Men should get pedicures too

As summer approaches, men should get pedicures | Courtesy Hammer and Nail Grooming

Men are known for so many great things. They’ve built nations, invented light bulbs, and created smart cars. They’re vital figures of family and necessary members of society. They are not known for their impeccable hygiene. 

The “pill” this, “IUD” that. We’re missing the most obvious, most effective, and least invasive form of birth control: men’s unkempt feet. 

Sweaters are out and spaghetti straps are in. As our wardrobes switch from 15 layers to one, it’s important to remember the etiquette of proper outside apparel. People tell women to cover everything from their legs to their shoulders. Let’s talk about men’s feet. 

A lot of products marketed toward men claim to do many things at once. Where women’s products are split into individual razor blades or different shampoos for each strand of hair, men’s products are practically 13-in-1. Body wash, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, cologne, aftershave: all in one.

If men seek to minimize the number of products they use on their bodies daily, they skip over their feet entirely. Most salons and beauty shops do not market their services to men, nor do most guys like strangers touching their feet. While women might be given dictionary-length descriptions of every service imaginable for their feet, a lot of men might not even know what a pedicure really is. Pedicures usually entail a foot soak, nail care, dead skin removal, and a balm. They help maintain the appearance of feet while also limiting any sort of fungal buildup that contributes to the ugliness and odor that feet are typically associated with. After months of being trapped inside sneakers and boots, tightly wound by socks, a pedicure is a service to those around you almost more than it is to yourself. 

Take a walk through the student union as the warmer months approach and you’ll be sure to see at least one pair of bare feet on AJ’s hardwood. A public area in which men’s ungroomed feet are on full display is not one I want to exist in. 

Reducing the stigma around men taking care of themselves, all the way down to their feet, is vital to our progression as a society. Taking basic care of your body so that it is not a threat to public safety or sanity shouldn’t be taboo. 

As the weather warms up and the pheromones spike, encourage your male friends to go get a pedicure, and maybe introduce them to a pumice stone.