For a night out, Allure's favorite manicure is "long, opaque, and impossibly glossy," said its December 2012 issue.
First, file nails into a tapered shape — something slightly more dramatic than business-casual "squoval" (square-ish oval).
Then choose the look: simple (a nude), siren (a dragon red), or something sleek like OPI's Black Onyx.
Finish with a high-shine topcoat that has a wet finish like Essie No Chips Ahead Chip Free Top Coat. Ask clients to reapply every couple of days to maintain optimal glossiness.