What was the first thing you noticed when you watched Rihanna’s “Whats My Name” music video? Be honest. Her odd (maybe in a good way?) Rainbow Bright attire, or the sketchy romance in the small grocery store, or even her stop sign red hair? Maybe you noticed what caught my eye—the nail polish. The orange, the blue, and the purple nail polishes that adorn Ri-Ri’s nails perfectly.
It’s impossible for me to adequately express my love affair with nail polish. I’ll admit that I’ve passed on quality excursions with friends, simultaneously failing friend tests, simply to ravage OPI’s online collection and touch up my latest paint job. I’ll also admit that I’ve befriended collegiettes due to their good taste in nail polish: pastel blue—always a good choice.
Nail polish is often overlooked, but any Princeton collegiette is aware that nail polish is an integral part of one’s outfit.
Why should you invest in nail polish?
1. Nail polish (wait for it) polishes a look
2. Nail polish adds pop to an ensemble
3. Nail polish is fun!
Nothing is more impressive than a girl who sets off her outfit with the perfect nail polish. And of course this leads to the question: What does your nail polish color say about you?
Nail Speech
Red: You are confident and dramatic. You’re an extrovert and a take-charge gal. Red is a look-at-me, bold color that is as head-turning as wearers of the color. Also, it’s been said that red nail polish makes hands look younger—what do you think?
Maroon: Maroon is the combination of red and purple; you retain the respect of red and the confidence of purple. A maroon shade says that you are feminine, mature, but not flashy. Subtlety is key.
Pink: Hot Pink—Wearers of hot pink are spunky, youthful, and energetic. Wearing hot pink is quite different from wearing lesser erm…pale pink. Although pink is very associable with women, hot pink shows a harder edge (comparable to red) than pale pink. Pale Pink—You are soft, delicate, and possibly quiet. Pale pink doesn’t necessarily stand out; it’s subtle. Nonetheless it gives you a youthful, feminine, and sophisticated air.
Black: You are either lazy (black goes with everything) or rebellious, maybe even both. Black nail polish is not synonymous with goth. On the contrary, black nail polish is a symbol of anti-establishment and seems to be a favorite of guys and girls alike.
Green: Going “green” in your nail polish mirrors your earthy personality. Wearers of green are ambitious, inspired by excellence, and nit-picky. When you wear green, you invoke images of vigor and spunk.
Blue: Any shade of blue gives a sense of enthusiasm and spontaneity. Navy blue makes you appear sophisticated and authoritative. You command attention. Light blue is youthful, playful, nonchalant, and serene. Wearers of light blue are often impulsive, creative, and (sadly) disorganized.
Brown: Coffee & Light Browns—You are earthy and dare-I-say energetic. You channel Mother Nature and therefore coffee and light brown shades (and even tans) make you seem down to earth. Dark Brown—You appear wise and mature beyond your years. This shade, dark and rich in color, indicates boldness and authority.
Purple: We all know that purple is the color of royalty. Wearing purple nails won’t get you stabbed in the back (think Julius Caesar), so give it a go! Deep purple shows your confident personality. Wearers of purple are often an enigma or deep thinkers. Wearers of light purple and graceful and collected.
French Manicure: We all know what this represents. You are professional, glamorous, and sophisticated.
White: You’re a canvas, and you play it safe. White matches everything, as we know, and white nail polish can also be chic.
Orange: Orange is bright and lively. Wearers of orange appear vibrant. Orange is a bold color, very take-charge, and of course for Princeton women this is a great choice. Why not show school pride?
What polish colors are hot this season?
Nail Trends
Designed nails. The nails above are done by a nail mastermind. Of course this look won’t be easy to reproduce; I’d suggest a stop by your nail salon.
All neon colors (blue, yellow, and orange especially) as well as recent glittery nail polish colors.
Minx is definitely on the upturn. Minx began in 2006 and the company is based in Southern California. Minx Nail Armor is available in a variety of metallics, hundreds of patterns, or even customized patterns or photos. Minx overlays last four-eight days on fingers and up to a month on the toes. They’re quite the hit in Hollywood. Stars such as Beyonce, Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Kelly Ckarlson, Jordin Sparks, Black Eye Peas’ Fergie, and Mama Monster—Lady Gaga have sported Minx in their music videos.
How can you maintain your fierce claws?
Nail Upkeep
1. Make sure, after painting your nails, you are allow your manicure / pedicure to completely dry.
2. Use a no-chip top coat on top of your nail polish
3. At the end of each successive week, following your manicure / pedicure, reapply the top coat.
Happy nail painting girls! Remember that when it’s chipped it’s time to quit (and choose a new color). Let me know about your favorite colors and brands below!
photo credits: 1 • 2
sources: 1 • 2