Having a complete and put together look no longer only means pairing your outfit with the trendiest shoes and sporting the right accessories. There is another small, yet, very important component that many often overlook: Nails. Nail polish has become a necessity to fully complete and bring an ensemble together. Fashion week came and went but the colors on the runway are here to stay for fall. Think foliage; the colors of the leaves when they are turning color; rusty reds, deep tones of browns and burnt oranges are a must do this season.
It’s time to swap out baby blues and bright teals for blues in jewel-toned shades and for greens, we are seeing deep, dark, earthy, almost mossy hues. Instead of screaming pinks and beaming purples from the summer, try purple in colors like plum and eggplant.
Looking for more of a softer and neutral look? Try my personal favorite, shades of beige. Nude shades and beige shades look good on any skin tone and are really outfit friendly, meaning they pair very well with just about anything you wear!
“Shellac it”
Not only are these colors a must do this season but getting them “shellaced”, is something that everyone needs to try. Anh, will explain exactly what it is and also go over the do’s and don’ts !
This year’s latest trend is to shellac your nails. I’ve been a nail technician for three years now, and I’ve never had so many requests for it before. Shellacing is a process where the nail tech cures the shellac under a UV light, layer by layer. A minor downfall is that it does cost more than the regular manicure, but it’s definitely worth the investment. Shellac comes with its different perks. It dries instantly. The polish will last up to two weeks and won’t chip easily like regular polish does. Also, unlike acrylic nails, it doesn’t damage your nail beds. Here are some of the do’s and don’ts of shellac.
Do: Not all salons carry the same brands, so before going to one, you should call your local salon and find out what brands they use. “CND” and “Gellish” are the two brands of choice used at the salon where I work. If the shine in your shellac is dulling, what you can do is apply a little bit of rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and gently rub the surface of your nail with it to bring the shine back!
Don’t: NEVER peel your shellac off. This is the one thing that will drive your nail tech insane. The shellac helps make your nails stronger and when you peel them, it strips off the top layer of your nails and weakens them. The recommended way of removal is to get 100% acetone and soak them for about 10 minutes, or go back to your salon and have them removed there. Another don’t is to never let the nail tech use a drummel drill on your nails to take off the shellac. This stuff is supposed to be soaked off!!
Here is a photo of Monica’s nails a week later, after I shellaced them. The color is still vibrant and the polish hasn’t chipped at all!