What looks incomprehensible and strange always raises many questions in us. For example, some people have the habit of growing long nails on their little fingers. For what purpose are they doing this? Why do you have a long nail on your little finger? It's rare to get to the bottom of this and find the answer to this question. A strange tradition involving a long nail on the little finger is taking root not only among some women, but also in men’s circles, which causes some bewilderment. After all, a girl with a long manicure will not surprise anyone now; on the contrary, a woman’s long nails are very beautiful and stylish, which is why nail extensions have become such a popular service. But a man with an elongated nail on his little finger is a rather strange phenomenon. Well, let’s try together to find the answer to the question of why some people needed to grow a long nail on their little finger.
The birth of fashion
The tradition of growing a nail on the little finger dates back to the distant 17th century, it came from England.
At that time, this was considered convenient for instantly opening letters. There was no need to look for a special knife. This fashion was also in France in the 17th-18th centuries. The nail helped to navigate the French etiquette of that period. Often he helped his owner get to the place he needed, talking about his belonging to the elite. Back then, knocking on a door was indecent, and scratching it with a fingernail was not only within the bounds of reason, but was also considered preferable.
Sometimes you can come across the opinion that in Europe, as well as in Russia in the 19th and early 20th centuries, an elongated nail on the little finger was an identification mark for those with an alternative sexual orientation. This supposedly simplified communication within the community. This stereotype still exists, but no evidence has been found for it. And if such a “fashion” existed among homosexuals, then these were private, not mass cases.
For the residents of Thailand, to this day, regrown and well-groomed plates are a symbol of belonging to the highest labor elite. Well-groomed and long nails in combination with white skin indicate that their owner does not work in agriculture or harvesting rice. Since he can have neat plates, it means that he is engaged in mental activity, working in an office. But European fashion has not bypassed the Thais either, and therefore men cannot grow long nails, so they stop at one. This can be any nail, but most often it is the little finger, because it can least of all interfere with a person who is not accustomed to a long manicure.
Fashion, the desire to stand out
No matter how many logical and rational reasons there are to grow a nail on your little finger - from playing the guitar to picking your nose, in most cases the influence of fashion and the desire to somehow stand out from the crowd are to blame. You can make many assumptions about what the nail on the little finger means, and guess which secret organization its outstanding owner belongs to. But the fact is that the practical significance of this exotic accessory is a thing of the past.
Today, the desire to be different makes people do strange and illogical things. There is no clear answer to the question of why men grow nails on their little fingers. Only a few of those who have such a feature derive practical benefit from it. For the majority, this is just a fashion accessory that gives the owner the illusion of their own uniqueness.
Interesting facts: why do men grow nails on their little fingers?
Surely you have met men with long nails on their little fingers. These men could be of very different ages and social status, but they were clearly united by a very unusual manicure. What does this striking detail mean? Why do men grow their pinky nail? This nuance can be interpreted in completely different ways. Let's look at the main reasons why people grew their nails at different times.
First of all, a prominent nail on the little finger is considered a distinctive detail by which one can recognize a person belonging to the Masonic lodge. The Freemasons are a secret society that arose in Europe in the 17th century. The organization is based on general moral and ethical principles, originating in monotheistic religions (mainly Christianity). The Masonic society fully corresponds to the image that appears in the mind when hearing the phrase “secret organization”: it is known for its closedness and a whole set of various rules and rituals. Why men grow a nail on their little finger in order to thus show that they belong to the Freemasons is not entirely clear, but this explanation of the detail we are considering is very common.
Let's fast forward to the 18th century. At this time, an elongated nail was considered a sign that a man belonged to the intelligentsia. But why do they grow the nail on the little finger?
representatives of this social stratum? Mainly for purely utilitarian purposes. With the help of a long nail, mail envelopes were opened: a letter opener was not always at hand, and in general, hardly anyone would carry it with them. In addition, in France there was a curious rule of etiquette: before entering a room, you should not knock on the door, but scratch your nails.
In the 20th century, the tradition of growing a nail on the little finger passed from intellectuals to representatives of the criminal world. For example, here is a fairly well-known fact that is often recalled when trying to explain why men grow a nail on their little finger: in the 70s and 80s, drug dealers and their clients measured out doses of bulk drugs (mostly cocaine) in this way. This measure was called “nail”, that is, “nail”. Card sharpers used a long fingernail to quietly place the desired card into the deck when shuffling. Perhaps the image of Ostap Bender will make you remember another answer to the question “Why do men grow a nail on their little finger?”: this detail was found among burglars. You can use your fingernail to pick simple locks, and Bender knew this well.
An extended pinky nail may be necessary for professional convenience. Drivers, for example, use their fingernails to curl ribbons that display information about the progress of the train. This detail is becoming more and more common among programmers and system administrators - a fingernail can be used instead of a stylus, and it is convenient for them to press buttons.
Why do guys grow their pinky nails nowadays? Most likely, there is no symbolism behind this, and someone simply considered the long nail a stylish and interesting detail. But you never know for sure. Take a closer look: what if there is some secret meaning hidden behind the long nail of that unfamiliar man?
A sharp nail as a substitute for a paper knife
It is always interesting to learn about the traditions of other peoples. In the 17th century, French and English nobles began to massively grow their nails on their little fingers. At that time, letters were sealed with sealing wax and a sharp, strong nail could easily open such a seal if a paper cutter was not at hand. But it was not often there, because the time was turbulent - either a war, or another mess, and somewhere on a campaign no one remembered about the knife, but the nail was always in place.
Will you say that the nobles had swords? Of course, they were, however, it is inconvenient to use a sword - it must first be removed from its sheath, and if a stranger is nearby, he may think that this is an attack. But using your fingernail to open a letter is very simple and safe.
Aristocrats preferred to grow a nail on their left little finger, because they held a weapon with their right. This fashion among high society continued until the 20th century, until glue was invented, which made opening a letter as easy as shelling pears. By the way, commoners did not grow such nails for two reasons: they rarely received letters and they had to work with their hands, so long nails quickly broke.
By the way, according to V. Veresaev, he immediately recognized Pushkin as a Freemason when he noticed the length of his nails, since they also had the custom of growing the nail on the little finger. Indeed, Masons grew their nails both as a secret sign and for quickly opening letters with a wax seal.
Criminal traditions
In the 20th century, this feature meant that a man was dealing with the criminal world.
Previously, rings were worn on the little fingers, but now fashion has switched to growing a nail on it. It symbolized that the person belongs to the elite among people in prison. They did not bear heavy physical loads, did not do menial work, but only supervised. The attribute was also used for theft by tearing packages or bags made of thin material. In some areas such activities are still practiced. It is especially often used during robberies in transport during rush hour. It is convenient to have such a tool, since your hands remain free and the criminal does not attract attention.
In the 1970s, drug users in the US and other countries had a long pinky fingernail for easy use of the drug cocaine. These people poured the substance onto the plate, and thereby could calculate the optimal dosage of the substance. It was also convenient to use when playing cards. Fraudsters used their advantage to prevent the cards from sticking together. And the famous hero of the works of I. Ilf and E. Petrov Ostap Bender used a fingernail to open locks.
Cocaine addiction
Unfortunately, a tube twisted from a hundred dollar bill is popular only with the screenwriters of films about the life of a mafioso. And ordinary people use improvised means to snort the forbidden powder. Yes, at least with the help of a long nail on the little finger. Let's hope that the guys we meet with long nails actually just forgot to get their nails done on time, and drugs have nothing to do with it. By the way, those girls who get nail extensions can confirm that using a long nail on the little finger is convenient for salting dishes. Although, let’s not forget that it’s better to do this while no one is watching.
Let's summarize
So, putting together everything that we managed to find out, let’s summarize and make a list of everything why some men grow their nail on their little finger:
- Reach into hard-to-reach places in your body (ear, nose, between teeth, scratch your neck, etc.).
- Help in work: you can pry something, hook it, pick it up, separate it, etc.
- A sign of identification among “friends”. Determination of belonging to a particular circle of people.
- Superstition.
- A dubious, but still aesthetic purpose.
- Habit, copying the behavior of others.
The tradition of men growing long nails on their little fingers has existed for a long time. There are several versions according to which men did this before and still do it today.
According to historical information, 17th century French etiquette recommended that men wear a long nail on their little finger. At that time, knocking on the door was considered bad manners; standards of decency required scratching it with a fingernail.
Aristocrats of the 18th century grew a long nail on the little finger of their left hand for a purely utilitarian purpose - they used to open letters when there was no knife at hand for this purpose. And on the left hand because, as a rule, the sword was held in the right hand. The tradition of printing out correspondence with the long nail of the little finger lasted quite a long time - until letters began to be sealed with glue rather than sealing wax, i.e. until the beginning of the 20th century.
Pinky nail for cocaine
Some sources claim that a long nail on the little finger is a necessary attribute and distinctive feature of members of the Masonic fraternity. A.S. also wore a long nail on his little finger. Pushkin, historians report that at night he put a special cover on it so as not to break it.
Later in the bohemian environment it was used to dose cocaine. Among the lovers of this “magic powder” there were many extraordinary personalities, and the fashion for long nails was adopted in imitation of them, not knowing about its true purpose.
In the 70-80s of the 20th century, American drug addicts grew a long nail on their little finger, from which they snorted cocaine. Dealers also used the same nail, and even a unique measure of weight arose - nail.
Men with pinky nails in the criminal world
People from the criminal world grew a long nail on their little finger, emphasizing the fundamental refusal of physical labor and any work in general. It’s long, so there can be no talk of honest earnings - only crime.
Card sharpers deftly used the long nail on their little finger when shuffling cards, putting special marks on them, because card games used to be widespread in all strata of society.
Teenage imitation
Many boys from courtyard companies grew long nails on their little fingers, imitating adults or older comrades in order to look more authoritative in the eyes of their peers. The tradition born in childhood remained in adulthood.
Today, some men wear their little finger, believing that this way they look original. For some, it is a sign of style when, among nine fingers with short-cut nails, one stands out, so different from the others.
And some are sure that a long nail is convenient to use, for example, as a handy screwdriver, to unscrew or tighten a small bolt. Each man with a long nail on his little finger may have his own explanation.
Each person's nail shape is individual. But if a woman’s long nails are a natural phenomenon, then the nail on a man’s little finger is not entirely normal. What forces the strong half of humanity to decorate their powerful hand with such a “stylish thing”. There is no clear answer to this question. There are many official versions, each of which has a right to exist.
So, why do men grow their pinky nail? Let's go back a little into history. After all, men grew their fingernails back in ancient times. With a similar “tool” they opened letters, which were the only means of communication with the outside world.
In ancient China, the length of the nail on the little finger determined the “caste” affiliation. The longer the nail, the more noble the person. Such decoration among thieves indicated that its owner, as a matter of principle, did not intend to engage in any physical work, especially hard work. In the seventies in America, pinky nails were more common among drug addicts, who used them as a kind of device for snorting cocaine. And card sharpers made marks on the cards with a long fingernail and shuffled the deck.
In addition, many creative people also had a nail on their little finger. For example, Alexander Pushkin wore a gold case on it. But in the Middle Ages it was considered bad manners to knock on the door with your fist. It was permissible to scratch with a nail and this indicated compliance with the standards of decency.
From the history of manicure for the stronger sex
Fashion is changeable and fickle. Moreover, fashion is not only for clothes, but also for jewelry, hair, nails, and cosmetics. Thus, in the early Middle Ages, bald men were considered marked by God. They say that it is easier for divine providence to reach through the bare top of the head. And in ancient times, long hair was a sign of power and wisdom. I wonder why men are going bald today?
Same with manicure. There have been many eras in history when a man left a long little finger:
1. In the seventeenth century, the French nobility deliberately left the length on the little fingers. Court etiquette ordered to delicately scratch the door before entering the chambers of a beautiful lady.
2. Russian aristocrats of the eighteenth century left a nail on the most unnecessary finger for opening letters. The remaining fingers were needed to hold a sword or other weapon. Therefore, a long manicure on them could get in the way.
3. In the nineteenth century, it was a sign of membership in the Masonic order.
4. Twentieth century. United States of America (mostly). The long nail on the smallest finger was needed by drug addicts and drug dealers. So they took the right dosage. Many young boys simply imitated, without really delving into the essence of this tradition. Today, Americans have a rather negative attitude towards the length of the little finger of a man's hand. This is understandable.
5. Forgot to trim everything and card sharpers. Intentionally, to fraudulently separate cards. Fraudsters used the marigold as a bookmark.
6. This is an invariable attribute of the thief in law’s manicure. This is how the criminal demonstrated his complete refusal to do physical work.
Long plates on other fingers also had purely practical applications. For example, they helped us play the guitar. And they served Ostap Bender as a kind of master key. How are things today? Why do men have long little fingers? Girls don't really like it. Moreover, it is disgusting. Because the associations that arise are not the most pleasant. But men sacrifice their masculine attractiveness. For what?
What is the purpose of the nail on the smallest finger of the hand?
1. To pick your nose, scratch or clean your ear. Let’s immediately warn against any “fu-fu-fu”. What is natural is not ugly. It is unlikely that a well-mannered man will perform these actions on a first date or at a banquet on the occasion of his boss’s birthday.
2. To remove pieces of food stuck in your teeth when you don’t have a toothpick at hand. This is definitely not worth doing. Both indecent and unhygienic.
3. To clean the rest of the nails, remove the crust from the navel, sores, and pieces of burnt skin.
4. To play the guitar well, pick up bolts, screws, nuts and other small elements in laptops, phones, keyboards and the like.
5. To make it more convenient to count money and separate stuck together bills. Using a fingernail for these purposes is much more practical than periodically slobbering on your fingers.
6. To make notes on wallpaper, walls or linoleum during repairs.
Some men do it “just because.” For some, slightly longer nails on all fingers are an integral part of their style. Imagine a thin young man with delicate features, long hair and graceful hands. A slightly long manicure will only complement this look. It is clear that it must be perfect. Dirt does little to decorate.
Some men just don't like stubby fingers. Moreover, these are people with normal orientation. They want to take care of their nails and do periodic hygienic manicures. Let's stop the scoffers right away. We are talking about a length of two to three millimeters, and not about centimeter claws. Why can't a man take care of himself?!
So, men, grow your nails. Whichever you prefer. Just remember to keep them clean and maintain an attractive appearance.
Mysticism
The long nail on one little finger of a man is important in Asia. In China, this feature is often found among the male population. There is a belief that when the plate grows, everyone in the family will be healthy and rich. The Chinese take very active care of it, filing it down and giving it various baths. Previously, it was even believed that if a nail breaks, the death of a loved one could soon follow.
Muslims have other beliefs in the field of mysticism. And they believe that it is the long nail on the little finger that scares away evil spirits. However, most religious branches abandon this tradition, as it, according to some, goes against some quotations from the Koran.
Long nails also exist among people from aviation. This happened because the little finger with a long nail was a symbol of faith in good luck, a kind of amulet. The famous pilot Maresyev introduced this fashion because the nail, in fact, saved his life. With this “tool” he got food for himself, cut his own stilts, and made parachute lines. By the way, this famous attribute is on display in the museum.
In addition, those men who grow a nail on their little finger are sometimes Freemasons. Freemasons are followers of a unique religious and scientific organization with a long history. A long attribute for followers of this teaching is a badge of distinction that facilitates their communication in society. Although this sign is not the only one, and therefore is not found among all adherents of the teaching.
Why is the fashion for growing long nails common among the Chinese, Armenians and Muslims?
Those who visited the Celestial Empire often saw men with long fingernails. Taxi drivers, workers, sellers and loaders, builders - everyone wears this dubious decoration. Why?
A couple of centuries ago, when China was ruled by imperial dynasties, society was clearly divided into castes: the rich nobility and the poor population. While the poor worked hard in the rice fields, on construction sites, in vegetable gardens and served the needs of the authorities, the rich Chinese did not work and wore long nails simply for the sake of beauty and to show their status. It is clear that the poor could not grow their nails because they were engaged in hard and dirty work.
In China, physiognomy, palmistry and other pseudosciences about man and his personality are well developed. According to local customs, those people whose little finger is longer than their index finger have good karma and live well. Therefore, those who are unlucky by nature to have a long “lucky” little finger compensate for this deficiency by growing their nails.
By the way, with a long, strong nail you can tighten screws, type text on your phone’s virtual keyboard, and even scratch yourself if you want.
In China, they believe in the magical properties of the nail on the little finger. According to popular beliefs, it attracts good luck and money. If the head of the family has such a nail, then his loved ones will never be in need. If a nail breaks, it portends various illnesses and misfortunes. Therefore, men protect their nails from damage.
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The Chinese are sure that such a nail on the little finger attracts beautiful Chinese women and if a guy has such a decoration, he will not be left alone.
Representatives of the Armenian people also have a tradition of growing a pancake nail on their little finger. This is the distinctive mark of the youngest son in the family.
Muslims have a long nail - protection from evil spirits and harmful influences. The longer the nail, the better. If a nail breaks, it means Allah is sending a sign that you need to change your life and show more piety.
Frivolous sociological research
Now let's have a little fun! Since the topic of our discussion seriously “hooked” the author of this opus, it was decided to conduct some kind of sociological survey and ask public opinion on this topic; for this purpose, a number of men of different ages were interviewed. Here's what the top 5 most popular answers looked like:
- “I grow the nail on my little finger because it is very convenient to clean dirt from other nails.”
- “I honestly admit that with the help of this “attribute” it’s very convenient for me to pick my nose and get the bugs out of it. It’s also not uncommon for me to use my fingernail to remove excess earwax or food stuck between my teeth.”
- “I use it to peel off the crusts from wounds, the skin if I’m burned.”
- “I use it to clean the crusts that form in my navel.”
- “I have no idea why this is necessary. I used to grow it for the simple reason that my dad had such a nail. He was an authority for me, and I wanted to be like him. Now it has become a habit and does not carry any functional load. It’s just that without it I feel discomfort and I feel uncomfortable, as if I’m missing something!”
These are the most popular answers. But there were others that captured the imagination. Among the respondents, there were jewelers who unanimously stated that long nails on the thumb and index finger help them in their work and are used instead of tweezers. It’s not that there is a terrible shortage of tweezers, it’s just that picking up small links or pebbles with your nails is much more convenient and faster. There were also people who claimed that a fingernail was needed to operate a telephone, some of whom had modern touch-screen devices, while others had old-style ones with buttons.
In a word, there were a great many versions. To summarize, we can summarize that a long nail on one of the fingers is most likely a way of self-expression, an attempt to stand out from the crowd, or just a habit. There is no need to look for some special meaning in this, since it simply does not exist and cannot exist. This is just an “accessory” that everyone interprets personally for themselves, and therefore finding the true reason for such an extraordinary solution is a task that only specialist psychologists can do, but it doesn’t seem that interesting to them either!
Another conclusion that the author of this study was able to draw is that people who grow long nails on their little fingers or other fingers have nothing to do with sexual minorities, as some skeptics claim, do not belong to the Satanic church, as others believe, and are not even representatives one of the youth subcultures. These are ordinary people who have found some kind of attractiveness in this activity and are sensitive to such an unusual “hobby”. However, every person in a democratic state has the right to self-expression and the realization of creative potential. So everyone expresses it as best they can! We can only come to terms with the fact that there are “men with long nails.” Don't be afraid of them, they are just like us.
Professional traditions
But why do men grow their pinky nails now? Male hairdressers do this quite often. This helps in work when you need to separate a thin strand, highlight a curl, or correct a parting. It is also convenient for them to hold the strands when cutting their lower layer or thinning.
A strong half of humanity grows a nail on their little finger for convenient counting of money that has stuck together. That’s why it can often be seen among bank employees. This was especially popular before the advent of money counting machines, but has survived to this day.
Musicians also often grow one on their little finger. This is most often done by those who play stringed instruments, particularly the guitar. The nail on the little finger or thumb can act as a mediator.
During industrialization, when steam locomotives became widespread, an assistant driver might have a long nail on his little finger. He needed it to tighten the tape on which the operating data of the train was displayed. Also, for quite a long time, growing a plate was popular among fishermen who set up nets. He helped quickly weave the net.
Another reason for men to grow their pinky nails is fashion. This fashion is actively propagated by rock musicians. For example, Marilyn Manson and Ozzy Osbourne were often seen with this attribute of originality. In addition, various “vampire sagas” that were actively produced in the early 2010s introduced a fashion for long nails in general, and on little fingers in particular.
The long nail on the little finger has long become a role model for guys from yard companies
With the advent of the 20th century, a long nail on the little finger became a sign that a person belonged to the world of crime. A prisoner with a grown nail on his little finger is an authoritative person. After all, the top criminals never worked in prison, and therefore these people had a very comfortable lifestyle, so out of nothing to do, they took care of their nails and grew them as long as they wanted.
When the 70s of the 20th century began, the American youth world was mired in drug addiction. Young people have adopted the habit of snorting cocaine from their fingernails. There was even a new measure of weight called “Nail”. The measurement is always with you - this is both convenience and secrecy, and the dose, here it is - the nail of the little finger.
The long nail on the little finger was also “to the taste” of the “katals”, that is, those who cheated while playing cards. A card sharper, performing a fraudulent withdrawal (“volt”), used his fingernail to make a bookmark, separating the cards.
Which of the members of the courtyard company had ever seen a long nail on an older comrade, began to grow the same one in himself, in order to resemble his older comrades as much as possible. This is still practiced today in yard companies.
Why do American drug addicts need long nails?
In the 70s, drug use flourished in America and most of the dealers were black, because they were almost not hired for regular jobs, and they had to live on something. They grew a long nail, a “shovel,” and snorted cocaine from it. This measure of the drug was called “nail”.
This fashion was picked up by American and then European bohemia: musicians, theater artists, film actors and those who moved in this environment. With a long fingernail it was convenient to grab the required amount of drug from the “track” and use it for its intended purpose.
Some lyrics
The list of possible reasons for growing nails on the little finger is endless. After all, there is no limit to human imagination, as well as to perfection. By the way, in European countries they are quite tolerant of such “stylish things”. Strange as it may seem, many people believe that the nail on the little finger can bring good luck.
Long nails still look more logical on women's hands. And if the presence of a single nail is observed on the little finger, then he is simply “lucky”, since the nails on this finger are stronger and break less often than others.
As for men, their desire to have a distinctive feature from others is quite understandable. Not everyone can boast of phenomenal intelligence, a muscular figure and other advantages. But growing a nail on the little finger is an achievable goal, easily realized, and does not require additional financial and physical costs.
This “nuance” can be an elementary tribute to fashion and a sign of uniqueness and aristocracy. Of course, everyone has the right to make a decision for themselves whether to grow a nail or not. It doesn’t matter at all whether we are talking about the right hand or the left.
Playing guitar
One of my friends told me that when he was interested in playing the guitar, he always lost his picks, so he decided to grow his nail on his thumb. I don’t know what his girlfriend’s opinion was about this, and what successes he achieved in the musical field, but I think it would be better if he learned not to lose the necessary things or, in extreme cases, used other improvised means for playing the guitar, and not his nails. Moreover, the pick does not take up much space, fits easily in a wallet and can even be cut out from an ordinary unnecessary bank card.
Life Facts
It was all in the past. But why do men grow the nail on their little finger today? Let's try to list all the possible options for this event.
- It is believed that the nail on the little finger is very beautiful and stylish, especially if the hands are well-groomed.
- A certain category of men uses a long nail as a kind of screwdriver, which is always at hand. Agree, it’s very convenient and completely free.
- Some individuals use the nail on their little finger as a tool for (forgive my bluntness!) picking their nose. We are not talking about aesthetics in this case.
- A long nail is the calling card of a drug addict. The marigold acts as a tool for mixing the snuff portion. Even if a man hides his passions, his nail may well give him away if he is unable to provide any other explanation.
- Gambling gamblers grow a nail on the little finger of their left hand for the convenience of carrying out fraud during the game.
- Young people, imitating the older generation, also grow nails on their small fingers. They believe that this way they look more authoritative among their peers.
- Those who like to play the guitar use their fingernail as an assistant. It is easier to pick up the string with your fingernail and less painful. Almost all professionals have an overgrown nail, which makes it easier to play in especially difficult positions.
- For many men with a prison background, a long nail on the little finger emphasizes “eliteness.” This indicates that in the zone he did not do dirty, dusty, hard work, but was a “local” authority.
- Many computer technicians use a long fingernail to clean the keyboard or mouse from any dirt that has formed.
- The nail on the little finger can be a sign of Freemasonry. This attribute has always been a calling card and a distinctive feature of a member of the fraternity.
- In hairdressing, the nail serves as an auxiliary tool, for example, in the process of styling hair. People of art and creativity decorate their fingers in this way. This is a unique way of self-expression.
