To me, nothing says “I have my life together” like having perfectly manicured nails.
I have perfectly manicured nails about 5% of the time. But, I think that pretty, put-together detail can be really nice, and really professional.
For the office, I’d stay away from sparkles and anything too bright. These are vacation nails, they are for your vacation.
But I do think you can wear bright and nontraditional shades at work. My advice is to keep your nails short, so a burst of color isn’t overwhelming. (Also, long nails bother me when I type.) And keep them looking good—chips are never classy. You might also think to stay away from extremes. Instead of neon pink, how about bubblegum? Instead of black, why not gray or navy blue? If you want a yellow in the office, make it muted instead of highlighter.
Some of my favorite colors for fall that I own:
From left to right: Essie Vermillionaire, OPI Siberian Nights, OPI No Spain No Gain, Essie Chinchilly, OPI Russian Navy, OPI Pamplona Purple.
Some colors I want to try this fall that I don’t own: Forest green and beige. Once I try these, I will, of course, report back.
Oh also, pro tip: you know that moment of dread when you get the first chip in that manicure you just paid for? Avoid that by taking your own polish to the salon. That way, if it chips, you can touch it up and move on with your day. (my mom taught me that, thanks mom!)
***EDIT: Another pro tip, from my friend Anna! Paint a topcoat of clear coat of polish on each day. That way, when your nails start to chip, it chips the clear instead of the color. Thanks Anna!***
My nails right now? A dark purple, the OPI Siberian Nights (and yeah, they’re chipped). Got a color you love? Tell me at raesdays@gmail.com, on Facebook, or on Twitter!