5 easy nail trends to do at home
After months of being manicure free, we’re ecstatic to be giving our nails a fresh look for autumn. Catwalk nail artist Rita Remark shows us five (easier than they look) trends...
The moon mani
A nail-art manicure isn’t always about making a statement; a small, subtle gesture can be way more chic. Leaving a bit of negative space at the cuticle adds personality to a deep-navy manicure, and is easy to do at home.
‘Try using small circular stickers that you can pick up at office supply stores. Lay the sticker half on your cuticle, then polish your nails as usual. Before it dries, delicately peel away the sticker to reveal a half moon.’ Voìla.
Rita used Essie Nail Lacquer in Bobbing for Baubles, a grown-up navy blue. Top with a glossy topcoat like Maybelline’s SuperStay 3D Gel Effect Plumping Top Coat.
Two-tone scalloped
This look is fun, youthful and will brighten up a black outfit. Choose a pair of complementary shades – our model is wearing two from Essie’s Expressie range: Strong at 1%, a punchy coral, and Second Hand First Love, a pinky nude, £7.99 each
Brush one of the colours down one side of the nail, leaving a small gap at the cuticle, then add another coat to bump up the vibrancy.
Repeat with the other shade on the other side, allowing the two colours to meet in a vertical line down the middle. Finish with a hard-wearing topcoat like Essie’s Gel Couture Clear Nail Polish Top Coat, £9.99.
The French ombre
Jazz up your usual French manicure for a celebration-ready look. Apply two coats of a sheer glossy pink such as Essie’s Nail Lacquer in Spaghetti Strap, £7.99, or for try Kure Bazaar’s Rose Quartz, £14.95, as seen on our model.
Let it dry fully. Next, apply a bright-white polish directly on the end of a cosmetic wedge – one of the Fenty Beauty Lil Precision Make-up Sponge Duo, £16, will work a treat – and lightly dab to the ends of each nail, allowing the colour to diffuse near the middle. Repeat this step, then further melt the shades into one another with a glossy topcoat.
Matt red
You can't get more classic than a bold red, but here, Rita added Essie’s Matte About You Topcoat, £8.99 for a cool new twist. ‘What I love about adding a matte topcoat is that it gives any classic colour a contemporary finish. However, because matt topcoats have a dry finish, it's still important to keep your cuticles moisturized to really highlight the contrast of a matte manicure.’
She says, ‘keep lotion or cuticle oil handy and, if the matt topcoat starts to look shiny, wipe it with some rubbing alcohol on a small piece of cotton to bring back the matt.’
Metallic french manicure
Begin with a classic nude shade, then apply a curve of metallic at the tip. ‘If you're not sure which metallic polish will flatter your skin tone best, then look at your jewelry box. Whichever metal you wear most, whether it be gold, silver or rose gold should be the metallic finish you reach for,’ says Rita.
To recreate this look at home you'll need french manicure tip guide stickers, £1.26. Rita explains, ‘First polish two coats of your neutral colour as a base and let it dry fully. Apply the french stickers just below the tip (you can decide how thick or thin you want them). Next, polish the metallic colour along the sticker guide and, before it dries, gently peel away.’ Our model is wearing Essie Nail Lacquer in Go Ginza, £7.99 with Penny Talk, £7.99.
9 polishes to add to your kit
Nail Lacquer in Spaghetti Strap, £7.99, Essie
L’Oxygéné Oxygenated Nail Lacquer in Spiritual, £15, Nailberry
Gel Couture Nail Polish in Rock the Runway, £9.99, Essie
London Mini Gelology Paint Pot in Forbidden Fruit, £6, Ciaté
Expressie Quick Dry Formula in Second Hand First Love, £7.99, Essie
Nail Laquer in Bobbing for Baubles, £7.99, Essie
Nail Polish in Heartless, £10, Peacci
Expressie Quick Dry Formula in Strong at 1%, £7.99, Essie
Photography: Arved Colvin-Smith
Models: Taffi and Eleanor Maverick, both at Body London
Prop styling: Laura Sawyer at Carol Hayes Management
Make-up: Juri Yamanaka