nails

From the often velvet-covered chairs to the glass bottles of beautiful colour lined neatly on marble-effect shelves, there are many things that make a visit to the salon a magical experience. And after salons were closed for the best part of a year over 2020 and 2021, this year, we intend on taking full advantage of our appointment with our nail technicians. How, you ask? By opting for some stunning nail art.  Remember when nail art consisted of water-painted flowers and glittery dragons? Those were the days. However, after its short-lived moment in the early noughties, nail art really dropped off the grid for a little while. In stark contrast to the grandeur and excess of embellished talons and intricate patterns, for the last 10 years or so, nail trends and ...

I don’t know about you, but I never get nail fatigue. In fact, as much as I love buying new makeup, switching up my skincare routine or trying something different with my hair, shifting my nail MO reigns supreme. Painting my nails has become my happy place, and while I absolutely love the boost a shiny new colour gives my mood and confidence, the actual process of painting my nails—or even going to the salon—is one of my favourite ways to wind down and turn the world off for a second. You know what I mean? I don’t typically buy into trends when it comes to my mani of choice (I’ll paint my nails any hue I damn well please, thank you very much), but that doesn’t mean I’m not interested in finding out which nail colours will pop more than others in...

When it comes to the world of beauty, 2021 will go down as the year that nails ruled supreme. From colourful tips to cow-print, it would seem that nothing was off the table when it came to nail art and our lust for experimental manicures. And our nail obsession shows no sign of slowing down for the year ahead with top nail technicians already predicting some seriously beautiful nail trends for 2022. But if like me you’re a little more pared-back when it comes to what you put on your nails, then you might be pleased to learn that we’re also going to see a return to classic, one-colour manicures in plenty of covetable new shades. So whether you’re after something nicely natural or more adventurous, there’s a nail polish colour with your name on in 2022. Keep scrolling for all ...

Using this observation as a guide, it made me think a bit more deeply about my own favourite hues—especially when it comes to my nails. During the colder months, I tend to favour deeper polishes that fit a sweater weather mood. To take it a step further, I thought it only appropriate to gain a bit of insight from Marks on some of the most common dark winter nail colours and what the emotions evoked by each could say about us. Obviously, colour theory and psychology are subjective subjects, but if you’re curious about why your go-to winter nail shades speak directly to your soul, keep scrolling below for what Marks had to share. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to m...

Nothing gets us excited for party season quite like scrolling Instagram and saving all of the prettiest nail inspiration down. In fact, by the time our first nail appointment of the season come around, we find it hard to choose just one to go for. And while one or two nail appointments would usually suffice to see us through Christmas party season, this year, we’re tempted to go all out.  You see, after being denied the opportunity of popping down to see our favourite nail technicians for our pre-winter manicures last year, this December we’re vowing to make up for lost time. We are sticking to our guns and reminding ourselves that we should never, ever take nail appointments for granted. So, this winter, we’re treating our nails to the very best polishes and nail ...

As winter comes knocking, so too does our desire to start paying our nails some more attention. While the summer months have us booking in for gel manicures every few weeks to ensure our manis and pedis stay fresh, come autumn, we like to give our nails a little bit of a break. But as we start gearing up for Christmas, you better believe we’re ready to jump back on the manicure train. Over the past few weeks, we’ve been busy saving down all of the winter nail inspiration we can’t wait to try over the coming months. However, with parties already starting to get booked into our diaries, we’re anticipating finding ourselves out of time this festive season. And while we’re big lovers of nail art, we also appreciate that it can be a time-consuming trend. ...

Autumn is in full swing, and we’re really embracing it this year. There’s a crisp autumn chill in the air that has us reaching for wooly knits, but it’s not rainy enough to have to don a waterproof jacket just yet. And this kind of perfect autumn weather means we can actually embrace all of the trends we’re desperate to try—both in fashion and in beauty—without risk of being rain-sodden or too windswept. And while we’ve already pinpointed the top autumn trends of the season, it’s time to dig into the details. First stop: nails. And more specifically, the nine autumn nail trends we’re seeing everywhere right now and can’t get enough of. Sure, we can get a pretty good steer on cool nail mic...

Autumn is in full swing, and we’re really embracing it this year. There’s a crisp autumn chill in the air that has us reaching for wooly knits, but it’s not rainy enough to have to don a waterproof jacket just yet. And this kind of perfect autumn weather means we can actually embrace all of the trends we’re desperate to try—both in fashion and in beauty—without risk of being rain-sodden or too windswept. And while we’ve already pinpointed the top autumn trends of the season, it’s time to dig into the details. First stop: nails. And more specifically, the nine autumn nail trends we’re seeing everywhere right now and can’t get enough of. Sure, we can get a pretty good steer on cool nail mic...

No, this isn’t particularly ground-breaking news, but just know that polished neutrals aren’t going anywhere next year. “Fresh neutrals are timeless,” says OPI brand ambassador Georgia Rae. “Clean cuticles, nourished skin and a thin layer of a sheer nude to complement your skin tone will remain a trend in 2022,” she adds. And the best bit is, according to Rae, this trend really does work for anybody and everybody—even those who don’t like polish. “I even think short, neat nails worn bare are so chic,” she says. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the process. Earn rewards by chatting, sharing photos, blogging and help gi...

The Pearlescent Illuminating Serum isn’t quite what I was expecting. It’s marketed as a hydrating serum, but I’d liken it more to an illuminating primer. With vitamin B and hydrating beta-glucan, it can be used on its own, but as a skincare aficionado, I’d recommend it as a post-skincare routine add-on. The results, however, are stunning. The finish isn’t dewy (hence I’d recommend a hydrating product underneath), but rather smoothing and blurring. The encapsulated synthetic mica pearls deliver a subtle glow and very minor shimmer that had people complimenting my makeup-less skin all day. And finally, we come to The Pleasing Pen. And honestly, I’m a little miffed. The pen is dual-ended, housing an eye serum on one end and a lip oil on the other, dispensed through matching ste...

Apparently, I have really good nail beds. Nail technicians tell me this. It’s when the shape of your fingernail is long and a wide enough canvas to paint on a long stroke of nail polish. As someone who’s hated her hands her whole life, I take it as a compliment and wear it proudly by always having my nails professionally done in a plethora of colours. I’ve pretty much tried it all—gel extensions, SNS powder and acrylics—in a bid to show off my nail beds. And because of this, my nails have been through it. After my last spell of gels, my natural nails took a beating. I opted for an IBX treatment, which is essentially like Olaplex for your nails, helping to strengthen them over time. “Professional IBX treatments have become very popular,” says nail artist Michel...

The Pearlescent Illuminating Serum isn’t quite what I was expecting. It’s marketed as a hydrating serum, but I’d liken it more to an illuminating primer. With vitamin B and hydrating beta-glucan it can be used on its own, but as a skincare aficionado I’d recommend it as a post-skincare routine add-on. The results, however, are stunning. The finish isn’t dewy (hence why I’d recommend a hydrating product underneath), but rather smoothing and blurring. The encapsulated synthetic mica pearls deliver a subtle glow and very minor shimmer that had people complimenting my makeup-less skin all day. And finally, we come onto The Pleasing Pen. And honestly, I’m a little miffed. The pen is dual-ended, housing an eye serum on one end and a lip oil on the other, dispensed through matching steel rol...