Got some nail polish from the grocery store today

[Kassie]

I popped into the grocery store earlier this afternoon to pick up some milk & bread, and on my way to the dairy I noticed some nail polish on sale. Before I go any further, you must know that I'm not out yet. I dress discretely/privately, and sometimes paint my toenails because nobody else can see them. My day-to-day look is relatively masculine as I have a shaved head and long beard. Anyway, I head to the checkout with my little bottle of bright blue nail polish and the girl at the register (who is most likely still in high school) asks somewhat jokingly if I'm painting my nails. Tongue in cheek I reply, "Yeah, I thought the color looked good" and waved my fingers half-jokingly.

I was hoping for a little chuckle or banter back but I got nothing, so I felt a little awkward after that. Still, it felt kind of nice to be asked and answer somewhat honestly lol!

[Pat]

Cool. Each step moves you forward. ;) Congratulations.

[Dana44]

That is cool,.yeah she probably didn't now how to answer that one. I have my toes painted and they are orange now.

[Lindajane]

Nice. Thats some funny stuff right there no offense of course, just got a much needed giggle from this

[Lana Mae]

Little steps! My toenails are a pretty red right now! I think you may have startled her! LOL Hugs Lana Mae

[AmyVanessa]

That's pretty awesome, hope you enjoy that polish.
Welcome to the forum, Kassie.

[ronda]

sometimes they just don't know how to answer they ask a question and got an answer they were not ready for so they stand there dumbfounded I have fun when that happens

[Tracii G]

One of many small steps Kassie no need to worry.
I do find it amazing how guys think the world is going to end if they buy an item like nail polish and that the whole world will notice.
I have been buying nail polish for years to do minor touch up on guitar finishes.
Its perfect because its lacquer and will fill dings and chips easily.
I would say I have 75 bottles of nail color at any one time.

[Beverley Sims]

Nail polish features in a lot of male garages as it is good for filling just as Tracii has said.

Makes a good sealant and adhesive also.

[Teresa]

Kassie,
The problem comes when you are wearing it and forget to take any remover with you ! I had a teal colour on and wanted to swim in drab in the hotel pool, OK I got some looks and a nice comment from the gym superviser , a word of warning it was a Rimmel brand and boy did it stain !

[mechamoose]

People say less about nail polish in boy mode than you might expect.

If it gets to be something you want regularly, you should check out a beauty supply store. The class of polishes there will give you much better results. (OPI, China Glaze and Nubar are my go-to brands)

Have fun with color!

- MM

[StephanieM]

I buy makeup, nail polish, and pantyhose fairly regularly in man mode. Haven't had a single comment yet.

[Jaylyn]

I get mine from A place called Drug Emporium. They have many brands and have never blinked an eye when I check out. Actually they have a great selection of lipsticks also. I have used it not just for nails but for auto scratches that are small and you don't want to take the time to buff the scratch out and repaint.

[Invisible Emily]

Congrats on the little things! For the longest time I had similar fears. I used to paint my toenails because like you no one could see them so it was okay. I was terrified of buying polish though, at least in a store. I became a little more courageous over time and found most cashiers don't even ask about it, especially if you are buying other things.

[*ROXY*]

I remember the first time I bought nail polish from a superdrug store, was very nervous, sally hanson and a clear coat. I was only wearing in private. Now 12 months on I'm at work with long shaped pink gel nails.
Now I get complements on them from the hairdressers I go to, the staff at ASDA when shopping and I love it. They often complain mine are better than theirs lol.
It gets easier every time you do it. Just treat it like it's a loaf of bread. You're a customer and that's all that ultimately matters to them.

[rachael.davis]

a word of warning it was a Rimmel brand and boy did it stain !

If you don't base coat Rimmel you had better love the color

[Tina_gm]

Shaved head and a long beard, so she's not thinking it is for YOU, just teasing you about buying the polish for a wife girlfriend, daughter.... and maybe was hoping it was for a daughter.... So then you said yes, and did a girly wave, she really didn't know how to respond to that. Now there's nothing wrong with any of this, and I have gone to a store and come out with ONLY nail polish, and not had any words spoken other than "that will be 5.99, would you like a bag?"

[sometimes_miss]

I do find it amazing how guys think the world is going to end if they buy an item like nail polish and that the whole world will notice.
It's not that the whole world will notice, it's that I went through enough humiliation as a kid, that I simply don't ever want to go through it again, nor have to argue about things if I don't have to. Some people love confrontation and arguing; which is fine, I have no problem with that. But I reserve the right to NOT get involved in arguments and debates if I don't want to. No being out simplifies my life greatly.

FWIW, as others have mentioned, if questioned, it's just easier to come up with some other excuse; I'm sure it won't be the first. Me, I bring a model train with me and tell them I want some paint that will match some part of it. Once I found out that nail polish comes in thousands of colors, and it's pretty much easier to just ask the girl at the counter to help me find a match rather than try to mix real model paints in order to touch up something.

[Tama]

Lexi, it's kind of interesting you put it that way. I too had my fair share of humiliation in my younger years, and I also believe that those feelings are extra hard on people such as you and I. When they do happen, they bring on emotions that are just too uncomfortable so, we avoid many situations that could bring that about. As much as I may test the water now and then for the most part, I mostly don't.
I know in another part of my brain that most of this may not be fully rational but, the scars that remain from years ago just remind me of what could/may/might be. Often that can be enough to not take it too far.

[Tracii G]

We have all been humiliated growing up and even in adult life.
I have had my share and guess what happened? Nothing
I learned just not to worry about it and take an I don't care attitude. If someone tries to humiliate you just brush it off and act like its nothing, don't give them the satisfaction.

[DIANEF]

Welcome Kassie. I used to buy stuff 'for my wife', now I just pick it up and pay, sometimes you get a comment, usually good natured, most times nothing. Just as an aside, I used to make model aircraft, a particular airliner needed an odd metallic finish, it recommended using thinned down nail polish.

[Tina_gm]

With exception to very few SA's, they really don't care if it's for you or not. I remember back in my denial days, when I really was truly just buying for a wife or GF, and I was making the usual preface of WIFE, or GF, as if the SA was going to call the TG police on me if I didn't make the preface. And in the very beginning when I waived the pink flag on denial, I was just as paranoid. Or I would make sure to buy a whole bunch of stuff, guy stuff to obscure the nail polish or whatever. One day I went in and bought nail polish, a file set and some remover, and that was all I bought. And.... they didn't care. They have never cared. Other customers are likely to care far more than an SA will. They see several hundred customers a week, and have seen it all. You will not be the 1st CDer they encounter, not by a long shot unless they have a trainee badge. When it comes to making purchases, unless you are trying on shoes or dresses while in guy mode, but just making a cosmetic or similar type of purchase, there really is no need to get weird about it, make stories up or preface who its for. They don't care, and probably are less likely to believe you if you are adamant it's not for you anyway.

[StephanieM]

I've also found that acting like shopping for girly things is no big deal then it won't be a big deal for anyone else either.

[redtea]

You're so lucky xD I have done public shopping lots of times and not once has anything remotely close to this situation occur.

[Ashley090]

Haha, good job! I belive lots of us started to get things by this way. Your next step is go to some specialised store ;) And don't mind SAs. Some will be nice, some will give you weird looks. Eh, who cares. In your case, she probably not expect that you will answer yes :D

[Jenny22]

Nail polish can be used in place of expensive paint on models, too, ya know. hint, hint