nails

If you’re yet to book your first salon visit of the summer, or you’re patiently waiting for your turn to come around, chances are you’ve spent the best part of the last week looking at manicure inspiration—because that’s what we’ve been doing, too.  The excitement of seeing our favourite nail technicians once again is palpable, but with so many manicure and nail art options to choose from, we’re becoming a tad overwhelmed by the choice. So, ahead of our stint in the salon chair, we thought we’d use our time wisely to discover which nail looks are the most-requested in salons right now.  We consulted with some of our salons to find out which nail and manicure styles are trending this summer, direct from those firmly in the k...

I don’t want to toot my own horn but I have a specific beauty skill that I’m incredibly proud of. I can’t wax my own legs without crying out in pain (and yet I’ve been in labour) and I absolutely wouldn’t go anywhere near box hair dye but I can paint my nails really well. Yes, I love a proper mani like anyone but I’ve managed to hone this skill to such a degree that even beauty editors I’ve worked with think it’s salon-level. I might not be good at self-promotion in anything else, but on this I’m certain. So, you’ll indulge me then when I tell you that I’ve found some great nails varnishes, and even better they’re vegan.  Firstly, though, you’ll probably want to know what makes a nail varnish vegan. From my research, it means that vegan polish is free of any animal byproduct...

Much like our wardrobes, our beauty looks also brighten when the summer months hit. We rose our cheeks and add pops of coral to our lips, but nails? That’s where the fun is. Acting as a blank canvas to the various polishes at our disposal, our nails afford us the perfect opportunity to let our personalities shine through—perhaps even more so than the clothes we wear. So now that nail salons are beginning to reopen, we thought it was the perfect time to collate some colourful nail-art options in one place.  Ahead of reuniting with our technicians, whose steady hands and precision painting we’ve sorely missed, we began saving amazing nail-art pictures to bring with us for inspiration. We found that many of our favourite styles fell into one of six categories. ...

From the often velvet-covered chairs to the glass bottles of beautiful colour lined neatly on marble-effect shelves, there’s many things that make a visit to the salon a magical experience—and one we’ve sorely missed. However, with the news that salons are finally allowed to open their doors again this week, we intend on taking full advantage of our next appointment with our nail technicians. How, you ask? By opting for some stunning nail art that we could never have created ourselves at home.  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 tal...

Trust us—we know the feeling all too well. You’ve had a gel manicure, your colourful nails look amazing for two to three weeks and you’re on top of the world. But then you notice that they’re catching a little when you wash your hair. Later, while washing up, you spot that the edges are starting to lift. You start inspecting. First, you just pick a tiny corner to try and minimise the damage, but then the high of the peel takes over and 20 minutes later you’re crying into a pile of gel flakes with nails that resemble shredded tissue paper.  The truth is, at-home nail upkeep is actually quite tough. Without an expert there to guide you through things step-by-step, it’s all too easy to make a wrong turn, especially when it comes to gels. Nail Expert at OPI, Belinda Price explai...

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again—often, it’s the littlest things that can make the biggest impact, and nothing has the power to overhaul your look quite like how you choose to decorate your nails and the jewellery you pair with them. While many of us will inadvertently adopt style signatures – be it a red lip, flicked eyeliner, or a penchant for a specific colour of dress – we believe that nails and jewellery present perhaps one of the coolest opportunities to put your personality across. For example, minimalists may opt for thin, layered rings, which they partner with a sleek taupe polish, while maximalists might choose bold hues and OTT nail art, accompanied by chunky knuckledusters. And seeing as more and more of us have been trying our (shak...

Without any hope of a salon appointment, and with my below-par at-home mani skills, it’s safe to say my nails aren’t looking their best. While some are brittle and snapping left, right and centre, others are paper-thin, flimsy and weak. So without a nail technician in sight, I thought it was about time I tried to do something about it. In a bid to improve nail health far and wide during these trying times, I reached out to those in the know to find out exactly what is that’s causing my nails to play up. It turns out weak nails occur for many reasons, but the outcome is almost always the same. “Nails are made up of three visual layers of skeletal cells that are held together by oil and moisture to make them strong from within,” explains Mavala’s nail expert, Lynn Gray. When nails start...

If there is one thing that I have learned about myself during this period of social distancing, it’s that I really don’t take enough care of myself. As a beauty editor, this can be a hard thing to admit. You see, I do actually dedicate an hour every evening to a rather luxurious bathing session, and my twice-daily skincare routine is quite lengthy and excessive, but when it comes to just about anything else, I’m useless. Sadly, unless I have an appointment booked to remind me, everything from my brows to my nails gets totally neglected. One area in particular that I have found myself turning a blind eye to recently is my feet. Sure, I give them a good slathering of foot cream after my nightly bath and keep my nails in check as best as I can, but am I really giving ...

When the weather gets warmer, it’s fun to mix things up with your nail colours. Buh-bye to the dark-red, navy, and black polishes of the moody winter months. You served us well. Hello to the bright and bold colours of spring and summer. It’s your time to shine. That’s not to say you can’t wear dark colours in warmer months and bright colours in colder seasons, but there’s something that just screams summer when you’ve got a bold manicure. There’s just something cheerful and optimistic about bright colours. And don’t we all need it right now? For inspiration, I asked some of the most stylish women we know for their favourite bright colours to wear on their nails. See what they said below, and add these to your wish list. You Deserve ...

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: My biggest beauty gripe is chipped nail varnish. And I’m saying this as I sit here typing away with bright, poppy red nails that are well overdue removal (I’m a hypocrite, okay?!). However, the first thing on my agenda this evening when I clock off is to get this varnish off my nails and repaint them so that they look fresh, neat and, well, polished. You see, the problem with opting for bright nails is that it doesn’t wear particularly well. And that is the very reason that around two years ago I swapped my signature red polish for a more understated look. I discovered that opting for a blush shade that is close to my natural nail colour creates a fresh, pretty, glossy finish that, most importantly, doesn’t show any obvious chips or ...

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 manicures have, for the most part, remained monotonal, simple and polished. However, in the last 12 months or so, we have noticed that nail designs have started to get a little more fun. From colourful rainbow nails to chic gradient designs, it would seem as though we are all looking for new ways to up our mani game. You’ll be pleased to hear that nail art is officially back too, and it’s chicer than ever. Stee...