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The power of polish: Effects of nail length and color on perceptions of attractiveness
Abstract
Nail adornments, including nail length and color, represent a common form of cosmetic grooming, yet little empirical research has examined how these features influence perceptions of attractiveness. The present study investigated whether variations in nail length and color affect judgments of physical attractiveness and partner desirability. Participants (N = 342) viewed images of hands displaying different nail lengths (short, medium, long) and nail colors (red, white, black, blue) and rated them on several dimensions including physical attractiveness, cuteness, sexual attractiveness, and partner desirability. Results indicated that medium-length nails were rated significantly higher than short and long nails across several attractivenessrelated measures. Nail color also influenced ratings, with white nails receiving the highest evaluations for physical attractiveness and sexual appeal, while black and blue nails were rated lowest overall. Demographic variables such as participant race and sexual orientation were associated with differences in nail preferences. These findings suggest that subtle cosmetic features such as nail length and color may contribute to perceptions of attractiveness and social desirability. The study contributes to the growing literature on grooming and appearance-based cues in interpersonal perception.
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Metadata
- Authors
- DeMichele, S., & Wade, T. J.
- Venue
- EvoS Journal
- Published
- 2026
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- Sp.Issue1
- Pages
- 121-129
- ISSN
- 1944-1932
- Cited by
- 0
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