nails

It’s no secret that long, healthy nails are a feat that sits atop many beauty wishlists. We’re always on the hunt for the best nail-growth products and expert practices for achieving extended talons, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love a good short-nail moment from time to time. After all, there are few things more liberating than the carefree attitude that comes along with freshly chopped nails. Opening tin cans and picking up coins are just a couple of simple pleasures that become infinitely easier. Though keeping your claws cropped means having a little less real estate to use for nail art, there are still tons of short-nail designs that will satisfy even the most adventurous nail aficionados. Ahead, we’ve rounded up 13 decorat...

Nothing compares to the feeling of emerging from the salon with freshly painted nails. They may be small, but there’s something about having elegantly manicured talons that makes you feel more confident (not to mention significantly fancier). The only downside? The expense—particularly when you bring nail art into the equation.  While the steady hand, creative flair and keen eye of your nail-art technician is undoubtedly worth every penny, keeping regular salon appointments can be costly. Which is why it’s worth practising some looks at home which will appease your nail-art craving between appointments.  Nail art is known for being difficult to master, and that’s certainly true of some designs. There are, however, some options that’ll l...

We’ve done our best to keep it all together these last few months, but our beauty routines sure have changed. For better or worse, we’ve been tasked with taking matters into our own hands when it comes to everything from chemical peels to hair colour. While we’ve gotten pretty good at executing at-home gel manicures, too, we can’t help but think of how nice it could be to use this extra time away from prying eyes to give our nails some breathing room away from that perfect-looking but sometimes damaging cured lacquer. Fun fact: A number of nail polish brands have upped the ante by improving on their traditional nail polish formulas to look, feel, and perform more like gel, without the need to cure it under a light. And, of course, ...

Since salons began to reopen their doors, we’ve seen countless people sporting foil nails; particularly that of the golden variety. The reason we think the trend has become so popular is down to its versatility—you can use the foil to adorn your nails with a thin French tip, or you can go all-out and cover your entire nail in a sheet of molten goodness. The options are endless and can be tailored to suit you, whatever your style may be. To inspire you, we’ve compiled an edit of our favourite foil nails for you to peruse and to show your nail technician at your next appointment. Feel like giving it a go yourself? We’ve also curated a five-piece kit of everything you need re-create the look at home. Scroll below for all-things foil nails. You Deserve to Make Money Even When...

When it comes to nail colours, I personally like to play it safe. November to March I’m a CND Oxblood disciple (thanks Monikh for that addiction), but once spring and summer come around, I’m all about those understated neutrals. Call me a minimalist but I’ve never been one for fancy nail art, or a constant rotation of different colours. Not because I’m not a fan— some of the recent lockdown looks filling Instagram almost had me reaching for the nail pen. It’s mainly because I’m just awful at doing my own nails and unfortunately don’t have the patience, or money, to visit the salon every week. I like my manis to work hard and that’s exactly what a neutral does. Whether it’s a creamy beige, chic taupe or pale pink, neutrals are arguably the most versatile nail colour you...

There’s something about wearing bright colours – be it by way of your clothing or your beauty routine – that just puts you in a good mood. And right now, we can’t think of a better time to lift our style with vivid hues and playful motifs. Handily, you needn’t invest in a whole new wardrobe to give your mood a joyful boost—in fact, one of the easiest and most-effective ways of elevating your style and making you feel happy is with a fun manicure. And right now, we’ve noticed that everyone seems to be opting for rainbow nails. Perhaps it’s the fact that many salons reopened last week but, over the last few days, we’ve lost count of how many rainbow-inspired nail looks we’ve seen. Some of the industry’s top nail technicians confirmed ...

If you’re yet to book your first salon visit of the summer, or you’re patiently waiting for your turn to come around, chances are you’ve spent the best part of the last week looking at manicure inspiration—because that’s what we’ve been doing, too.  The excitement of seeing our favourite nail technicians once again is palpable, but with so many manicure and nail art options to choose from, we’re becoming a tad overwhelmed by the choice. So, ahead of our stint in the salon chair, we thought we’d use our time wisely to discover which nail looks are the most-requested in salons right now.  We consulted with some of our salons to find out which nail and manicure styles are trending this summer, direct from those firmly in the k...

I don’t want to toot my own horn but I have a specific beauty skill that I’m incredibly proud of. I can’t wax my own legs without crying out in pain (and yet I’ve been in labour) and I absolutely wouldn’t go anywhere near box hair dye but I can paint my nails really well. Yes, I love a proper mani like anyone but I’ve managed to hone this skill to such a degree that even beauty editors I’ve worked with think it’s salon-level. I might not be good at self-promotion in anything else, but on this I’m certain. So, you’ll indulge me then when I tell you that I’ve found some great nails varnishes, and even better they’re vegan.  Firstly, though, you’ll probably want to know what makes a nail varnish vegan. From my research, it means that vegan polish is free of any animal byproduct...

Much like our wardrobes, our beauty looks also brighten when the summer months hit. We rose our cheeks and add pops of coral to our lips, but nails? That’s where the fun is. Acting as a blank canvas to the various polishes at our disposal, our nails afford us the perfect opportunity to let our personalities shine through—perhaps even more so than the clothes we wear. So now that nail salons are beginning to reopen, we thought it was the perfect time to collate some colourful nail-art options in one place.  Ahead of reuniting with our technicians, whose steady hands and precision painting we’ve sorely missed, we began saving amazing nail-art pictures to bring with us for inspiration. We found that many of our favourite styles fell into one of six categories. ...

From the often velvet-covered chairs to the glass bottles of beautiful colour lined neatly on marble-effect shelves, there’s many things that make a visit to the salon a magical experience—and one we’ve sorely missed. However, with the news that salons are finally allowed to open their doors again this week, we intend on taking full advantage of our next appointment with our nail technicians. How, you ask? By opting for some stunning nail art that we could never have created ourselves at home.  Remember when nail art consisted of water-painted flowers and glittery dragons? Those were the days. However, after its short-lived moment in the early noughties, nail art really dropped off the grid for a little while. In stark contrast to the grandeur and excess of embellished tal...

Trust us—we know the feeling all too well. You’ve had a gel manicure, your colourful nails look amazing for two to three weeks and you’re on top of the world. But then you notice that they’re catching a little when you wash your hair. Later, while washing up, you spot that the edges are starting to lift. You start inspecting. First, you just pick a tiny corner to try and minimise the damage, but then the high of the peel takes over and 20 minutes later you’re crying into a pile of gel flakes with nails that resemble shredded tissue paper.  The truth is, at-home nail upkeep is actually quite tough. Without an expert there to guide you through things step-by-step, it’s all too easy to make a wrong turn, especially when it comes to gels. Nail Expert at OPI, Belinda Price explai...

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again—often, it’s the littlest things that can make the biggest impact, and nothing has the power to overhaul your look quite like how you choose to decorate your nails and the jewellery you pair with them. While many of us will inadvertently adopt style signatures – be it a red lip, flicked eyeliner, or a penchant for a specific colour of dress – we believe that nails and jewellery present perhaps one of the coolest opportunities to put your personality across. For example, minimalists may opt for thin, layered rings, which they partner with a sleek taupe polish, while maximalists might choose bold hues and OTT nail art, accompanied by chunky knuckledusters. And seeing as more and more of us have been trying our (shak...