self-care and appearance.

“I think if you’re wearing red and you feel confident and powerful in red, you will definitely emanate a more attractive and maybe even provocative energy,” Manly says.

But if you're not the type to normally get your nails done or typically opt for a more subtle shade, Manly encourages you to be your genuine self.

“As long as you feel at ease in your skin and you’re projecting the message that you really want to give and it makes you feel good about who you are, then sky's the limit."

More ways to bring love into your life

This article was originally published on TODAY.com

Will red nails help you attract a partner? Here's what experts think (2024)

FAQs

Will red nails help you attract a partner? Here's what experts think? ›

Is the 'red nail theory' real? Yes, according to psychologists, color experts and, well, science. Red nails can be a magnet to attract male attention, but not necessarily for the reason the theory espouses.

Do red nails attract love? ›

A man may associate the color red with the time in his life when there was a woman who took care of him, tended to his every need and loved him unconditionally. For this reason, a man might be more drawn to a woman if he sees she has red fingernails.

Does the red nail theory really work? ›

“I think that the red nail theory is a real thing because psychologically, we associate red with passion, love, and power,” says Hanna. “While it's not necessarily scientifically proven that red nails are attractive, it often makes you appear more confident and alluring.”

What nail color attracts love? ›

Red is associated with strong emotions, strength, power, courage, and danger. Red nails are a clear signal a woman is ready to attract a partner.”

What is the red nail theory of luck? ›

To put it shortly, the red nail theory suggests that if you wear red nail polish, you're more likely to get attention or have nice things happen to you.

What nail color turns guys on? ›

Nail design: Men like these colors

In a representative survey, the German Paint Institute found that men generally likeblue , but also likegray , black and brown . Both sexes like green about equally, while women are more likely to like red ,yellow ,beige and orange .

What nails do men find most attractive? ›

Red Nails Theory is a theory that suggests that men are more likely to be attracted to women with red nails. The theory has been backed up by research, which shows that men find women with red nails more attractive than those with any other color nails.

Are men attracted to red nails? ›

Experts do, however, universally agree that red has a powerful effect on men. A 2008 study of 27 men with a median age of 20 found that men consider women wearing red more attractive and sexually desirable.

What nail color is most confident? ›

Deep red nails are the ideal choice for important occasions or when you want to make a striking impact since they create a statement look and radiate confidence and elegance.

Are red nails out of style? ›

Classic and Timeless

Red nail polish has been a staple in the beauty industry for decades, and for good reason. It's a classic color that never goes out of style.

What color stimulates love? ›

Red: love, passion, anger

Red is one of the most intense, stimulating colors that raises a room's energy. Muted shades can pique feelings of love, passion, and sensuality, while bright hues may trigger anger, strength, and power.

What color makes you fall in love? ›

Red. The colour most commonly associated with love, it makes sense to have this one up top. From blushed cheeks and ruby lips to love-hearts and roses, red is a fiery colour that conjures up feelings of passion and intensity.

What color represents pure love? ›

Pink flowers signify pure love or innocent love and are also associated with perfect love. Like the red colors, the deeper the pink, the more powerful the message. For example, a deep purple flower represents passionate, eternal love.

What does "red nails" mean in a relationship? ›

The “red nail theory,” a term coined by TikTok creator Robyn Delmonte, aka @GirlBossTown, has become a viral sensation. The idea is simple: If you wear red nail polish, you're more likely to receive attention from potential suitors.

What nail color attracts money? ›

Gold is the most powerful color if you are thinking of attracting affluence, fame, and wealth.

What does your nail color say about your relationship status? ›

White nails symbolize purity, clarity, and new beginnings.

White nails can be used to signal your relationship status, just like red and light blue nails can. According to TikTok users, white nail polish means that you're single and open to dating someone.

Does wearing red attract guys? ›

This flushed complexion seems to give males the signal that it's time to make their move. The same could be true for humans, Pazda says. In a previous study, scientists showed that men seem to be more attracted to women clothed in red rather than in a blah color such as white.

Do guys find painted nails attractive? ›

But not always! Since nail polish is a mark of femininity, most men will find women more attractive if they wear nail polish. However, most men are turned off by: fake nails, paste-on nails, extreme nail art, extremely long nails, sharp nails, or even square nails.

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