Nail polish was invented in the early 20th century, and nail art has been around almost as long. There’s even a 1930s picture of Joan Crawford with a very modern-looking half-moon mani. But the technique spent a long time in the fashion doldrums, no doubt thanks to the over-the-top, wacky and tacky designs that we saw in the 1990s. In the past four or five years, though, it’s come right back. We see nail art on virtually every runway for major designers, and then there’s social media. “Beauty blogs, Pinterest, and Instagram have paved the way for nail-art enthusiasts to share their ideas, creativity, and intricate works of art to anyone with even a passing interest,” says Linda Ly, owner of Onyx Aesthetics Studio in Gastown. Like lipstick, nail polish is a cheap buy for anyone who wants to cheer themselves up, and getting decorated talons is now easier thanks to products such as dotting tools, tape, stick-on decorations, and press-ons that allow the more dextrous to do their own nail art at home.

Runway to real way
Spring/Summer 2017 runway colours were bright, bold and beautiful – fuchsia and yellow, floral-printed, disco-inspired. The nails followed suit, and Ly predicts that those hues will spill over into reality. “You’ll find more people opting for bright colours a little outside of their comfort zones,” she says. “CND’s new Rhythm & Heat Summer Collection is the perfect introduction with bold hues reflective of a hot, tropical vacation. Nail embellishments using glitter, foil, gems and studs then add interesting dimension to solid colours.”
Gina Edwards, celeb manicurist for KISS Products Inc., created the nail looks for the Christian Siriano show at New York Fashion Week. Her trend tips? “Colour-blocking, bold looks and glitter,” she says.

Finger looking good
Two or three years ago, we were all sporting ‘accent nails’, where the ring finger is painted a different colour to the other digits, or has an embellishment. Jenny Goldsmith, director of integrated marketing for The Ten Spot on Mainland Street, says that’s on its way out. “Instead, people are doing mismatched fingers where there are maybe two nails in one style and the rest in another. There’s really no right way or wrong way to do it, except I’d suggest not just highlighting the middle finger – that could send out the wrong message.”

Space invaders
Negative-space manicures have been hot for a couple of years. This is where parts of the nail are left bare to create the design, which is usually quite a simple, minimal one. “These looks are very chic and wearable,” says Goldsmith. “I particularly like looks in black, the inverse French, and half-moon designs.

Work it
It’s one thing wearing these looks on the weekend, on special occasions or if you work in a creative industry. But what if you’re in a more conservative profession? Goldsmith and Ly insist nail art is A-OK nowadays. “Clients are opting for things like simple embellishments or small, hand-painted accents to dress up their neutral shades,” explains Ly. Edwards suggests two-tone colours. “Also, adding stone work can always add a sophisticated element of surprise to your manicure,” she says.
In fact, there’s really only one no-no now. “The only time a manicure looks bad is if it’s chipped, peeling and not fresh,” says Goldsmith.

Mute point
If you’re not really feeling statement nails this season, but still want something beyond basic beige, might we gently steer you in the direction of Chanel’s Spring/Summer makeup collection? Chanel is the brand that always gets its nail colours absolutely right, from Vamp in the ’90s right up to today. Our two favourites: Androgyne, a granite shade with the teeniest hint of shimmer, and Washed Denim, a cool grey-blue. $32 each, at Chanel counters.
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Onyx Aesthetics Studio is at 421 Abbott Street. Call 604-559-8055 or email [email protected] for information. Appointments are preferred, and the cost of nail art depends on the complexity of your design but starts at $3 per finger.
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The Ten Spot is at 1006 Mainland Street. Call 778-379-5959 or email [email protected]. Appointments are recommended. The cost of nail art depends on the complexity of your design but starts at $10.