“As we welcome spring with open arms and slam the door on old man winter’s face, you may begin to ponder exciting ways to introduce color into your spring style. Nail polish is one of the most affordable and practical options for redheads to play with color, without committing to a full closet overhaul or investing a small fortune in a new makeup palette that may be oh so wrong.” – Kara Dunford, How to be a Redhead Writer
“Nails for Spring 2014 are all about simplicity. Simple looking nails with a rounded short shape and simple DIY nail art are the biggest trends. As far as color goes, nails in soft metallics and water down creamy pastels are very big this season. But, we’re redheads. So, it’s always fun to do something crazy once in a while.” – Carmina Alvarez, How to be a Redhead Writer
Taking cue from these trend informants, Kara and Carmina are going to delve into ROYGBIV’s playground and meet a few friendly hues ready to make an appearance this spring:
Rock Beauty London’s Nail Caviar
“Practice your best royal wave to show off this luxe nail manicure. This 3D manicure delivers salon comparable results at home, with simple application.” -Kara
HOW TO: Paint your nails with two coats of the included polish, dip nails one at a time in the nail caviar, press firmly onto the covered nails, then allow 15-20 minutes for drying time.
Reverse French Manicure
“Say goodbye to the traditional french manicure. This edgier manicure consists of highlighting the moon or half circle in the base of your nails, instead of focusing on the tips. The best way to achieve this is by using a bright or strong color on the half moon and paint the rest of the nail in a different color, preferably a muted color so the half moon stands out.” -Carmina
HOW TO: You will need reinforcement stickers, 2 nail polishes in different colors and a glossy top coat.
Steps: Apply 1 or 2 coats (on the entire or half nail) of the nail polish you want showing on your half moon. Wait for it to dry completely. Place the reinforcement stickers over the half moon and paint the top half with 1 or 2 coats of a different color. Once it’s completely dry pull the reinforcement stickers off and finish with 1 coat of a glossy top coat.
Essie ‘Coat Azure’
“Say farewell to the wintertime blues and welcome the blue skies of spring with Essie’s ‘Coat Azure.’” -Kara
Twin sister to Placid Blue, Coat Azure wraps your digits with a breathtaking shimmering medium blue.
The Fishtail Braid Pattern
“This nail art can be worn on one nail or on all 10. The Fishtail Braid pattern looks very intricate and sophisticated, but it’s actually very easy to create and doesn’t require any tools or stickers.” -Carmina
HOW TO: You’ll need 3 or 4 nail polishes in different colors and a glossy top coat.
Steps: Choose one base color and apply on the entire nail, let it dry completely. At the base of the nail start painting a diagonal stripe with a different color and wait for it to dry. Continue with painting across the first stripe a second stripe with a different color creating an “X” shape and let it dry. Take the base color and paint a diagonal line across the nail again forming an “X”. Continue until you’ve reached the top. Finish off with a glossy top coat.
Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer
“Keen on opting for a neutral? Redheads say hello to Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer. Exuding class and an ethereal style, Dior’s ‘Safari Beige’ is a delicate warm beige. Just picture your toes wiggling in the sand on a sunny beach with coordinating shades of beige.” -Kara
White Nails
“For a true spring/summer look, opt for white nails.” -Carmina
HOW TO: Apply two layers of opaque white polish and a shiny topcoat to complete the look.
OPI ‘My Paprika is Hotter than Yours!’
“The name alone is word candy. OPI aims to spice up your life with this ravishing red/orange lacquer. An added bonus, OPI’s website presents an option to virtually “try before you buy” by altering skin tone and nail length on a sliding scale.” -Kara