Having manicured nails is great. But you know what’s even better? Nail art. Even if it’s subtle, nail art can take your manicure game up a notch, giving you, and those around you, something fun to look at. Here are some trending looks that are set to dominate 2019. We hope your hands are ready!
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1. Tortoiseshell nails
This warm-colour combo shouldn’t be left in the ’80s and/or reserved for spectacle frames only. A mottled amber and brown sheer finish is perfect for a manicure and can be dressed up or down because it’s chic or edgy, depending on your look. We love versatility!
2. Colourful cuticles
If you want something that is different and eye-catching while still being subtle, you can’t go wrong with this trend, where colour is added to the cuticle section of the nail rather than the entire bed. This requires a very steady hand, but it also requires very little polish.
3. Negative space
Another trend that is getting a lot of traction on social media is one that is all about negative space. Rather than painting the entire nail in a solid colour, this one requires that you stick shapes or tape on the areas you’d like left bare that you can pull off after painting the rest of the nail. Clever!
Related: Would you sport long natural nails?
4. Stick-on accents
Nail stickers might not be new in the nail-art world, but it’s only recently that they have really hit the mainstream. They can be a fun way to upgrade a basic manicure, and there are loads of press-on decals, ranging from diamantés to letters, that you can have fun with.
5. Mixed media
Accent nails have come and gone, but the updated version is even better. Mixed-media nails, or ones with a combination of smooth and texture, are going to be huge this year. Just make sure that the colours are within the same, or similar, colour family so that it looks intentional.
PHOTO: iStock/marigo20
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