Nynaeve is one of the most powerful female channelers currently alive. The el' in "el'Nynaeve" is a Malkieri honorific given to the Queens of Malkier. Nynaeve is typically described as having dark eyes and until recently a long dark braid , which she would often yank in times of exasperation. Her hair is now significantly shorter after her harrowing ordeal in the oval ring and is too short to tug. She is said to be very pretty, even beautiful. She has big eyes, although not as large as Egwene al'Vere 's eyes.
She looks younger than she is by virtue of her slowing at around age twenty. In the beginning of the series, Nynaeve vocally expresses her liking of "stout" Two Rivers wool clothing.
As the series progresses, she demonstrates a finer sense of fashion, wearing fine silks, usually in the colors of blue or green Lan's favorite colors. She disapproves of immodest dress, although has relaxed in that respect considerably as well. In traditional Aes Sedai fashion, she wears a yellow-fringed shawl to formally show that she is of the Yellow Ajah , usually wearing blue or green dresses.
Nynaeve wears a ki'sain , a red dot in the center of her forehead, to show in the Malkieri tradition her marital status and her pledge to raise her children to fight the Shadow.
Those who knew her as a Wisdom in Two Rivers would be surprised at the gaudy jewelry she now wears, unless they knew that each piece has a specific purpose. She wears a bracelet and connected rings angreal and several ter'angreal : a ring with green stone , a sapphire ring , a red stone bracelet , and a Well in the form of a slim jeweled belt on her person - even while she sleeps.
