With plenty of inspiration from the runways still coming down the pipeline, it’s time to turn our attention to some of the nail trends for the season.
At Alice + Olivia at New York Fashion Week, nails inspired by the Victorian era were the brainchild of artist Miss Pop, who worked with the Sally Hansen brand to create an ice-blue shade, Boss Babe, embellished with a pearl sitting on a gold disc.
The look is another example of the blue craze sweeping the nail world. Social platform Pinterest has predicted the colour will be huge in beauty, fashion and even food throughout the year. Our favourite hue, a nostalgic blue-grey, has been dubbed “fog blue”. According to nail artist Sojin Oh, creative director at gel-nail brand Kijibae, “This moody blue captures that feeling of both clarity and blurriness.”
To experiment with this shade – and the length of your nails – try Kijibae’s Foggy Semi-Cured Gel Nail Strips ($18). Or, for a polish, try O.P.I Nail Polish in Alpaca My Bags ($12).
Moving along the colour wheel, every shade of blue denim is also on trend, from deep inky tones to a medium wash and even faded versions. One of our favourite shades is Dior Nail Polish in Denim ($50). Blue looks best with a high-shine finish, so add a lustrous top coat like Sally Hansen Dries Instantly Top Coat ($15).
Applying a top coat every two days will keep regular polish in good nick and add to longevity. For an even longer-lasting manicure, BIAB (Builder in a Bottle) is still popular. BIAB uses a specialised gel formula designed to help strengthen natural nails and avoids the ingredients found in traditional gels that can cause skin sensitivity and allergic reactions. This is then topped with your favourite long-lasting colour. Try Wonderbu Nails in Melbourne’s CBD, and in Sydney go to The Parlour Room in Redfern and Clovelly.
I’ll be keeping blue in my back pocket for winter, but my current go-to is three coats of deep olive green. But if you can’t pass up a red nail, head in the right direction with a fashion-forward burgundy such as glossy JINsoon Nail Polish in Audacity ($98).
Another trend sees nail artists mixing matt and gloss finishes. Try painting some nails in matt brown and giving the rest two coats of super-glossy chocolate. We love Manucurist Green Polish in Clove ($24).
ASK STEPH
When should I use setting powder?
To avoid patchiness and unevenness, apply setting powder on top of liquid foundation and before powder blush or bronzer. Try By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder ($37).
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