5 New Nail Polish Trends to Flatter Your Fingers

Remember opening a new box of 64 Crayola crayons? Anything was possible with all those choices. Today’s options for nail color, like that new box of crayons, are virtually limitless. And best of all, many of them are perfect for freshening up your look after 40.

If your routine manicure is looking somewhat dated, then why not try one of these fun  nail trends.

1. Pastels

Pastels are always a great summer look, and in 2013 nail color trends include a variety of corals and pinks. Don’t be afraid to experiment with great alternatives like lavender, mint green, and sky blue shades. These shades look good on active-length natural nails. (For fun, you can visit www.opi.com and  visit the “Try on this color” tab to virtually try on some of these new shades)

2. Neutrals and white

This year’s neutrals range from nude to sheer tints of beige and gray; crisp white made its way to designer runways and red carpets. These more natural-looking colors are perfect if you like to keep things simple and work well for everyday and evening occasions.

3. French manicures

Like the LBD, a French manicure is always stylish. But this year’s take on tradition isn’t your typical pink and white or even the high-contrast dark and light of recent years.

The latest nail polish trends include a more subtle tone-on-tone look achieved by using the same color in different finishes … for instance, a honey high-shine color with matte honey tips or a shiny lavender with glitter tips in the same shade.

The half-moon, a retro two-tone relative of the French manicure, is new, along with a slightly edgier v-shaped half-moon version. Color blocking, painting a contrasting stripe down the center of the nail, is another modern take on tradition.

4. Glitter

Blingy polishes hit the mainstream a couple of years ago, and polish manufacturers offer more colors and glitter designs. Summer colors include deep mermaid blues, greens, and luxe metallics like copper that will carry you into fall.

Nail pros recommend starting with a solid ‘primer’ color for best results. Also, the gritty glitters tend to chip – so finish and protect with a top coat – and the polish is difficult to remove. Use the cotton ball soaked in acetone and wrapped in aluminum foil to remove.

5. Funky and Fun Designs

Tons of new products are hitting the home manicure market this season, making elaborate designs and techniques easy to replicate.

Another one of the new nail trends is nail appliques made of 100 percent natural polish in solid color and fantastic patterns that come in easy-to-apply strips designed for fingers and toes. No mess, and the strips last up to two weeks.

Nail lingerie is a diaphanous applique that slips over your regularly scheduled or DIY manicure to recreate pricey patterns and special effects. Use marks on your toes if they seem too over-the-top for every day. However, it’s easy to cross the line from tasteful to tacky, so if you have to ask if the design is appropriate, the answer is NO.

 Other Nail Trends

• Spring runway shows featured short, natural nails, although some showed tapered, almost pointy tips in intricate designs that took hours to achieve. Nail pros recommend that the shape of your nails – round or square – follow the condition of your cuticle.
• Pros also advise mature women to wear darker colors; find your perfect red, for example. Sheer shades focus on skin tone; color brings attention to your nails. As with lipsticks, choose a nail polish that suits your skin tone, blue-based for cool complexions and yellow-based for warm ones.

Making small changes to the way you do your nails can have a significant impact, especially during the sandal-wearing season. Beautiful toenails and fingernails are like accessories. They must stay updated if you want to look Fabulous After 40 and beyond.