While it can be hard to part with your go-to burgundy or bottle of Ballet Slippers, your nails deserve a vacation too. That’s why there’s no better time to have fun with your fingertips than during the summer. After all, pool days and tropical getaways call for brighter polish shades and more playful designs. To give you some nail-spiration, we talked with nail expert and manicurist Miss Pop about the trends that are heating up. Trust us, they’re worth stepping out of your mani comfort zone for.
Yellow Polish
Sunny days call for equally as sunny polish. “I don’t know of a color that is happier than yellow,” explains Miss Pop. “This summer it’s all about the shade of sunshine.” If you’re worried yellow may look icky on your nails, there’s a trick to making it really standout: Paint your tips with two coats of white polish before adding a coat of yellow. This makes the hue really pop. “There are a few exceptional bottles where you can just polish on the yellow, no white necessary,” adds Miss Pop. “I’ve been particularly obsessed with the new Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Giallo Napoli ($28, chanel.com).”
Bubblegum Pink And Candy Apple Red
“One of my favorite color combinations is seeing a renaissance this summer— bubblegum pink and candy apple red,” shares Miss Pop. Try incorporating both colors together into a design or use shade for an accent nail. “If two colors seem like too much, stick with classic lipstick red. It’s always chic and it’s certainly one of the big shades of 2018,” she continues.
Negative Space
“Just like clothing in the summer, these negative space designs are baring more and more,” says Miss Pop. Negative space designs are when you leave part of the nail polish-free. “There’s definitely more nail than polish being showcased in the chic designs — which is also coincidentally a great way to mask chips now that we’re spending so much time beach and pool side,” she adds. Try only painting on a brightly-hued half-moon or triangle at the base or polishing on polka dots or stripes over a bare nail.
Tropical Floral Designs
Throw a garden party on your nails with flower-inspired designs. To ensure it feels more summer-y than spring, embrace tropical blooms: “This summer I’d add that the tropical trend is also making its way down to our fingertips with palm leaf looks inspired by the iconic wallpaper at the Beverly Hills Hotel,” says Miss Pop. Can’t DIY it? Nail wraps, like NCLA’s Palm Fantasy ($16, shopncla.com), are a goof-proof alternative.
