Does Your Mani And Pedi Have To Match?
Photo of nude matching mani/pedi by Billie on Unsplash
Updated 2024.07.05
Do your toes have to match your nails?
In the United States, there is no law or cultural requirement that states your fingernail color and toenail color must be the same color, or even a matching color.
The only place where you may find regulations is in your workplace, but most workplaces are much more flexible than they used to be with manicured nails.
Most workplaces in the United States allow freedom of expression to some degree.
Once you check your workplace manual, if there is one, or if you don’t have a workplace, continue on.
Beyond any possible work requirements, there is a lot of freedom surrounding nail color, meaning painting the nails can offer an incredible sense of flexibility to the artist.
In this case, the artist may be you.
Yet, despite there being no law against a mis-matched manicure and pedicure (referred to as mani/pedi in the rest of the post), a lot of people like to get their fingernails and toenails to coordinate, simply because it looks cute, and creates a sense of synergy to your personal style.
This synergy can give you a sort of peace of mind, a feeling that all is well in the universe, simply because there is some coordination in your life, at the very least, on your nails.
This sense of satisfaction is definitely one of the joys worth feeling in life, so if you have the opportunity to coordinate your mani/pedi, you may want to take the liberty of seeing if you can feel this joy.
Whenever you have a chance to create harmony and satisfaction in life, why not go for it?
If you do want your mani/pedi to coordinate with each other, thankfully you have a lot of options for making this happen.
There are a lot of different ways to create a matching feel to any mani/pedi.
Here are a few ways to match your mani/pedi:
Photo of five OPI nail polish bottles in prismatic light by Cut Collective on Unsplash
Sheer-to-Opaque
You could get your nails to match by choosing colors in the same shade range, but one is transparent and one is more opaque. You could create gradients, use a sheerer shade for fingers, and more opaque for toes, or vice versa.
For example, you could do a sheer, warm pink for your manicure, and an opaque, warm pink for your pedicure, for a more delicate look on your fingernails, and a bolder look on your toes.
Opposite Colors
These are colors that are across from each other on the color wheel. You could choose complementary, highlighting shades for fingers and toes. For example, if you choose opposite colors on the color wheel, this will give you a coordinating mani/pedi.
A violet on the toes, but yellow on the fingers will give you a look that balances and compliments each other. When you or others are gazing at your mani/pedi, it will create a synergistic effect. This is actually the way a lot of floral designs are arranged to create beautiful color-popping looks.
Accent Colors
Choose colors on the color wheel that accent each other; they are side-by-side shades on the color wheel, like a tomato red on the toes, and firey red-orange on the fingers, or spring green on the toes to lighter yellow-green on the fingers look good together.
For example, in this color wheel, a candy apple on the fingers, and a ruby on the toes would go nicely together.
Warm or Cool-Tones
To get your mani/pedi to match, stay in the warm-family, or in the cool-family, don’t cross over. This color wheel breaks out cools and warms for reference. Warm or cool tones are shades all on the same half of the color wheel.
In this example, choose all colors that appear cool to you, or all that appear warm. If your toes are purple and your fingernails are blue, both cool tones, your mani/pedi will feel like it goes together.
Overall, here are four ways to achieve mani/pedi synergy:
Photo of light and deep cool toned pink YSL nail polish bottles by Taylor R on Unsplash
Sheer-to-Opaque
Opposite Colors
Accent Colors
Warm or Cool-Tones
Outside of using the same bottle of paint for both your manicure and your pedicure, above are a few ways to coordinate your nails.
So, should your toenail and fingernail polish match? You are not limited to using the same bottle of polish for both your fingers and toes. You are free to experiment with what matches you and your style.
Only take this above advice if you want to have your mani/pedi matching, keep in mind, there is no law or even a cultural requirement to do so.
The only reason to match your mani/pedi, in most cases, is because it brings you a sense of contentment or joy. If this doesn’t matter to you, or you ultimately find out you don’t get this feeling when matching your mani/pedi, then forget everything in this article.
But if you do match your mani/pedi, and find out it gives you an above average sense of happiness, keep up the good work. Other people may notice this coordination, and it could bring them joy, too.
If you feel good when you mani/pedi matches, then you have achieved the ultimate goal of painting nails in the first place - happiness, and that’s all that matters. And if your matching mani/pedi ultimately benefits others’ moods, too, that’s just a bonus.
Give the above a try, using any of the combinations listed, the next time you are due for a polish change -
Photo of five OPI nail polish bottles in prismatic light by Cut Collective on Unsplash with text overlay Does Your Mani And Pedi Have To Match?
