Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. "} 64:{"position":6,"content":"

In my quest for clarity regarding tolerance for politically charged conversations in business settings typically regarded as oases for the soul, I surveyed the salon’s area competitors and expanded my inquiry to nail professionals in the invective-filled U.S. capital. I also took the pulse of Beverly Hills, arguably the country’s primping capital, where nail salons might even outpace its population. "} 65:{"position":7,"content":"

“Two things you don’t talk about are politics and religion,” said Kitty Dinh, manager of Beverly Hills Nail Salon, adding that most patrons, including celebrities, just want to close their eyes and relax. "} 66:{"position":8,"content":"

Potentially combustible narratives also are eschewed at Angelo M. Nails, a short distance from the White House and Capitol Hill. “The president, the senators, it’s their job, not my nail technicians’,” manager Kathy Nguyen told me. "} 67:{"position":9,"content":"

In suburban Boston, Chrissó Studio co-owner Christina Pavlou has observed an uptick in clients’ hunger to share “very strong” opinions about current events. But Pavlou sidesteps such conversations, she said, recalling how she lost a loyal client after she shared her political views while working at her mother’s salon as a teenager. Her response to persistent patrons is, “I’d be happy to take you out to coffee if you want to pursue this further, but

Prickly politics at the nail salon is an unwelcome nail-biter

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