Jay Jay Revlon addresses the stigma around male grooming
By Sophie Nutt | 19 November 2020 | Feature, Tech Talk
Back in August 2018, Scratch caught up with the founder of Guys That Nail It, Jay Jay Revlon, about his passion for male self-care. Jay Jay strives to change the stigma around male grooming by normalising the language used and actions taken towards men getting nail treatments.
“I want to change the conversation,” reveals Jay Jay, when I quizzed him about the passion that continues to drive him in all of his projects. A male/masc-oriented service, Guys That Nail It hosts pop-ups and provides a mobile service to offer nail treatments. Encouraging proper nail care, Jay Jay is breaking down the stigma surrounding male grooming one nail at a time. “I mean, we all have nails, don’t we?”
“You don’t say ‘female manicure’ – you just say manicure – so why use the phrase ‘male manicure’?” – Jay Jay Revlon, Guys That Nail It.
A London-based DJ and dancer with a prominence in the LGBTQ+ community, Jay Jay is committed to encouraging more men to take care of their hands and be open about it, not only through offering natural nail care, lacquer, gel polish overlays and nail enhancement services, but also by addressing the social issues surrounding inclusivity.
“The procedure of a nail treatment for a man is the same as that for a woman, so why are there stigmas surrounding a man getting his nails done?” he questions. “You don’t say ‘female manicure’ – you just say manicure – so why use the phrase ‘male manicure’?” Jay Jay hopes to break down these barriers surrounding male grooming by taking a laid back approach to the language of his service. “When I want to get my nails done, I just say, ‘can you sort my nails out?‘ and that’s how it should be.”
Picturing the future of Guys That Nail It, Jay Jay visualises an inclusive space with no room for discomfort or judgement. “Creating a space for men that’s normal, is the goal. I want to see football on one TV screen and RuPaul’s Drag Race on another. I want a DJ; I want a bar where people can have a beer. I want it to have a pub-style vibe.
Jay Jay Revlon, founder of Guys That Nail It
“My goal is to make self-care more accessible for everyone. I do women’s nails also; as a nail tech, I wouldn’t turn anybody away, but I’ve built Guys That Nail It for the purpose of encouraging more men to get into nail care,” explains Jay Jay.
Explaining what makes him so passionate about the nail industry, Jay Jay talks about the opportunities that Guys That Nail It has opened up not only for himself, but others that have finally found their space. “I received a message from a mum who says I’m her son’s hero because he likes to wear nail polish but feels too embarrassed – he’s only eight years old. When she emailed me, it brought tears to my eyes because I don’t think I fully understood the scale of what I’m doing. I still don’t think I understand the impact that Guys That Nail It is having.”