Every year as New Year’s Day approaches talk eventually turns to resolutions. We’ve all heard the phrase “New Year, New You” more than we can stand while being bombarded with ads for gyms, weight loss plans, etc. With all that pressure, no wonder so many people fail before February hits. It’s too much. The only time I’ve kept a resolution is when I quit smoking two years ago. Otherwise, I’m an epic fail.

This year, the only promise I’m making is to my nails. As hard as I try, I’m a slacker when it comes to cuticle care. I probably do more than the average person but certainly not what I should considering how rough I am on my hands. And I really have no excuse. I have a minimum of three cuticle treatments in my purse at all times, not to mention practically every room in my house.

So for 2009, I vow to apply some form of balm, lotion or oil to my cuticles after every hand washing and before bed. To help me keep at it, I’m placing little post-its on mirrors and counters near every sink. I’ll just have to remember to take them down before guests arrive.

Alright, so who’s with me? Anyone want to make a nail resolution for 2009? In need of ideas? Here’s a few…

• Join me in paying more attention to cuticle care
• Promise to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize those hands
• Stop biting, peeling or picking your nails or cuticles
• Grow out or shorten your tips
• Vow not leave the house wearing chipped polish OR learn to deal with leaving the house with chipped polish
• Try a color family you’ve shied away from in the past
• Make a commitment to getting/doing regular manicures and pedicures

The age of the metrosexual has come and gone. The term “ubersexual” has become the way to describe a macho, stylish, well groomed man. Yet even in a time when it’s become acceptable to find shelves full of product in a man’s medicine cabinet, when it comes to male nails, the evolution has come to a standstill.

Yes, there are exceptions to that. I mean, who hasn’t drooled over Dave Navarro (pictured right with Zac Efron) and his black painted nails at some point? But outside the rock world, is nail polish acceptable for a man? I remember the first time I came across a boy wearing any form of nail polish was during my summer break from college. I worked at an amusement park on Lake Erie called Cedar Point. And for those of you not in the know, it’s kind of a Midwest mecca for young gay men. One of my buddies there, who was very “out” and comfortable with himself, wore clear nail polish and while it didn’t totally stand out, it was considered “different” for the time. Since I thought he was a big ball of fabulous, I never really gave it a second thought.

Flash forward to 2007. When one of my male friends found out about my blog and discovered my affection for polish, he jokingly asked me to paint his toes silver. Little did I know, he was serious. In fact, this past summer he borrowed polish from me twice to give himself a pedicure (once while drunk after a long day of wine tasting). Both times he chose dark, grungy “masculine” shades; a gunmetal gray from Sleek UK and Sally Hansen Stormy Blue (pictured left). And while it might not have been his intention to use the polish as a chick magnet, it certainly did get girls talking to him.

Then a few weeks back, Darren Garnick, a reporter for the Boston Herald, contacted me about his experience getting a fish pedicure, wanting my feedback on his choice of polish (pictured left). As I told him for his follow up humor essay, he certainly didn’t half ass it when he chose OPI Osaka-To-Me Orange for his pedicure shade. Not necessarily fall appropriate, he would have been totally “in” this past summer when bright orange was all the rage.

Coincidentally, since hearing from Darren I’ve also received quite a few emails from men that enjoy wearing polish on their toes. The consensus seems to be that for most of those men, they wear the polish only for their mate, not in public. That it’s a bonding thing for them and their partner but that they’d be embarrassed to wear color in public.

So while it’s become perfectly acceptable to see a man getting a manicure or pedicure with no polish, color seems to be taboo. What do you think fanatics? Can men wear lacquer? When is it OK? What guys can pull it off? Does it only work in the rock scene? Can they wear any color or only black and gray? I’m sure there are some lurking male readers that would love to hear your thoughts.

images: AllLacqueredUp.com, WireImage, BostonHerald

I know I’m not the only one. That girl who’s bought a beauty product simply for the name. Yes, NARS Orgasm blush is touted as being universally flattering but, part of you bought it for the risque name. Admit it!

What about nail polish? Are there lacquers you’ve bought just for the name or collection theme, regardless of the color? Between all the crazy, tongue in cheek names from OPI, the female names in the Zoya lineup and the discontinued but much desired Wizard of Ooh Ahz polishes from China Glaze there plenty of options floating around.

I still remember DQ2 posting on the MUA nail board how she wished her name was Manon instead of Melanie because she had bought both colors from Zoya and loved Manon much more than her namesake.

So which polishes have you bought for the name alone? Why? Did you end up loving the color in the end?