Before proceeding, it is necessary to admit that first impressions are not made only in the boardroom. You shake hands more often than kiss cheeks, and this greeting is silent, forceful, and extremely informative. The average mid-level executive has to look competent, from head to toe and fingertips, and there is nothing to ask you to have glow-in-the-dark nails – we only want to reach some level of cleanliness because details make deals. Don’t discuss this kit with anybody; just use it.
The first thing you should do in order to create this arsenal is to pick the proper equipment that will be suitable for the work you do. Will you wear a cheap suit? So, don’t dress yourself in cheap stainless steel for your nails. Pick Zwilling or Tweezerman, as these companies provide high quality surgical instruments with lifetime warranty. You will need clipping scissors for nails and heavy-duty curved one for your toes. Cheap metal will become blunt quickly and give you sharp edges for scratching your nice silk tie and expensive bed sheets. This is all about maintenance, and the tools should feel comfortable in your hand. 🧐
Let us talk about the nuances that distinguish professionals from amateurs. First of all, you will need a glass nail file, not the one which you can buy in the gas stations. Glass files seal the keratin layers during shaping, and thus, you will not have problems with splitting in the middle of the week. Then, take a dual-sided buffer block for getting rid of ridges and make your nails shiny. High-shining buffing will make your nails professional, but without any paint smell, and this is what you want to have. Have cuticle nippers for hangnails, but use them cautiously to avoid infections.
Final touches are purely functional, but also aesthetic. Pumice stone or foot file is needed to soften your heels for the summer. Although you may think that socks will protect you from the eyes of others, but they won’t protect you from feeling your rough skin in your shoe at home. Lastly, pick either CND Solar Oil or Jojoba oil for moisturizing your cuticles in order to avoid bleeding or snagging on your keyboard while sending a very important e-mail.
Sadly, owning this kit won’t help you in case if it stays on the shelf. You will need some time to apply it, for example, every Sunday evening watching football or news. Ten minutes are enough for clipping, filing, buffing, and oiling. Otherwise, you will end up with your claws sharpened to the extreme degree. This is not the image of a successful leader, this is the image of somebody who gave up on the details. Thus, always keep your arsenal handy.