Despite the sing-songing birds and brighter evenings, it might still be a tad early to put away the coats for good. You know what it’s not too early for, though? A charming springtime mani—a.k.a. the simplest way to usher in the new season. From sugary sherbet hues to throwback designs (French tips, anyone?), here are the top nail trends to consider right now.
From baby pink and periwinkle to butter yellow and lavender, saccharine polishes sweetened up many looks on the runway. (Picture a pack of Mini Eggs—that’s the palette.) After all, nothing says spring like powdery pastels.
Call it a French revolution: Contrasting tips had a moment this season. Michael Kors went classic with a purist pairing of beige and white, while Prabal Gurung showed a more playful variation with nails dipped in either pool-water blue or fuchsia.
A major trend on lips this season, glossy red also made several appearances on nails. Tip: For a red that’s more patio hang than holiday party, opt for a cheery shade a smidge on the warmer side. A high-shine top coat is also a must.
From fun-fur collars to frosted eyelids, the early aughts nostalgia is stronger than ever this spring. So it should come as no surprise that Millennium-era metallics are trending hard in the nail aisle. Bring on the holographic finishes.
There’s a cold front happening in the neutrals department. Cool taupes are dethroning the toasty terracottas and camels of years past. A grey-tinged beige feels sleek and sophisticated on its own, but also provides the perfect backdrop for nail art. (See below.)
Give that aforementioned greige lacquer a little lift with a high-contrast design. It doesn’t have to be super intricate or extravagant. Dip a dotting tool in black polish and draw a cute daisy on two of your fingers, like at Sandy Liang. In the mood for something more graphic? Paint a wavy band along the tip and side of your nails à la Peter Do.
This nail polish has a lot going for it. It’s vegan and made with 78 per cent naturally-derived ingredients (including shea butter, spinach and avocado to nourish and strengthen your nails). It’s also quick-drying and serves up full coverage in just one coat.
In mere minutes and for just $10, you can score a perfect French mani. These oval-shaped press-ons feature milky white tips and a sheer beige base. (More natural than the ultra-opaque variety.) Bonus: The glassy shine gives you a gel-like look.
When it comes to red polishes, few are as famous as OPI’s Big Apple Red. Billed as a “true red,” the colour is bright and crisp and boasts just the right mix of blue and orange to make it work on all skin tones.
A base coat and top coat are integrated into the formula so you can skip those steps and get a pristine mani with just this one bottle. The special patented brush is also worthy of mention. It hugs nails so well, one stroke is often all it takes.
The furthest thing from boring beige, this neutral keeps things cool with a touch of grey. But it’s the faintest, tiniest hint of apricot that makes it flattering on a wide range of skin tones (i.e. no zombie hands).
From different-sized dotting tools to extra-fine detail brushes, this nifty kit has everything you need to create pretty much any nail art design under the sun. And it’s under 10 bucks!
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Yet another item to file in the “joys of summer” column: the opportunity to dress up our feet. The socks fly off and on come the snazzy sandals, pretty polishes and maybe even a dainty anklet or (why not?) a throwback toe ring. The fun only lasts for a few short months, so best make sure to enjoy every second. (Consider this your sign to snap up some sandals and a cute new…
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