Nail it!

Your nails are a fashion statement - you can keep them short and squared off like Jennifer Aniston, round and sharp like Beyonce, sharpened like Fergie or classic and oval shaped like Renee Zellweger.

Once you have the shape, the colour comes into question. Metallics, matte finishes, nudes, bright hues, nail art or the classic French manicures are all popular and the trick is to find what suits you best.

Most salons in Pakistan offer the OPI range, which is extremely popular with women. Nail colour should be chosen according to your skin tone and the look you want to achieve.

In Karachi reds are all the rage at Mirrors and Nail Express. Representatives told The Express Tribune that red shades are the most popular colours at their salons, especially Big Apple and Malaga Wine by OPI. Nail Express said that in the summer clients often want neutral, light shades for their daily look. At Mirrors, French manicures are popular at this time of the year. Mirrors and Nail Express also cater to those who request nail art or acrylic nails but at Mirrors it is very rare that a customer wants this look while it is more popular at Nail Express.

In the capital city, nail art is gaining popularity as well. However, clients commonly ask for single-colour manicures, and French manicures are a popular request. Nirvana Spa said that their most popular colours are Big Apple (red) and Chapel of Love (pink).

In Lahore, pinks and reds dominate nail colour choices. Nail Express and Depilex Beauty Clinic both salons offer a variety of OPI colours. Different shades of browns and bright reds are the most popular at Depilex Beauty Clinic while reds and pinks are more popular at Nail Express. One of the most widely used shades at Nabila’s is Got the Blues for Red which has a darker, maroon tone. Both salons said that clients want colours that complement their clothes for special events but for everyday wear pinks and neutral colours are very popular.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2010.