A decade ago it was predicted that all Brit girls were soon going to be hopping in and out of Manhattan style nail bars. However, the explosion of speedy nail stops on every station forecourt and street corner never materialized. It is true that there are now many cheaper nail bars in large cities but these deal mainly with gels, tips, nail art and manicures. Whilst it is possible to get a decent shape and polish or pedicure in most towns, another slow change has been happening in the world of nails with new brands and celebrity nail technicians leading the way.
The British nail explosion has been more about accessible luxury; a couture feel on every budget. Spurred on by a deep recession where the price of a fairly cheap nail polish can effect salon-style glamor, this new evolution of nails is about creating fantasy and feeling good. The everyday convenience of the express nail bar conjures up power lunches and high maintenance cash to spare, which to many now seems a bit dated. The nail chic of today is couture inspired and about small luxuries, impeccable grooming and the comfort old school glamor.
Professional Quality Nails at Home
The drive for quality nail products at home has come straight from the professional sector. It is now widely recognized that salon nail brands offer performance at a cheaper price. Old favorites such as Essie and Jessica are easy to use, long lasting and provide a huge choice of colors. These last better than the usual cheaper pharmacy brands and can now be bought in professional make-up shops, salons and even some department stores.
In June 2005 Leighton Denny launched his own brand in conjunction with Urban Retreat who had hosted his first nail boutique in Harrods. This professional quality but beautifully packaged brand now boasts over 200 colors of super high performance polish. Anyone who might find an Urban Retreat manicure too luxuriously priced can buy a bottle of classy looking polish and get the quality look at home. Added to this, the range includes essentials such as quick dry nail oil and corrector fluid for a salon finish.
Since then cult retailer Space NK have showcased the Rococo professional range. Rococo is all about opulent fashion driven color, in bijou packaging but without the price tag of a high maintenance lifestyle. At half the cost of a boutique lipstick, fashion conscious make-up wearers can now buy a nail varnish which adds glamor and polish to their look. A top seller over the 2009 - 2010 holiday period, sales of these products outstripped those of most other color items.
Look at the toes and fingernails of modern women from young trendsetters to students, mums and pensioners and you can see why. Color polish is the make-up look that now finishes every outfit, and even those who seldom wear lipstick seem comfortable with nail color. Cheaper and shinier than the dated notion of the It Bag, a nail polish brings any look in to the new season without inspiring credit card slavery to the high street.
New Colors and Nail Styles
Shorter nails are here to stay. Perfect for showcasing '80s style brights to vintage eggshell, short nails are practical and can be worn to work. Women are no longer at the mercy of long, high maintenance talons. The edgiest most fashion conscious nails respect the need to have an active life, staying short, clean and pretty.
- Matte nail polish has lately gained popularity, offering a plastic alternative to the usual shiny finish.
- Milky gloss or high metallic glitter has left pearly shimmer somewhere in the early '90s. Modern nails are about strong definition not compromise.
- Pretty colors make an occasional seasonal come-back but the heart of the new couture nail is tough. True red, gunmetal and black tinged shades have been the hottest colors to be seen in for several years now, complimenting or toughening up the clothing of each season.
The Biggest Current Trends
Adding to the quirky couture artistry that has become a driving force in British make-up, the hottest trend for nails since 2010 has been nude. This is not neutral or natural but a waxy flesh color that melts the nail in to the skin around it. A classic gloss finish and milk sheer look lends this a pure mannequin elegance. For the last few seasons, the nude palette has been expanded with grey-putty lilacs, such as Rococo's Lady Lavender, and smudgy biscuit tones. These are as high fashion as it comes, but extremely wearable and the perfect updated partner to the new trend for real vintage.
With nail colour taking over from lipstick as a recession fashion staple, gel nail polish is becoming more popular and reviving the fortunes of the nail bar. This ultra hard-wearing polish requires professional application and removal but it is guaranteed to last a hard working week or two. Looking like a very shiny version of regular nail polish, gel is ideal for a special occasion, or for anyone who wants to splurge on a beauty treatment that will give daily benefits. As high-tech beauty takes over the high street, gel nails fit the bill perfectly.
Shefali Choudhury - Writer and visual artist, Suite Beauty topic editor, Shefali spent 10 years in professional makeup artistry from beauty to blood ...
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