Guys fuss over toenails, too

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Guys fuss over toenails, too

Gone are the days when beauty accessories were exclusively for women. They’re now for men as well - including fingernail and toenail care.

Men now account for more than 50 percent of the total sales volume of manicure and pedicure products, according to online marketplace Auction yesterday.

Figures from March 1 to 18 show that 57 percent of the total sales of such items were targeted toward men while women only accounted for 43 percent. It was the first time that sales to male customers went over the 50 percent mark. The items included cuticle trimmers and base coat nail polish.

When comparing sales in the same period of last year, sales of manicure and pedicure items to men jumped 135 percent. Sales to women only went up a sliver, 10 percent.

“Sales growth was high especially among working men in their 30s and 40s,” said an official from Auction. “For example, sales jumped 275 percent over the same period among men in their 30s and 85 percent for men in their 40s, which is in contrast to 10 percent sales increase among teens and 20s.”

The official noted that compared with women, men still feel uncomfortable visiting nail salons, but they obviously are caring more about the looks of their hands and feet. The shy option for them is to buy manicure and pedicure products online and do the work on their own.

At Auction, cosmetics for men are also gaining popularity. Over the same period, mask pack sales to men jumped 30 percent while BB cream increased 40 percent. This is in contrast to sales to women, which increased 20 and 25 percent, respectively.

“More men are looking after their appearances and based on that trend, many companies are expanding their research and product development in that segment,” said an industry official.

BY LEE EUN-JOO [angie@joongang.co.kr]



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