Do you know what the manicure business is? And that it applies to men too? What should your nails look like if you're aiming higher, and why not forget about your feet?
What is a manicure, today almost everyone knows. However, many people imagine only colorful creations and long claws. No, that's not really all it's about.
Everyone has their own tastes, and if long sharp neon nails are what make you happy and make you feel complex and good, that's great - this shouldn't be shaming. However, it's important to remember that nail care means a much wider range of options.
Nails and work
If you go to a mechanic hoping for help with your engine, it will probably be suspicious if he has perfectly dainty hands with long, intact nails. How is it possible he hasn't broken them off yet? How does he do it? These are questions many potential customers would be asking themselves, at least in their minds.
Although we at LUI are the last ones to pigeonhole, you probably won't find too many mechanics who have been operating with perfectly painted nails five inches long for a long time, and if you do, please contact us for an interview. Anyway - hands are just part of the job. It's true.
Would you also pause to wonder about the dirt behind the nails of a doctor about to operate on you?
How about the ragged cuticles, bitten off tips and bloody welts on the hands of a massage therapist? Sure, it's none of our business, but we're not going to feel too comfortable in his drops of blood and saliva, are we?
Business and manicure
If you're in a position where you think that everyone could care less what kind of nails you have, you're wrong. Did you arrive at an important interview in a beautiful suit or a new jacket and patent shoes? Great, you sure look good! But you may have noticed the raised eyebrows of the recruiter you shook hands with with your nails bitten off. You might even make her nervous by tapping the desk with two crooked nails, one long, one broken and one short. She may not even have the courage to look at her thumb anymore.
Isn't that excessive?
Well, maybe it is. But maybe not. Look at your hands. They say everyone should dress and groom themselves according to where they're going. You want to be a sales rep? A promoter? Are you interested in finance or maybe you want to deliver food in a high-end restaurant? Your plans are none of our business. Or your desires. But we do on our hands. And they make a lot of impression.
What does the manicure business look like?
First of all, neat. That's the word. No one's forcing you into a French manicure or even polish per se. No. It's about knowing how to present your hands. Because a hiring manager, or even a client, might well say when they see you that anyone who doesn't take care of their fingertips is hardly going to take care of the business. And will therefore prefer someone else.
In general, it is advisable to have your nails trimmed to the same length (ideally not too long), choose a clear polish or muted shades, and above all achieve a healthy, manicured look. This also applies to men!
What should business nails look like?
Feel free to get creative, just say... more carefully. A good choice would be:
- classic red on medium-length nails,
- French classics - even with an elegant colour change on short to medium nails,
- skin tones or white,
- bright pastels,
- glitter in earthy tones,
- rhinestones (to a lesser extent and tastefully),
- ombre (matching colours)
- or perhaps alternating matching colours (ideally without neon variations).
You can also go for black nails or choose another dark colour, but beware of peeling and it's better not to go for long-haired options. The same goes for the little ones. They are not forbidden, but you need to pay attention to them. Simply: the more striking the colours or patterns, the more careful you are with perfection to maintain elegance.
Does this also apply to men?
Can a man have nice hands too? Is that like a serious question? Moving on...
I don't like nail polish or long nails
It's okay. No need. Just get a professional cuticle trim, heal the wounds, and file down what's sharp. And if not professionally, at least do it the hard way. This is a basic for everyone - not just men who like to stick to the classics and don't want to go for a polish. Even women can benefit from taking care of their nails in this basic way. The rest is, shall we say, optional.
What are all the gadgets in the kit for?
Have you bought a manicure/pedicure kit and you recognise more or less only the file and scissors? At least something. Take it positively and start using at least that. There is a lot of advice and recommendations out there, however the most important thing is probably to find what works for you.
Some people's nails fray with scissors and then wonder what's going on. Is that right? Use a pair of nail clippers or a file, for example. File hurts? File in one direction only. Are your nails peeling? Massage in a nail oil or at least a nourishing cream. Is your cuticles growing back? Yes, that's what those very sharp nail clippers are for. Gently push the cuticles back with another tool - a metal or wooden stick. And then trim it very carefully. Are your hands shaking and you don't feel like doing it? A pro can do it for sure!
In short, notice what's happening to your nails and adapt to it. They won't adapt to you. They're busy enough as it is - they're on your fingertips. And we often put them where we shouldn't.
I want to express myself!
It's okay, too. If you crave colourful nails, like glitter and rhinestones and long versions of fake nails, enjoy them. But think about the work you're doing. Some places you won't get away with it for sure - especially where hygiene is an issue. And some places it's a bit on the edge. Of course, we shouldn't have to conform our appearance to the opinions of others, so if you insist on your nails, even if they're not exactly on point in your job, just pick the right job for it. The main thing is satisfaction.
Someone once told me (and I'd love to remember who) that how we dress for a meeting reflects not only how much we value ourselves, but also who we're meeting. That's why you don't wear sweatpants and take a shower on a date. At least, that's what I naively hope. And the same principle applies to nails.
In this regard, I recommend an interview with actor Antonín Procházka, who went through testicular cancer, published some time ago. I remember well when he told me how he realized that he had neglected himself for a long time. He said, "I realized one day that I had an incredibly productive month, I made a lot of money, but I forgot to cut my toenails. You're already signaling to your body that you don't care about it. That it doesn't come first. And that's wrong." Did that resonate with you, too? Very much with me.
How are your legs?
Pedicure is a word we all know, too, but not everyone participates in the process. We don't show our feet that often, so a lot of people neglect them. But that's not very sensible.
The handy ones can keep their feet nice and tidy themselves. Those who don't have the desire or the talent, go to specialists. And those who don't... Oh, yeah. I hope you don't suffer the consequences of thinking about one thing every second of every day - how uncomfortable you are.
If you've never experienced an ingrown toe or even a fungus, you might not understand what we're talking about. For now.
We have to appreciate our feet. They support us every step of the way, and not just literally. We rely on them, and yet we often don't pay them any attention. When's the last time you greased your tired feet? File down a sharp spur? Tended to a crack or a hard skin? If you do it regularly, three cheers. If ever, at least do that. And if you never... All that's left to say is good luck.
Why take care of your feet
Inappropriate footwear, improper skin and nail care and neglect, we can only get away with it for so long. Over time, things can get very ugly. From inflammation to a painful heel to dislocated joints. Sure, neglect isn't always to blame, but that's for another article. If we're talking about pedicures, again, it's important not to go to extremes. But some of the basics should be there.
