Scientists found out which manicure makes a person the most desirable partner

A new study has found that nail length and color affect how others evaluate a person's physical attractiveness and romantic desirability. Survey participants found medium-length nails and white nail polish most attractive, while long nails and dark shades received lower ratings. The results were published in the scientific journal EvoS Journal: Evolutionary Studies and Higher Education.

The authors note that the nail care industry is worth billions of dollars, yet there is surprisingly little psychological research on how specific nail characteristics influence social perception. An evolutionary approach suggests that grooming functions as a nonverbal signal — it communicates health, hygiene, and investment in one's appearance.

The survey involved 342 adults with an average age of 30. Women made up the majority — 214 participants. Participants viewed digital illustrations of hands with identical skin tone and shape so that only the nails varied. First, they evaluated three lengths — short, medium, and long — then four nail polish colors — red, white, black, and blue. Each image was rated on an eight-point scale for physical attractiveness, cuteness, sexual attractiveness, and desirability as a partner for a date, a romantic relationship, or marriage.

Medium-length nails consistently received the highest ratings: 5.10 out of 7 for physical attractiveness compared to 3.20 for short and 2.50 for long nails. They also led in cuteness (4.80), sexual attractiveness (4.30), and partner desirability (4.20). Long nails received the lowest scores across all categories.

White nail polish turned out to be the most attractive color: 4.60 for physical attractiveness and 4.70 for sexual attractiveness. Red polish scored 3.80, blue — 2.50, and black — 2.30. The researchers did not expect red to rank lower than white, since in the color theory literature it is often described as a signal of attractiveness.

The study used digital illustrations rather than photographs of real hands, which makes it possible to isolate specific features but does not fully reflect reactions in real-life interactions.

The authors also emphasize that the effects are modest, and the results do not mean that any one color or nail length is objectively better — they merely show that aesthetic details can influence perception in certain social contexts.