I do gel. 3 weeks is the max I can go. Agree with others that short is best/most professional. I don't think you have to stick to neutrals, but you probably want to avoid anything really bright, glittery, etc. I think OPI Dutch Tulips and Madam President are professional. I also do really deep burgundy and navy.

What do your peers and superiors do with their nails? I work in finance and the more senior women all have well groomed nails that vary between gel manicure and well kept plain nails.

I wear mostly neutrals, because my nails seem to chip quickly. I like Essie ballet slippers. I typically get a regular manicure (gel ruins my nails), apply an extra layer of clear topcoat myself after 3-4 days, and when the nails chip I remove the polish and paint them myself with essie strengthener (which is a sheer pale pink) because the nails and cuticles still look good, and after another 2 weeks I get another manicure. This way I only have to pay for manicures once a month or so.

I’m a fan of neutral, too. Clean, short, and files are the three most important factors to me. I often don’t have polish on, but always try to have those three elements in place. When I do have polish it is Essi Hi Maintenance.

I do regular polish weekly. I don't stick with red/pink, but I skip the neons and super-glittery colors. The big thing is making sure they aren't too long or pointy, and no chips.

Anonymous wrote:I wear DND She’s White? She’s Pink. It’s insanely boring but I have to have boring nails or I find them distracting. I don’t do gel, just regular polish. I typically go to the salon every two weeks to get a full manicure and polish change but do touch ups in between if necessary.

To add, I don’t get gel because I’m a nail biter and picker. I do okay when my nails are perfect but If it chips or lifts it’s game over and I need to be able to remove it ASAP to mitigate damage to my nail due to my neurosis. If regular polish chips I can remove it immediately with acetone. If gel chips it’s a whole production to remove without damage.

I wear DND She’s White? She’s Pink. It’s insanely boring but I have to have boring nails or I find them distracting. I don’t do gel, just regular polish. I typically go to the salon every two weeks to get a full manicure and polish change but do touch ups in between if necessary.

When I don’t know the culture of the setting, I go basic: neutral and round nail.

When I am freer, I make it more festive. I’m going black for Halloween.

I painted nails are also professional as long as they’re clean and nicely shaped.

If you need to keep this going a long time, and don’t want to pay weekly for a salon, try Ohora semi cured gels. They are pretty easy to apply, look good (but opaque, so not “nude” even if it’s a pale pink) and last for a week or more. They’re gel so they cure with a UV lamp but since they’re stickers, they just pop off (get the remover oil and a pack of wooden sticks from Amazon). It’s much, much easier than removing gel polish. Also when they do fail they tend to just pop off completely so then it’s fast to either replace the one that came off or take them all off. I’ve not noticed any damage to my nails and they keep them from breaking.

I don’t like getting manicures regularly and polish never lasts more than a day or two on me, but I really like these stickers.

Muted reds, neutrals and pinks look the most professional.

Of course you should get whatever colors you like— many of us get light or neutral colors because then chipping/ growth is less evident so the manicure “lasts longer.” But the important thing is for your finger nails to look polished (pun intended) at all times. That can mean just a clear coat or a bright color with no big chips.

But no to very long nails or to a pointy shape— I’ve never seen either look professional.

It's DCUM so they're going to tell you that you should only do light pink, nudes or neutrals. BORING...Do what colors you like!

I don’t do gel because I hate the experience of having it filed off.

I’d recommend keeping it fairly neutral, at least to start. French manicures are back in. Or very light pink like OPI “Bubble Bath.”

I'm going to be in front of a lot of people in my new position and need help with classy-looking nails. What kind of manicure do you get- regular polish, gel? What shape? And what's your favorite color to get?

Any recommendations are greatly appreciated!