Elegant classy nails are easy to have and maintain. Unlike some of the trendier nail designs, which, I’ll admit, can look really interesting, elegant ladies keep their nails simple. I have a whole video on the topic here. But, to give you a brief guide you can refer to, I’ll talk about the basics and give you some elegant nails ideas to work with.
#1 – Elegant Nail Length
Let’s start with the most obvious, and also one of the most overlooked, aspects of elegant nails: their length. You might think that, because I advocate for a more feminine look, that means we want to have really long nails. But, actually, very long nails are not elegant. And, for most women, they are difficult to get and maintain naturally. So you end up getting long, fake nails, which just don’t look very classy. Instead, choose a short to medium length. This is also the most important point regarding elegant nails for work.
#2 – Elegant Nail Shape
Again, sometimes we can confuse femininity with exaggeration. Long, pointy nails are not the femininity gold-standard. The shape of your nail should match, and enhance, the shape of your fingers and hand structure. If you’re not sure, a professional nail technician with a good eye can help you choose the nail shape that suits you.
#3 – Elegant Nail Colors
Now that you have the length and shape figured out, it’s time for the fun part: colors! Some great choices are neutrals, reds, and pinks. The hue should match your skin tone, if possible. And, more importantly, avoid colors that look synthetic and over the top. So, for example, if you want pink nails, go for something more subtle, like a light or dusty pink. With reds, true red, which is quite bright, is still really classy. But there are other shades that can look great, such as maroons and plums.
#4 – Elegant Nail Designs
Generally speaking, I tend to avoid “designs” when it comes to classy elegant nails. Unless you’re including the French manicure and its offshoots, as those would be perfectly fine. But nail art, nail jewelry and the like can be quite tacky. So just be aware of that. If you must get a design, then stick to something simple and minimal that utilizes the elegant colors described above.
#5 – Elegant Nail Care
At the most basic level, elegant nails are nails that are well taken care of. They are not only well-manicured, they are well-nourished with the proper nail oil, filed in the right way, and the whole hand is moisturized properly. Truly, being classy and elegant is at the core a method of self-respect and self-care.
What’s great about sticking to these guidelines is that they will give you more, not less, options for your outfit. When you have super long nails with neon colors and crazy art, it actually limits what you can wear with them. It will also cheapen your outfit, even if you’re wearing an expensive Chanel Suit.
