Aim for 4-8 guests. You want the vibe to feel personal and conversational, not overwhelming.

Think of friends who are curious, open-minded, and ready to engage in both fun and meaningful discussions.

Choose a time when people can unwind—weekends or weeknights are perfect for this kind of gathering.

Allow 2-3 hours so there's plenty of time for painting and chatting (and drying).

Create a relaxing, welcoming space. Think of your home as a mini-salon/spa for the night. Set up a cozy area with comfortable seating and a table for nail polish, tools, and other supplies. 

Add some music to the mix to set the mood (super chill to take the edge off the day's news, a tribute to Minnesota icon Prince in honor of Tim, or maybe even a few activist anthems, depending on your circle. (We'll share a few Spotify playlists for you to use soon! And yes, Taylor and Bey will figure prominently.)

Snacks & drinks are always a good idea. A little refreshment goes a long way! Keep it simple with easy-to-hold finger foods and easy-to-serve drinks. You could even theme the snacks around the sets, specific polish colors, or the political causes you plan to discuss.

Lay out a selection of nail polishes (including your COLORS FOR KAMALA sets, of course!). 

Make sure you have everything for a DIY mani-pedi setup: nail files, buffers, cotton balls, polish remover, and top coats. (Disposable paraphernalia are best for hygiene reasons).

If you want to go full Martha Stewart (which we love), you could prepare small goodie bags with a nail polish bottle, disposable nail kit, and an info card on voter registration or policy proposals to send home with your guests. (We will continue adding informational resources to the site, so stay tuned!)

And if you're going Martha, consider including a dash of Snoop Dogg (in honor of the best celeb pairing of all time). Plenty of lovey CBD moisturizers out there...

Figure out the mechanics. Do you want everyone to do their own nails? Or have friends doing each other's? Or, if you're super fancy, are you having technicians join you for a professional touch? Set the table and stage accordingly. 

No need to get all serious at the jump. Start with small talk and some benign tea. Just as you would at any salon. Foster a sense of ease. Let the conversation go where it wants.

If talk hasn't organically made its way toward issues and the upcoming elections, you can help guide it there. Some conversation starters:

• "Did you see the prices at the market this week? Did you hear about the Koriger exec admitting to it? Have you heard about Harris' plans to reduce corporate price gouging?" or "Did you see that article in <insert paper of choice> explaining that "tariffs are a tax on consumers"?

• "What's an issueyou would love to see more people talking about?" (not what the pundits are pushing)

• "How do you think we can all stay more engaged without feeling overwhelmed?"

• "How do we hold the space for those who might not agree with Dem policies but definitely agree the alternative is not an option? " ( IOW, what do we do with Dick Cheney? Don't get us wrong, we're happy to have him!)

Keep it light-hearted but intentional; let the conversation flow naturally from your guests' stories and experiences.

Consider offering a "call to action" at the end: ask everyone to check their voter registration and sign up for updates on local elections (you can help them do this on their mobile phone- once your nails have dried!) and/or ask them to commit to bringing up the topic with friends in their own circles.

Snap group pics showing off the gathering and all your freshly painted nails. Encourage everyone to post on social media using #colorsforkamala and any other hashtags you like to help spread the word and get people talking (and hosting their own parties).

Thank everyone. Let them know how much their voices and actions matter to you and for the election.

Provide resources for them to continue the conversation: websites for voter registration, information on upcoming local elections, and links to organizations that align with their values. (We will be adding more resources to the site on the regular. If you share your resources with us, we'll include them!) 

Offer to help a friend host their own Polish & Politics party next month to keep the vibe going. 

Tell your guests you'll reconnect with everyone closer to the election explicitly so you can all make your voting plans together!

You can theme each gathering around specific issues—women's rights, environmental policies, or upcoming local elections—to give the conversation some structure.