It’s spring. We’re ready for a change. And the first thing we’re looking to revamp is our nails; but where do we start? Obviously color is a major consideration; are we doing pastels again? Is it all about the perfect nude? We’re also wondering, what’s the nail shape for spring? Are gels passé? There’s so much to process! We turned to celebrity manicurist Tracylee Percival, who has prettied the nails of Cate Blanchet, Cameron Diaz, Nicole Richie, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, and Jenny McCarthy to name a few, to find out what looks are destined to be on everyone’s fingertips this season.
SHAPE
“Spring nail trends start with a great shape. Get ready for almond or oval shaped nails,” says Tracylee. For most hands, this style helps to elongate the length of fingers and add an element of quiet glamour.
IT COLOR
In addition to a softer, rounder edge, nails this season are perfectly manicured. “Royal blue nail lacquer is on trend this season. I like to add a matte top coat to mine.” To achieve this look, try Formula X The Colors in Vibrant Royal Blue ($11) with a finishing coat of Sally Hansen Big Matte Top Coat ($6). When asked if blue will be the “it” color of the season, Tracylee adds, “Most trending nail colors will continue to have warm undertones especially in gray, coral and soft white. But blue is certainly a color to watch.“
TRY:
Tenoverten Nail Pilish in Essex ($18)
Clinique A Different Nail Enamel in Really Rio ($13)
Formula X The Brushed Metallics in Matte Metallic Vanilla ($13)
TEXTURE
We’re thoroughly intrigued by the concept of texture on nails. Over the years, we’ve seen everything from crackle to leather and tons of textures in between. So we couldn’t help but pick Tracylee’s brain on how texture will evolve for spring. “Texture will still be on trend for Spring, with varied forms of matte textures in velvet and suede as well as over coats with chunky shaped glitter pieces such as Dior Vernis Blossoming Top Coat ($28), which adds a fun party to your nails!”
GEL
With so much focus on manicure perfection, we can’t help but wonder if gels are still au courant. Frankly, it’s the only way most of us can maintain a perfect set of chip-free nails. Tracylee shares, “The new hybrids will be the hot gel manicure for spring. I’m obsessed with Sally Hansen’s Miracle Gel ($10), which has a beautiful range of colors, and gives you the benefits of a gel manicure without UV light curing and no soaking! It’s a truly genius innovation. It goes on just like nail polish, dries quickly, with long lasting shine, and removes with non-acetone nail polish remover.”
NAIL ART
Nail art is sort of the wild wild west of the nail game. It seems anything goes. With spring we’re itching for a shift. Tracylee predicts, “Nail art will be simplified and refined with negative space and texture. The nail looks I created for the Rodarte and Tracy Reese New York fashion shows are perfect examples of what’s trending in colors, negative space and matte texture. Gone are the days (for now, anyway) of 3D, put-everything-on-the-nail-but-the-kitchen-sink nail art. Subtle and chic is this season’s hottest nail art. For example, tone on tone nail looks are starting to trend and matte texture is still going strong! My favorite is what I’ve coined “matte metallic,” which is adding a matte top coat over your favorite metallic shade to give it a shimmering, matte textured nail, as seen in the nails I created exclusively for Elle magazine.”
With such amazing insight into spring nail trends, we asked Tracylee to share a DIY nail art design that is spring-inspired: “The nail art I created for the Misha Nonoo show is an easy DIY.”
What You’ll Need:
White nail polish (Try Butter London Cotton Buds ($15))
Matte topcoat (Try Revlon Matte Top Coat ($5))
Striping tape
Acetone nail polish remover
Directions:
1. Place striping tape down the center of each nail, being sure that it’s flat and completely adhered to the nail, from cuticle to free edge.
2. Using white polish, apply a thin coat of white down each nail. Repeat with a second coat.
3. Remove striping tape immediately at this time, before the nail polish dries.
4. Clean up any nail polish that may have gotten on your skin and apply matte topcoat.
This spring, put your best finger forward…
-Felicia Walker Benson is the founder of ThisThatBeauty.com
The post Spring Nails: Everything You Need For The Perfect Manicure appeared first on The Lady Loves Couture.