Nail colour has come a long way from the plain red enamel of Revlon’s groundbreaking Cherries in the Snow in 1932.
Not only is there now a complete rainbow of colour, from purest white to sootiest black via orange, yellow, green, blue, green, indigo and violet, but there are now loads of other effects from textures (such as denim, leather, and even concrete) and long-lasting semi-permanent formulations to spray-on colour and non-liquid stick-on strips.
Most big innovations appeared after the introduction of Shellac by CND in 2010 which, according to Samantha Sweet, distributor for CND, Shellac and Minx, “Changed everything because women could finally get a salon manicure that didn’t smudge before you’d even got your purse out to pay for it. It also stayed put – and remained super-shiny – for two full weeks.”
While some fun finishes, such as feathers and fur, have come and gone, there are still plenty of great innovations to choose from. Here are six of the best.
- Longer-lasting polish: Instead of lasting 1-3 days before chipping, semi-permanent gel nail polishes are set or ‘cured’ by a UV or LED light which rapidly hardens the polymers in the product, so they then last for weeks at a time. DIY versions don’t always last quite as long, but try SensatioNail Starter Kit, £34.99.
Alternatively, longer-wear gel-like formulations are applied like ordinary polish but last twice as long as usual. Try Bourjois 1 Seconde Gel Nail Formula, £4.79 or Vinylux Weekly Polish, £9.95.
- Spray-on colour: Brush on base coat, then mist on one coat of colour before waiting two minutes (or a few minutes longer if you add top coat), then wash your hands to remove excess colour from your skin. It’s a fun, novel way to varnish your nails, but there isn’t a big colour choice. Check out Nails Inc Spray-On Nail Polish, £10.
- Textured finishes: There aren’t as many as there used to be, but choose from the jeans-style effect of Ciate’s Denim Manicure, £12, and Butter London’s super-glossy Patent Shine, £15, to MAC Texturize Top Coat, £10, which gives your favourite varnish a leather-textured finish.
- Kinder varnishes: They don’t perform miracles, but some formulations do contain conditioning ingredients to help care for nails. Try M&S Autograph All in One Nail Colour with Argan Oil and vitamin E, from £3.60 or Barry M Coconut Infusion, £4.99 with coconut oil to hydrate and vitamins B and C to replenish.
- Appliqué polish: Ready-painted dry nail polish strips adhere to the nail surface rather like sticky tape, so they need only careful positioning, trimming and shaping. There’s no drying time and they’re brilliantly chip-proof. Try Incoco Dry Nail Polish Strips, from £26.63, which come in both plain and nail art designs.
- Chrome metallics: These range from straightforward gold, silver and bronze colours (try Models Own Colour Chrome Rose, £4.99), to more holographic 3D effects such as 17 Holo Nail Polish, £3.99. But the real eyecatchers are pure chrome finishes such as Minx Nail Fashion in Silver Lightning, £12.99. As Samantha says, “Try them on your toenails. You’ll look like you have little mirrors on them.”
Do you like to experiment with colour or texture on your nails? Do show us your best colour or texture nail art work, by posting a pic on Facebook and tagging @SoSensational. We can’t wait!
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