Should Men wear Make-Up?

Beauty and grooming, like all things pertaining to vanity in this life, are rarely about “should” and “should not,” modals designed to instill shame or duty (or both).

Some individuals still think it's improper for men to use cosmetics. And yes, unfortunately some are even going so far as considering it feminine or being suggestive of homosexuality. But you shouldn't let other people's feelings dictate what you want to do, just like you wouldn't deal with individuals who don't agree with your dressing style.

Times change, styles change. And when it comes to forming an opinion on a particular style, "should" or "should not" is in the eye of the beholder. 

Back in the 70s, many adults where in a moral panic over males with “long hair.” My mother practically freaked out because one of my male high school friends had hair that - gasp! - touched the collar of his shirt! (She had no idea how much longer male hair would become over the next few years.)

Many people were adamant that long hair of any length that even grazed a shirt collar was “only for women.” Never mind hundreds - nay, thousands - of years where men’s hair changed from long to short and back again. They were drawing their line in the sand while the tide was rushing in.

And of course let’s chat about the entire range of jewelry. Like hair and makeup, jewelry for men goes in and out of style. Not too long ago, a man wearing a simple small single earring used to also generate panic. Nowadays, not only earrings, but mostly all forms of body modifications are commonly accepted. 

To answer the question why people wear Make-Up, you would have to ask the individual person why he/she made the particular choice to actually know the answer. In general, anybody, male or female, who makes a choice on anything - personal adornment, hairstyle, clothing, shoes, whether or not to wear a watch or a wedding ring - does so because they like something about that choice: how they look, how they feel, personal preference, practicality, or even the message they wish to send.

A final thought: Many women prefer not to wear makeup, which is perfectly fine as well!

Besides, whether or not women wear makeup has also gone in and out of style as well, as have some very specific makeup options. In 17th and 18th century Europe fake moles - aka “beauty spots” - cut from velvet or taffeta were worn. By the time of Queen Victoria, however, moles - real or artificial - were not only out of fashion but reviled. Makeup gained stern Victorian disapproval: only actresses or prostitutes wore makeup by the moral code of the times. The upper classes valued pale, blemish-free skin, to the point of trying to bleach away freckles or moles.

To sum up, It’s fine if you do or don’t care for makeup on men - your opinions are you own! But if you are open to the use of makeup and cosmetics, we got you covered!