The appearance of hands and nails is far from a trivial matter for the French. This is according to a study conducted by the Flashs Institute for the Swiss laboratory Poderm Professional.
The survey was conducted from March 6 to 9, 2026, among 2,000 French men and women aged 18 and older.
A critical eye
More than 6 in 10 French people say that hands are among the first things they notice about someone. And when they see damaged, yellowed, or ridged nails, their interpretation is rarely neutral. More than 1 in 2 French people first see this as a lack of care or hygiene.
Conversely, more than 4 in 10 see it as the result of external factors, such as intensive manual labor or a health issue.
81% of men believe that unkempt hands or nails give a woman an unkempt appearance. Women are less critical of men: 71% of them share this view of men.
A well-established practice, modest budgets
More than 8 in 10 women say they apply nail polish or get a manicure, at least occasionally.
The practice declines with age but remains common across all generations, ranging from 84% among 18- to 24-year-olds to 73% among those over 65.
Nearly 1 in 4 women say they wore nail polish for the first time before the age of 10. “Exposure to manicures therefore …
