Your nails are as much a fashion statement as rocking next season’s stilettos, which is why we’re always on the lookout for the top trends of this beauty phenomenon hitting the hands of celebrities and everyday trendsetters alike. With fall on the horizon (sayonara, summer! ‘tear’),we’re beginning to look to new color palettes in our wardrobe, accessories and beauty products. Transitioning from wear-with-all whites to basic blacks, the style staples we can’t wait to rock are the glitzy golds, glitters and metallics that epitomize fall and holiday fashion. With the trend-spotting skills of Elle and the help of NYC nail artist Miss Pop, we’ve found the perfect at-home glitter ombre manicure to embrace this trend – happy nail art-ing, Minkettes!
Photo: The Prepster Diaries
Step 1:
Miss Pop advises you start out by tending to your nail condition. “File the nails first, then apply cuticle softener. Next, place your hands in warm soapy water. Take a metal pusher or an orange stick wrapped in cotton at the tip, dip in the water or polish remover and gently push the cuticle at the base of your nail back to form a smile line.”
Photo: Elle
Step 2:
Apply basecoat. Always. Why? “It makes your manicure last longer and protects your nails from staining. It also helps the polish color pop more.” Miss Pop explains. “You can tell you have a bad basecoat when you take off your polish and your nails are yellow. I recommend CND Sticky Base, you can find it at Ricky’s or online. It’s not that common but you can find it with a little effort.”
Photo: Elle
Step 3:
Pick a polish color of your choice. “The darker color, the more the glitter will show up,” she says “but here we chose nude for a sophisticated look. I’ve put it on lawyers, vice presidents…it’s a look you can wear to the office and wear out at night. Choose your nude shade based on your skin color, If you’re a pale, go peachy. If you’re tan, go for a neutral taupe. If you’re brown, go for a sheer pink.”
Photo: Elle
Step 4:
Always apply two coats (“it lasts much longer”), and never allow the brush to touch the cuticle. Although she says it’s not an unmitigated disaster if you do. “People think they can’t paint their own nails but they can—just avoid the cuticle. If you do get any polish on the cuticle it will just come right off in the shower, particularly when you watch your hair. Don’t take a shower for at least four hours after your mani though, or better yet the next day. Hot water is nail polish’s natural born enemy. It causes shrinkage at the tip and encourages chipping.”
Photo: Elle
Step 5:
After two coats of nude polish, let your nails dry completely. “You need to work on dry nails because if your polish is still wet you’ll leave brush tracks in the nail when you go to add glitter.”
Photo: Elle
…click here to read the rest of the tutorial!
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