Ten must-try manicure trends this season

Be it a highlighted half-moon, a gilded tip, or a bit of added bling, these manicures are unique yet wearable. They are eye-catching without being gauche. With some help from Elle and Cosmopolitan, we have put together the perfect nail-trend guide you need to follow this season.

Lego brights



Primary colours and vibrant oranges replace summer’s usual neon nail trends for Spring/Summer 2014. Go for a soft yellow wash, the perfect spring shade.

Nude pastels



Pastels shades have expanded this season to include more muted neutral shades. Try out mink pink and pale blue shades or rich nude and soft pastel grey; do not forget the mink-purple shade.

Structured



For a 90s girl vibe, choose blood red polish accented by a pointy nude moon. To get the look, begin with a base and then top it with angular swipes.

Simply gold



With a golden manicure so delicate and lovely, you can skip wearing jewellery altogether. Simply apply nail foundation on the entire nail followed by a golden nail colour on the half-moon and tip. Finish with a top coat.

Cherry moon



A nude nail needs an edgy twist and nothing looks better than a pop of cherry red. Start off with a luminescent base and finish it off with a swipe of red in a straight moon.

Warrior princess



Inspired by strong women warriors, try a fierce manicure with a flame-like black and red look with contrasting shiny and matte finishes. To get the look, apply nail foundation followed by nail lacquer. Use a thin striping brush and create a feather-like design along the nail using black. Start from the cuticles.

Tweed



Tweed is anything but preppy when it comes in manicure form. Sport these funky nails and be the epitome of chic. To get the tweed effect, apply nail foundation as base, followed by nail lacquer. Use a thin striping brush and layer various shades onto the nail both vertically and horizontally. Finish the look with a top coat.

Blingy black



A blinged-out manicure perfectly complements everything you wear. Covered in sparkles, black talon nails make bedazzling seem downright edgy. Apply black nail lacquer to the tips of your nails. Use a black, white, and silver chunky glitter overcoat over the entire nail. While the nails are still wet, apply a holographic, diamond-shaped glitter to the tip of the nails.

Embellished white



Apply a thick coat of matte white on your nails and then depending on what colour outfit you are wearing, accent of the same colour on the tip of your nails.

Ladybugs



Apply a black scalloped tip by creating a half-circle starting at the middle of the nail to a deep red manicure.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2014.

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