Of course, you want to make a great impression at your job interview. That means your nails need to look presentable, but also appropriate. The aim of this post is to answer the question “What color nail polish for an interview?”.
Short on time?
Here’s the answer to What color polish for an interview? in a nutshell:
Neutral nail polish colors like white, gray, nude, blush pink, and navy are a good choice for most job interviews. They go with everything and are not offensive or showy. For formal job interviews, wine, emerald green, and red are perfectly acceptable. In the creative field, you can be more playful with colors and nail art.
Your personal answer to “what color nail polish for a job interview?” depends on a few things. The type of job you want to land, your choice of outfit, and your skin tone can all factor in.
Now you have a basic idea of what nail polish colors are interview-friendly. Let’s go a bit deeper and see what nail color is going to be best for you.
Here’s a table of contents for easy navigation:
Is it ok to wear nail polish to a job interview?
Interview and work appropriate nail polish colors
Nail polish colors that are not good for a job interview
How to match your nails to your interview outfit
How to show that you pay attention to detail
Final thoughts – Should I use the company colors?
Is it ok to wear nail polish to a job interview?
Yes, wearing nail polish to a job interview is totally ok. But there are some general guidelines you can follow to avoid making the wrong impression.
Make sure that you apply your nail polish neatly.
Sloppy application is going to send the wrong message.
If you can, it’s best to get your nails done professionally before an interview.
But what if you don’t want to shell out for a professional job and you’re not great at applying nail polish?
Then go for a light, natural-looking color like a nude or a blush.
Minor imperfections like smudges, bubbles, and small chips will not be as noticeable if you choose a light or neutral nail polish color.
If you are really concerned about poor application, then my advice would be to shape and buff your nails nicely then paint your nails with clear nail polish.
Keep interview nails low-key
Another piece of advice I can give is to keep your nails low-key for a job interview.
Plain nails (all one color) or minimal designs in neutral or understated colors are best.
Attention-grabbing nails with detailed designs or tons of glitter or gems are not appropriate (unless you are in a highly creative industry).
Bold colors like cobalt blue or lime green are also risky.
If you don’t like neutrals and you want something a little bolder then a pink, a classic red, or an earthy green shade should work.
Interview and work appropriate nail polish colors
My favorite kind of nail polish colors for interviews (and in life generally) are neutrals.
I love neutral nail polish colors so much.
I wrote a whole post about them. It’s called 14 nail polish colors that go with everything.
You should check it out if you want more ideas for some neutral nail polish colors you might not have thought of for your interview.
Neutral nail polish colors for job interviews
Here are some ideas for neutral nail polish colors that you can wear to any kind of job interview.
They work very well for conservative industries like the legal, financial, and professional services fields.
These colors will also go with any outfit. So, no matter what you decide to wear to your job interview, your nails won’t clash!
- White
- Cream
- Beige
- Ivory
- Champagne
- Taupe
- Navy
- Gray
- Nude
- Blush
- Sage green
- Olive green
- Brown
- Black
Other nail polish colors for job interviews
Here are some ideas for other nail polish colors you can wear to an interview.
These colors are not neutral. This means that they are a little bit harder to match to outfits.
The nail polish colors below are all job interview appropriate.
Classic red
Classic red nail polish shades are great for leadership roles. Try shades like OPI’s The first lady of nails or Zoya’s Carmen.
Rose or soft pink
A soft pink shade is great for job interviews where you want to emphasize a caring nature and good communication skills.
Emerald green
This is a formal color that works well for job interviews across the corporate sector.
Forest green
Similar to emerald green but with slightly different undertones, forest green is also a corporate-friendly option for your nails.
Teal
Teal communicates clarity of mind and calmness. This makes it a great choice for job interviews where those skills are valued.
Plum
Plum, wine, and burgundy shades are great for researcher-type roles. Or any kind of job where you want to come across as serious and dedicated. I love Zara’s Mona for example.
Lavender
Lavender polish is great for interviews in the beauty and fashion industries. It shows creativity.
Mustard
Mustard is a nail polish color that works for most skin tones. It symbolizes creativity and diversity.
Peach
A soft peach is a great choice if you want to show that you are a team player. Try OPI’s Machu Peachu or something similar.
Nail polish colors that are not good for a job interview
Are you in a creative field like fashion or beauty?
In those industries pretty much anything goes. So you should feel free to use your nails as a way to express yourself and your creativity.
Or to wear the latest trends in nails and nail art.
But outside of the more creative fields, you should stay away from bold, bright, or neon nail polish.
You should also avoid super long nails or nails that are covered with gems.
Glitter, metallic, and anything overly attention-grabbing is a no-no.
Here are some examples of inappropriate nail polish colors for a job interview:
- Hot pink
- Canary yellow
- Bold orange
- Bright coral
- Lime green
- Silver
- Gold
Colors like these are best left for the weekend.
How to match your nails to your interview outfit
In this section, I’m going to give you some ideas for how to match your nails to your outfit.
We’re going to take a look at some of the best nail polish options for job interviews.
Then we’ll see what colors of outfits they go well with.
This is just a guide. The colors in this section are all neutrals so they will work with any outfit.
But for the best possible matches follow this advice.
What color nail polish for an interview? – White nail polish
A pure, crisp white like OPI’s Alpine Snow can be a great choice for a job interview.
Especially if you are wearing blue.
White and navy are a classic combination. Try white or off-white nails if your interview suit is navy.
What color nail polish for an interview? – Cream nail polish
Cream is an off-white shade with yellow undertones that goes well with everything.
Try cream nail polish if your interview outfit is navy, ivory, beige, brown, lavender, rose pink, light gray, or maroon.
What color nail polish for an interview? – Beige nail polish
Beige nails look very professional and understated. Try beige nails with interview outfits in black, green, burgundy, plum or wine shades, soft yellow, navy, or caramel browns.
What color nail polish for an interview? – Ivory nail polish
Ivory has strong yellow undertones. It works well with interview clothes in warm grays, bluey-grays, black, and taupe.
What color nail polish for an interview? – Champagne nail polish
Champagne is another example of an off-white polish. Paint your nails in champagne polish if you’re wearing earth tones like browns, beiges, or greens.
Champagne nails will also look perfect if you are wearing pastel shades for your interview.
What color nail polish for an interview? – Taupe nail polish
Taupe polish also works well with soft pastel shades of clothing. Olive green works very well with taupe so if you are wearing olive then taupe is going to look great!
What color nail polish for an interview? – Navy nail polish
Navy nail polish is very sophisticated. It works well with all other shades of blue for an interview, but also white, light gray, and mustard yellow clothes.
What color nail polish for an interview? – Gray nail polish
Gray is a perfect choice if you are wearing pink. A charcoal gray with a dark green suit or dress looks good too.
Gray is also a great choice for your nails in an interview where you are wearing red.
What color nail polish for an interview? – Nude nail polish
Burgundy or mustard interview outfits look great with a nude nail. The same goes for light blue.
What color nail polish for an interview? – Blush nail polish
Blush nail polish does a great job of softening the look of an all-black interview suit. If you want to add a touch of femininity to your interview outfit, blush is the way to go.
Wear blush nails with interview clothes in soft light gray, or dusty blue for a friendly and welcoming look.
Or pair them with a burgundy or navy suit for a more formal vibe.
What color nail polish for an interview? – Black nail polish
Black is a neutral nail polish color, but it might not work for everyone.
Take me for example. I have very pale skin and black nail polish looks way too gothic. Definitely not a look I want to rock for a job interview.
But if you want to wear black polish, it looks great with almost every color from emerald, forest, and sage green to plum, cherry red, and teal.
How to show that you pay attention to detail
The smallest details can make a big impression during the hiring process.
If you want to put your best foot forward, here are a few little tricks you can try.
Matching your nails to your lipstick.
This is a great little trick that makes you look well put together.
It also tells whoever’s doing the interview that you think carefully and pay attention to the little things.
Matching your lipstick and nails is also really easy. Just buy a lips and tips kit from Zoya, or Revlon do one too.
The easiest shades to do this with are pinks and reds.
Final thoughts – Should I use the company colors?
Congratulations! You made it to the end.
That was a lot of information to take in.
I hope that you enjoyed my “What color nail polish for an interview?” post.
One last tip before I go.
If you are interviewing for a company, why not familiarize yourself with its branding and company colors?
If it’s appropriate, it’s always a good idea to use brand colors in your outfit or on your nails.
Painting your nails in the company colors shows that you have a good eye for detail.
And that you think carefully before you act. It also makes it look like you belong there.
Thank you so much for reading to the end.
I hope you found this post useful and I wish you the best of luck with your interview!
Knock ’em dead!
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