6 Hot Nail Trends

By: Jennifer Personette

While I have always been an addict of all things to do with nails, they are currently all-the-rage! Here's a breakdown of the six hottest trends and how to get them.

Accent Nails!

The simplest way to get an accent nail is painting all of your nails one color and leaving one nail for a different shade of the same color. Or one nail with glitter. Or a drastically different color.




Twists on a French Manicure

French Manicure Directions (substitute traditional french colors for pastels, metallics or any shade you like).

1. Apply french manicure strips to use as a guide. Apply the color that you have chosen for the tip area. Wait five minutes until the polish is dry and then remove strips.

2. Use the main color you have chosen to the unpainted portion of your nail. If you have a more steady hand, I would recommend doing this process without strips and reverse the order I have shown here.

The first example shown uses a glitter polish for the tip and a clear coat for the entire nail. The process above can be used for the second example. The black example shown above uses a matte black for the entire nail and a shiny clear coat for the tip.


Bling

Don't be afraid to shine. These looks can easily transition from day to evening.

Some of my favorite shades:
- Pros and Bronze, OPI
- Silver Lining, China Glaze
- Teenage Dream, OPI


Shades of Light



OPI has a "try it on" feature. You can select your skin tone and nail length and see how OPI shades will appear on "your" nails.

Some of my favorite shades in "Shades of Light" trend:
- Baby's Breath, Essie
- Step Right Up, OPI
- Oyster Shell, MAC


Nail Strips



I have found that the strips stay on pretty well. Much longer than a normal manicure. Beware if you get into salt water -- they start to deteriorate. Overall, I think they are great.

Here's how to apply:

Step 1. Select the size strip that fits your nail.

Step 2. Peel off the clear plastic and peel the polish strip off the paper backing

Step 3. Pop off the silver tab

Step 4. Place the nail polish strip on your nail and match it up with your cuticles, then smooth it out over your nail.

Step 5. Use the flat edge of a cuticle stick to run it along the edge of your nails, so that it completely adheres to your nail.

Step 6. Smooth the excess over the edge of your nail and fold it down, then file off the excess.

Where to buy: Target and Sephora.


Designs

Here's where you need to get a little creative and apply a little more skill than the previous trends. The center example is from a website that is not in English. So, I simply used Babblefish to translate it for you to use!



Materials: You will need scissors, a pale nail polish color, newspaper, vodka and a top coat.

Step 1: Put vodka in a glass. Cut small pieces of newspaper large enough to cover your nails.

Step 2: Paint your nails by applying a base coat and two coats of the pale color.

Step 3: When your nails are dry, soak them in alcohol.

Step 4: Cover your nails with small pieces of newspaper. Remove pieces of newspaper slowly.

Step 5: Let dry and apply a layer of top coat.


What are your favorites? Which will you try?