We’re in the little bubble of spring where it’s still too chilly for summery separates, but everyone’s itching to wear something plucky. (The exception here is your crazy neighbour who’s already in shorts.) Thankfully, you can brighten up the final remains of your winter wardrobe with cheerful colours on your nails.
Lacquers are bright again this spring and summer, but slightly toned down from the full-on neon hues that were popular the last couple of years. My favourites are rose, lavender, peach and teal palletes – the last of which will look great against Pantone’s colour of the year “Tangerine Tango,” and most coral and blush pieces.
Retro tones – think Cadillac car paint from the ’50s – are ladylike and sort of cinematic, Essie even dedicated their gorgeous resort collection to Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor. Here are my favourite polishes for the warmer months, with a nod to my favourite filmmaker.
Broadway Danny Rose
Quo by Orly polish in Just Married, GOSH polish in Blissful, and Bourjois Paris So Lacque in Rose Lounge. (Supplied)
Quo by Orly in Just Married ($10), a ballet pink, available at Shoppers Drug Mart.
GOSH nail polish in Blissful ($7), a bubblegum pink creme, available at Shoppers Drug Mart.
Bourjois Paris So Lacque in Rose Lounge ($10), a nearly sheer pale pink that gives the look of a French manicure with one coat, available exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix.
Purple Rose of Cairo
NARS polish in Diamond Life, Essie polish in She's Picture Perfect and No More Film, and OPI lacquer in I Have A Herring Problem. (Supplied)
NARS polish in Diamond Life ($21, limited edition), a metallic shimmery violet, Narscosmetics.ca, Sephora.ca.
Essie polish in She’s Picture Perfect, an iridescent lilac, from the 2012 Resort Collection ($9.99), available in salons and professional beauty stores.
Essie polish in No More Film, a deep indigo-violet creme, from the 2012 Resort Collection ($9.99), available in salons and professional beauty stores.
OPI nail lacquer in I Have A Herring Problem ($10.95), a sea-blue with fine flecks of gold and silver, from the spring/summer 2012 Holland Collection, available at professional salons and spas.
What’s Up, Tiger Lily?
NARS polish in Orgasm ($21), OPI lacquer in Gouda Gouda Two Shoes ($10.95), and Jacob polish in Retro Chic ($6). (Supplied)
NARS nail polish in Orgasm ($21), a peach with golden shimmer, Narscosmetics.ca, Sephora.ca.
OPI nail lacquer Gouda Gouda Two Shoes ($10.95), a rusty rose with subtle shimmer, from the spring/summer 2012 Holland Collection, available at professional salons and spas.
Jacob polish in Retro Chic ($6), a jelly bean peachy cream, available at Jacob stores and Jacob.ca.
The Curse of The Jade Scorpion
GOSH polish in Drizzle, Deborah Lipmann Collection in Mermaid's Dream, Quo by Orly in The Blue Box, and OPI nail lacquer in Thanks a WindMillion.
GOSH polish in Drizzle ($7), an ice creamy mint, available at Shoppers Drug Mart.
Deborah Lipmann Collection in Mermaid’s Dream ($22), a metallic seafoam with flecks of turquoise, gold and dark blue, available at Murale.
Quo by Orly in The Blue Box ($10), which I think beats out China Glaze’s For Audrey hue as the perfect Tiffany box blue, available at Shoppers Drug Mart.
OPI nail lacquer in Thanks a WindMillion ($10.95), a pistachio-meets-sea green creme, from the spring/summer 2012 Holland Collection, available at professional salons and spas.
Bananas
Jacob polish in Sunny Capri and China Glaze polish in Smoke and Ashes.
Jacob polish in Sunny Capri ($6), a yummy Easter egg yellow, available at Jacob stores and Jacob.ca.
China Glaze polish in Smoke and Ashes, a black with tiny flecks of blue, green and gold, that looks very late ’90s and builds nicely with other sparkly lacquers, from the Capitol Colours Collection, inspired by The Hunger Games.
Healthy nail tips:
- Always use a base coat to protect the health and colour of your nail, especially when using a deep hue (anyone who’s used red without a base is nodding right now).
- Give your nails a break from polish at least a few days a month to restore strength and moisture.
- Rub cream into cuticles and nails every day. I like TVAL Skincare Nail Butter ($6.50) and The Body Shop Macadamia Body Butter Duo ($18).
- In general, wear darker shades on shorter nails. If you prefer to keep long nails, pale colours and nudes look classier.
- Don’t bother trimming cuticles, push them gently back.
- Make touch-ups at home easy by bringing your own polish when you get a manicure.
- If you have a problem with toe nails rubbing against your toes (and you’ve already tried trimming them straight across) consider trimming them at a slight angle, making a wide “V”-shape in the centre of the nail. Sounds crazy, but your nail will give the rest of the little piggies a break. (Note: I have no scientific explanation for this, but it did get my high school ballet class through pointe shoes.)
- Once a week, rub lotion on your hands and pop on cheap cotton gloves from the dollar store.
- Wear rubber gloves for housework.
- Use fine emery boards and file in one direction (both ways can cause splitting).
- Spice up your nail look by painting the ring finger a different colour. Don’t ask me why, but it’s popular, and a little more mature than a different colour on every nail.
Follow me on Twitter: @KaterKen
