Should men have manicures? DJ Sabby, Kat Sinivasan and more weigh in
What was once seen as strictly feminine is today a bold statement of self-expression. Nail art is no longer only for women. Across SA, men are confidently wearing polished nails, challenging outdated gender norms and redefining what masculinity looks like.
Walking into a barber shop with glossy skin and painted nails is not a bold statement, it's a lifestyle. For DJ Sabby and Katleho Sinivasan, two of SA's most stylish media personalities, it's a personal standard. They are not only embracing nail art, they are owning it.
DJ Sabby, real name Sabelo Mtshali, who is known for his energetic voice on Metro FM and charismatic presence on screen, is among a growing number of male public figures challenging stereotypes about masculinity through beauty and grooming trends.
He told TimesLIVE: 'I started doing my nails years back. I was doing clear polish at first and transitioned into art designs. I enjoy expressing myself and having fun with how I look.'
According to DJ Sabby the art designs simply depend on what the week looks like for him, or he scrolls on Pinterest to see what new styles are out there.
DJ Sabby keeps it consistent.
'I normally do my nails every two weeks. It's usually at the same time I cut my hair,' he says.
TV personality and style icon Sinivasan is no stranger to standing out but his confidence in self-expression did not happen overnight. From bi-weekly manicures to black-themed nail art featuring spiders and aces, Sinivasan is unapologetically redefining what masculinity looks like in modern society.
'I've always loved a clean look, and I don't like having crusty hands. Having nicely shaped and clean nails that are polished is an extension of being well-groomed, and I like the look of it. It also ties into the look and feel I go for. I'm very intentional with how I dress, how I smell and my overall grooming.'
For Sinivasan, polished nails are about personal pride, not public approval.
'I think the idea of polish being feminine is one of those things based on some kind of binary that never made sense. We're starting to make more sense of the strict binaries, and it doesn't need to be that deep. Why should body wash be gendered? Why should a polish be gendered?'
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