Elegantly in Charge: Corporate Nail Etiquette

As an image consultant and stylist, I have often been asked about nail etiquette by my clients. It is a very good question however the answer isn't very straightforward as it truly depends on your personal style and brand as well as other factors such as cultural considerations and what type of work environment or office culture you are in.

If you are an artist, for example, the options will be vastly different than if you are a lawyer. A lawyer may choose to have an understated nail to avoid attracting attention whereas an artist may choose to express themselves and their art through nail color and style.

That being said there are a few tips that I will give to make sure your manicure helps you to be the best version of yourself in the workplace.

#1 - Always have clean and well-manicured nails.

Manicured doesn't mean that your nails need to be polished. However, your nails should be clean, well-trimmed, filed, and in a state that they do not bring attention to the fact that they are - undone. This is important as it is a facet of basic hygiene in the corporate world. My tip for this is to keep a manicure kit in your bag so that you can always excuse yourself to manage it in private. This brings me to tip number two.

#2 - Never manicure your nails in public.

Unless it is an immediate emergency, such as you caught a nail on something or hurt yourself in any way, avoid manicuring your nails in public. This goes for filing, clipping, and especially painting them.  The sounds and smells of manicuring your nails can trigger others, so it is best to do these activities in private.

#3- Keep a bottle of polish handy.

If you have a polish, keep a bottle handy so that you can perform touch-ups (in private in a well-ventilated area where others will not be bothered).

#4 - When in doubt, keep it neutral or ask.

If you are unsure what the appropriate nail etiquette is, it is best to stick with a short, neutral nail. Anything that matches and compliments your skin tone will do just fine. It is also wholly professional to ask your manager, a coworker, or the human resources department what the policy on nail etiquette is. This scenario will provide concrete answers to your questions and leave out any room for error.

I hope that these tips are helpful to you on your journey to elegance in the workplace. I answered this question during an Instagram live, which I have clipped and linked here for you to watch.