In the nail sphere, trends are split between two distinctly different looks: a refined, nearly nude, short style versus the fashion frolic evinced by long, bold, pointy nails.
Let’s call the first one, a favourite of both Jennifer Aniston and Hailey Bieber, the “posh” manicure. Manicure guru Soni Rai, of Sydney’s Sindoba nail salon, is an advocate of this “naked” look. To achieve it, she begins by prepping the nails – gently pushing back and refining the cuticles, cleansing the nail plate and shaping them to “enhance the natural nail bed and get the most flattering, long-lasting result”.
Next, she applies American Creator gel base “as it provides an excellent foundation for durability, while ensuring a smooth, even finish”. Over this, Rai applies the on-trend colour, American Creator Framework Gel in Kindly ($67), loved for its muted-yet-shiny finish.
Once the colour is on, Rai performs “more shaping and buffing to ensure the product sits seamlessly on the natural nail. This step helps to avoid any thickness or unevenness, creating a clean and flawless finish and a shelf life of two to three weeks.” Next comes a topcoat, cuticle oil and hand cream.
Other go-to shades for the naked manicure include Builder in a Bottle (BIAB) gel in Demure and Cloud ($47) each, and GelCare Coconut Milk ($26), a milky-white.
Short nails also love a French manicure, or a nude manicure highlighted by tiny white polka dots. If you are after bolder shades, Rai recommends Chanel Le Vernis in Rouge Noir ($53), a deep, vampy red, and Gelcare in Club Navy ($26).
From short, sharp and groomed, we move to long and loud. Shapes vary from almond (characterised by their slim sides and rounded tip) to coffin (long, tapered sides and a squared-off tip) and stiletto (long, with a razor-sharp point). Emily Hayes, a nail technician from Sydney spa The Parlour Room, favours an almond shape because it’s “elegant, elongates the fingers and suits almost everyone”.
Soft, clean shades are also trending among Hayes’ clients, with O.P.I I’m a Bubble Bunny ($19) a favourite for its sheer, milky-pink finish. At the other end of the colour wheel, Hayes says O.P.I Malaga Wine ($18) is “making a comeback as a rich, sophisticated deep red that’s perfect for longer nails”.
For those with shorter nails who want to experiment with length, get BIAB gel professionally applied over the top of your natural nails to add strength and durability. “Maintenance appointments every two to four weeks help keep the nails looking their best,” says Hayes. “As time goes by they will grow to your desired length.”
ASK STEPH
Can you layer multiple face masks?
“Multi masking”, as it’s known, is both clever and makes beauty sense. It’s where you target specific areas on your face with dedicated masks such as under-eye patches, a clay mask for oily spots and a hydrating mask like Roeme Hydra Plasma Veil Mask ($50) for dry skin.
Send questions via Instagram, @mrssdarling.
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