Savanna Byles

Red: a timeless color that elicits strong emotions and calls attention. Cool-toned colors like blue, green and purple create a sense of calm and peace, but red is loud and powerful. Its two connotations almost directly contradict one another depending on the context. When I think of the color red, I think of love, passion and desire. At the same time, red can symbolize danger, violence and anger.

The “red nail theory” surfaced across social media — particularly TikTok — in early 2022. Women observed and theorized that when they wore red nail polish, more potential love interests came into their lives. Studies have shown that in Western art and pop culture, men find women more attractive if they wear some shade of red because, to them, red means sensuality and romance. 

Some also believe that a possible explanation for men’s interest in red is that they associate the color with their mothers. While this idea sounds odd at first, most young to middle-aged adult men today had mothers who wore red nail polish frequently in the 80s or 90s, when their sons were growing up. The hypothesis originates from the idea that men like red because they relate the color to their mother’s hands when they were children and their dependence on them.

While some women are die-hard believers in the “red nail theory” and its powers of attraction, skeptics have doubts about the logic. They argue that red is simply more eye-catching than other, more common, nail polish colors. For this reason, men may acknowledge or compliment it more often than if a woman were wearing light pink or nude polish.

Having red nails may increase the amount of male attention a woman gets, but this is not necessarily because of the color of their polish. While red captivates others, it can also inspire positive feelings within the wearer. Red symbolizes power, and many women have stated that wearing the color red ignites boldness and confidence within them. Men may appear enticed by a woman with red nails because she carries herself more confidently.

So, the next time your love life is feeling dull, try painting your nails red: you might surprise yourself.