If you work in a conservative office setting, what are the dos and don’ts when it comes to “corporate nails”? (ARE there any rules at this point?) Color? Shape? Length? Bedazzling? Do tell…
We’ve talked a lot about nails over the years, including work-appropriate nails, the best nail polish colors for interviews, how to look polished with naked nails, the best treatments for healthy nails, and what colors are appropriate for conservative offices. Inspired by a conversation with a partner at her firm, Kat’s also rounded up what to look for in a nail salon near your office.
Corporate Nails: Dos and Don’ts
For my $.02, I think the rules are much, much more relaxed than they used to be. When we first polled the readers about this approximately one million years ago (in 2009 or 2010), 26% of those who answered said only “nude, clear, pink, and beige” were appropriate, and another 31% said “any solid color, provided there are no chips.” Only 1% chose the “anything goes — bring on the patterns and sparkles” option!
That said, I still think there are some “don’ts…”
Don’t have nails that are so long or unwieldy that they interfere with your job. If you have problems typing, for example, your nails probably aren’t appropriate.
Don’t let your nails look unhealthy. If they’re peeling, splitting, suffering from some kind of fungus or other affliction, then you need to address the problem(s). I know that when people try to stop gel nail color they may find that their natural nails are incredibly weak. We’ve talked a lot about healthy nail treatments, but it’s best to see your doctor about the best options to get your nails back to a healthy state.
Don’t let your nail polish get chipped or otherwise rundown. This may be a “me” problem; I absolutely cannot STAND the sight of any chipped nail polish on my own fingers, which is one of the reasons I almost never get a manicure. I would even say that keeping a bottle of polish to slap on to cover a chip is better than just leaving the chipped polish alone. (Btw, over at CorporetteMoms, Ann recently recommended a “smudge fix” product.)
Don’t forget that your nails ultimately speak to your judgment in the corporate world, like everything else about your appearance. If your job involves a lot of heavy situations and subjects, having cute, twee little nails may seem a bit off. (For example, the brightly colored nails in the stock photo at top might be great if you’re doing pro bono work for a Pride-related organization, but less appropriate if you’re, say, prosecuting a murder trial or helping a client maneuver through a PR disaster like an environmental spill or something.)
Readers, what are your thoughts on corporate nails? What length do you like to keep your nails? What shape and color are your favorites to wear to work?
Our Latest Favorite Nail Colors for a Corporate Dress Code
These are some of our favorite nail colors for interviews: Essie’s Ballet Slippers, Mademoiselle, Sugar Daddy, and the more purpley Lady Like; Essie’s gel Fairy Tailor, and OPI’s Bubble Bath. CLASSIC! Two slightly fancier options readers love: Dior Nail Glow and kur’s Londontown Illuminating Nail Concealer.
Essie Mademoiselle
Essie Ballet Slippers
Essie Sugar Daddy
Essie (Gel) Fairy Tailor
Great Treatments for Healthy Nails
Looking for healthy nail treatments? Readers love Burt’s Bees lemon butter cuticle cream, CND Solar Nail & Cuticle Cream, OPI Nail Envy, Deborah Lippmann’s The Cure Ultra Nourishing Cuticle Repair Cream, Lush Lemony Flutter, Dior Creme Abricot, and Sally Hansen’s cuticle massage creme.
Stock photo via Stencil.
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