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Original poster

What nail colour is suitable for a funeral?

228 replies

ApolloandDaphne · 13/08/2021 09:49

I have to attend a family funeral soon and plan to go and get my current colour (bright pink) changed to a more suitable colour. I mentioned it to my DM yesterday and she asked what I would have to changed to. She was aghast when I said probably a dark, muted red. She thought I would go for a natural/nude type colour. These colours look terrible on me. Is dark red so bad?

OP posts:
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SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 13/08/2021 14:17

I can honestly say that I have NEVER even noticed what colour nail polish someone was wearing at a funeral, @ApolloandDaphne - and even if I had, judging them on their choice of colour would have been the last thing on my mind.

My focus has always been on mourning the person who has died, and supporting the people who have been bereaved.

StarDrawers · 13/08/2021 14:20

@aSofaNearYou Ah, I'm seeing it more as a "I have a funeral to attend help me pick a nail colour" thread.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 13/08/2021 14:21

Dark red is fine!

Hubcapdiamondstarhalo · 13/08/2021 14:35

I wore purple on my toes and a soft lilac on my fingers at my aunt's traditional funeral this week, as purple was her favorite colour. I don't often wear polish so this was a deliberate nod to her, and she would have loved it. I wouldn't have worn a bright colour, though someone else did wear red, and I didn't think it looked out of place. If you usually wear a bright polish then toning it down to a dark shade would be enough to show respect imo.

spooney21 · 13/08/2021 14:48

Do people really notice and actually care about these things- especially at a funeral? I would never think to look at someone's nail colour and think it's inappropriate. They're nails!

LolaSmiles · 13/08/2021 14:52

Do people really notice and actually care about these things- especially at a funeral? I would never think to look at someone's nail colour and think it's inappropriate. They're nails!
I wouldn't look for it, and nor would many others, but a poster up thread explained how something fairly trivial (her friend's shoes) caused an emotional response from her. It would never have bothered her, but grief is a funny thing.

Timeforredwine · 13/08/2021 14:58

Never given nail colour being appropriate for a funeral a second thought? Is this a thing? Lots of people actually do dress up in fancy clothes, then again ive seen some dress down. I dont do bright anyway but i dont think anyone would care?

SparkyBlue · 13/08/2021 15:03

The sort of people who get bothered by nail colour at a funeral are not the sort of people who's opinion would bother me . Get your nails done in whatever colour you'd like. I remember my mother trying to get an urgent appointment to get her roots done after her dad died and I had to do an emergency shopping trip when mil unexpectedly passed away and I'd nothing at all suitable to wear .

Katkinsgreyy · 13/08/2021 15:04

I personally have never thought about peoples' nail varnish before at funerals.
I know when I'm dead, I won't give two hoots what colour peoples nail are! I don't think having coloured nail varnish is disrespectful, but that's just my opinion.

IntermittentParps · 13/08/2021 15:08

@WhenPushComesToShove

For my beloved Mum's funeral I wore gold glitter nail varnish, a white dress, a turquoise cardigan and very high shoes. She would have loved that kind of celebration of her. I loved her so much. I still do
How beautiful Smile Thanks
JaninaDuszejko · 13/08/2021 15:11

Has no-one realised that the OP is one of the chief mourners? It's her 93 yo FIL, she's been married to his son for 35 years. Unless he has any siblings still alive then the OP, her DH, plus his siblings and their SOs are the ones who decide what is appropriate at the funeral.

Personally I think anything from nude to a peach, pink, orange or dark red could be considered appropriate. A less traditional nail colour like green or blue or yellow or purple or grey less so but I wouldn't judge someone for it.

manhattenrain · 13/08/2021 15:14

Red is considered offensive to wear to funerals.

If you really wanted something other then nude, maybe a navy blue?

PurpleDaisies · 13/08/2021 15:16

Red is considered offensive to wear to funerals.
By who? Where is this official rule from?

Original poster
ApolloandDaphne · 13/08/2021 15:20

@manhattenrain

Red is considered offensive to wear to funerals.

If you really wanted something other then nude, maybe a navy blue?

Why.? Who says?
OP posts:
CookPassBabtridge · 13/08/2021 15:21

I wouldn't give a flying fuck what nail colour people wore. Being caring and compassionate is what matters.

AuntieMarys · 13/08/2021 15:22

I had bright red. Does anyone really care?

lovesthosebeeps · 13/08/2021 15:24

The only person to care about this, if anyone at all actually did because majority don't, is someone not really mourning at all but there to spectate!

manhattenrain · 13/08/2021 15:26

To wear red to a funeral means that you're happy that person has died. This may just depend on where you are from though.

PurpleDaisies · 13/08/2021 15:27

@manhattenrain

To wear red to a funeral means that you're happy that person has died. This may just depend on where you are from though.
Where is this from?
IntermittentParps · 13/08/2021 15:27

To wear red to a funeral means that you're happy that person has died. This may just depend on where you are from though.
We are all gagging to know exactly this – where do you have to come from for red nails to be 'offensive'?

lovesthosebeeps · 13/08/2021 15:27

@manhattenrain

To wear red to a funeral means that you're happy that person has died. This may just depend on where you are from though.
On your nails? Just no. A pair of shoes or dress in red, yes.

But bloody nails?! Nobody cares!

JaninaDuszejko · 13/08/2021 15:29

OP is not the only person to worry about dressing for a funeral, as can be seen here. Grief can result in some interesting displacement activity, I panic bought a black dress for both DF and FIL's funeral. It is such an important occasion and a stray comment from someone who is grieving less ( like the OPs Mum) can send you in a spin.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 13/08/2021 15:31

@manhattenrain - To wear red to a funeral means that you're happy that person has died. This may just depend on where you are from though.

Never heard that. I wore a navy dress, red cardigan and red nails to film's funeral a couple of months age. Mil is still speaking to me so don't think I offended herGrin

Would definitely say it's locale specific. Where are you from?

manhattenrain · 13/08/2021 15:35

Yes, more so your dress then nails. I didn't mean for this to come across rude but just that I'd personally avoid it. It's considered offensive in China but I'm pretty sure also France as I remember seeing it in a movie (called Aurore). I honestly thought this was a thing world wide but I guess not.

Original poster
ApolloandDaphne · 13/08/2021 15:42

@manhattenrain

To wear red to a funeral means that you're happy that person has died. This may just depend on where you are from though.
I wore red to my young daughters funeral. I certainly was not happy she was dead. I was bereft. But she was only 5 and we wanted bright colours to be worn.
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