Clockwise from top: Sephora + Pantone Universe Color of the Year Nail Lacquer in Tangerine Tango Matte, Pantone #17-1463, Sephora ($17 for set of four). Walt Whitman Shops, 160 Walt Whitman Road, 425-1488. Vernis Nail Lacquer in Lagoon, Dior ($23). Sephora, see above. Nail Polish in Lights, Essie ($8). CVS, 38 Pantigo Lane, East Hampton, 324-8587. Thakoon for Nars High-Fashion Nail Color in Amchoor, Nars ($18). Lord & Taylor, Walt Whitman Shops, see above, 424-1600. Nail Color in Frenzy, Chanel ($26). Saks Fifth Avenue, Walt Whitman Shops, see above, 350-1100. La Lacque Couture Lasting Nail Lacquer in Beige Leger, Yves Saint Laurent ($20). White’s Pharmacy, 81 Main St., East Hampton, 324-0082. Nail Lacquer in Fashion, Deborah Lippmann ($16). Bloomingdale’s, Walt Whitman Shops, see above, 425-6700. Pure Nail Lacquer in Frozen Fancy, Estée Lauder ($20). White’s Pharmacy, see above.
“Summer is all about color and showing off your nails,” declares beauty trailblazer and longtime Hamptonite Essie Weingarten, whose eponymous company has this season launched bright polish shades like acid-lime Mojito Madness and sky-blue Bikini So Teeny. “Today there is no rule of thumb. There’s a rainbow of colors out there and anything, on anyone, is possible.”
Deborah Lippmann (who has manicured the hands of everyone from Kate Winslet to Lady Gaga), says this August it’s all about how you wear bold colors. Her new Run The World (Girls) collection features five matte neon shades, which are meant to be worn scattergun style: one on each finger. “I’m expecting a lot of mixing and matching,” says Lippmann, who is taking her own advice by rocking her polish colors Mermaid’s Dream (a sea foam green glitter lacquer) on one toe and On The Beach, a cool ocean-inspired cream turquoise, on the other four. “We’re so serious in the city, but much freer in the Hamptons. And nail polish isn’t a commitment; it’s a trend you can wear for a day and then take off.”
While colorful nails for summer are hardly revolutionary, this year’s bouquet is striking in both scope and imagination, covering nearly every shade and saturation. At the new 2,200-square-foot Salon Bar in East Hampton, nail experts are prepared for the color rush. “I’ve been stocking up on bright reds, bold pinks, and lots of sparkles,” says owner Cristina Savescu.
But Bianka Lefferts, owner and founder of Southampton’s eco-chic, 27 Hampton Salon, isn’t quite ready to roll the dice on wild polishes. “The vast majority of women in my salon are asking for natural colors like nudes, light pinks, and sheers,” she says.
Lefferts is also seeing a trend in organic and natural product lines. To meet this customer demand, her salon carries Vapour Organic Beauty, which is a formaldehyde-free line. “When I recommend the healthier alternatives, Hamptons women always take it,” she says. “They’re looking to adhere to a healthier lifestyle.” Salon Bar, 66 Newtown Lane, East Hampton, 604-5500; 27 Hampton Salon, 27 Hampton Road, Southampton, 377-3107