BEAUTY EXPERT AND PLATINUM REGULAR DOTTIE MONAGHAN SHOWS YOU HOW TO ACHIEVE BEAUTIFULLY ELEGANT HANDS FROM THE COMFORT OF HOME
There’s nothing I love more than showing off a fresh mani. It may be hard to beat the professional finish achieved in a salon, but it’s possible to get results at home that are very close to it – and at a fraction of the cost.
Pink and shell-like pearlescent finishes have been everywhere, thanks to the release this year of movies
Barbie and The Little Mermaid. Personally, I love the beautiful, more natural glazed-doughnut trend, which is simply achieved by applying the chicest, sheerest milky nude, topped with a chrome glaze or glossy finish.
A great way to wear bold colours without blocking the whole nail is to play on the traditional French mani by covering the nail in a clear polish adding a bold colour to just the tip. My favourite for this is green – think lime, apple, and pistachio shades.
Or go maximalist by adding gems, embellishments, or adornments to create texture or 3-D effects, perhaps on a signature nail to avoid over kill.
You can opt for a traditional polish, which is the easiest to remove, or go for a gel polish that will last longer. You’ll need an LED/UV lamp – bumping up the initial cost. The latter also needs more care when removing, to avoid damage to the nail.
If you feel artistic enough to play with some nail art, keep it simple, as it’s not always easy to do both hands equally well. Why not try some nail-art stickers, which can be used on both painted and natural nails. I would always apply a clear top coat to avoid the stickers peeling.
If you find it impossible to grow a nail, a great cheat for instant results are stick-on nails.
