29 Nail Art Ideas So Subtle, You Can Wear Them Anywhere

In some work environments, nail art [1] is considered the beauty equivalent of stilettos — distracting by sheer existence, and therefore must be worn in moderation in a professional setting. That doesn't mean you have to skip the manicure [2] altogether, of course, but you'll want to find a subtle nail art design [3] that means business . . . without making anyone else butt into yours.

The first, and perhaps most obvious, option is to keep it simple. Swipe on a clear or nude nail polish [4] as your base, then top it off with a hit of color [5] or sparkle to give it an office-appropriate edge. Or, nail artist Jessica Washick [6] has another idea: bring back a classic.

"I'd suggest you play around with a basic french tip manicure [7], but make it not-so-basic depending on how conservative your office is," she said. "There's a lot you can do, but keeping with the french tip design [8] helps to add some boundaries to play in. One idea is to use a sheer, light pink base and just paint on a tinted pink tip [9]. It still reads professional, but the bit of pink helps punch it up."

No need to brainstorm on design ideas (leave that to your day job, and ours); just keep reading for nail art you can wear to every type of office setting — then get to work.

Nail Art For the Traditional Corporate Office

For most white-collar jobs (or anyone who works at a large corporation), keeping things formal is par for the course — and that extends to your nails. You can still have fun, but keep your polish colors [10] neutral and the manicure design to a minimum.

Nail Art For a Client-Driven Job

If you're in sales — or working with clients in a forward-facing manner — you'll likely still want to keep the nail art to a minimum, but because it can also serve as a great conversation starter, you have a little more room for experimentation. In these instances, stick to subtle hits of color or negative-space manicures [11] to call just the right amount of attention.

Nail Art For a Creative Office Environment

People working in a more creative field (hi, POPSUGAR!) can take a few more risks, but that doesn't mean you want to go all Elle-Fanning-at-the-Met-Gala [12] with your nails. To keep it professional, stick to simple designs with an impact. Or, "if you're really interested in pushing it, try a nude base with neon tips for a street edginess," Washick said.

POPSUGAR