How to Get Nail Art for Work

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Keaton Valadez

In just three short weeks, I will see you, the nail artist, in the office! If you’ll forgive me, I am super excited about the new year! I can’t wait to get to know you better, and for me, that means seeing each other’s work every day! But I’m not so sure you’re going to agree. Between planning out your next manicure (and prepping my Nails Inc. new product skin-care line, too), I’m finding it harder and harder to get things done. Nail art means taking on a different mindset, but working around others’ messy at-home nails takes even more planning. Here’s what I’ve learned — in no particular order.

Don’t Overdo It

At some point, the nail art will come off. I’m no expert, but I’ve tried. You really need to save your best colors for when you are in the office, because the trick is to do it right when you’re at home. Before I go to the salon, I take a lot of pictures (so I can be very sure I am getting the right colors for the job), and I am sure to remember each nail in the look. I will go to my nail artist right after I have seen myself in the mirror, and I’ll even explain my look to them. Take a lot of pictures of the creation.

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Know Your Style

I know that the term “nail art” is vague, and you may have trouble defining your own style. Don’t be afraid to ask your nail artist. One thing we all have in common is that we love color and that is, at the very least, what the latest trends are. From a manicure or pedicure standpoint, there are a lot of different ways to play with nail colors, so talk to your artist about what suits you and how you like to wear your nails. I love old-school looks, like gel nail art, painted nails, and cuticle wall designs. I definitely see many similarities with nail art and skin-care product launches, so let your nail artist help find the product style that’s right for you!

Get Permission

After you have a great, new manicure that you like, stick it out for a couple days. You may have noticed that a lot of people keep their polish on for too long. This doesn’t mean that the polish is ruddy and that you need to take it off right away, just that you need to give it a few days before cleaning it off with nail polish remover. I would like to know if you like a more peachy or kente-inspired pout, so make sure that your manicurist understands your style before painting your nails. I have learned from many clients that their color is out of place after the week or so has passed, so I ask them to try and fix it by applying more polish. One of my clients discovered this after a few days when her manicure was starting to peel off from the weather, so it’s worth a shot!

Have a Plan

I never like making nail art plans all at once. Instead, make your order for the week. It can be a single client, or a team. Make sure that you don’t leave one person to show up with dirty nails, since you won’t have time to touch them up. Make sure that you take proper measurements, so your design won’t slip off. And don’t forget to tell your artist when your nails will be super rough, because it’s amazing how quickly your nails can fall off if they’re really brittle.

Make Sure it Works Out

I have found that it’s usually the best way to test a manicure. You can have a new nail color and leave it on your nails for a couple days and see if it will wear right, or you can take it off and give it a good cleaning. It all depends on how you take care of it, but let it go and live with it for the week and see if you like your new look.