Red nail polish is about as classic as it comes. But when a little something extra special is added — read: nail art — you've just taken that crimson lacquer up several notches. From gold accents to bandana finishes, see five different ways to take red from ravishing to red-hot.
This season we've seen an abundance of rich, highly pigmented nails, such as blue-as-the-sea polishes and taxicab-yellow lacquers. And while these bold and bright shades may be in high demand, classic red is still holding its own, especially when worn with its natural pairing, red lipstick. So when it comes to red on red, let's take a look at some different ways to wear it, from demure to cool and everything in between.
When bright blossoms abound and the days are getting longer, there's nothing as retro-fab as red nail polish. Back in the days before shades like purple, green, and tangerine were de rigueur for the season, there were reds meant just for this time of year. And this season, bright reds have made a huge comeback. They're a chic choice for those who want a pop of juicy color, and if you pick the right shade, your hands and skin will positively glow. So to find out how to get the right warm-weather red for you, just keep reading.
Here's an excerpt of a post by OnSugar blog LesleyKat on getting a sparkly holiday manicure:
As most of you know, I am abso-obsessed with all flakie polish. It's such a cool effect and adds so much dimension to your nails. When I was given Barielle Elle's Spell, I totally squealed. Red flakies are perfection for the holidays. Unfortunately, this polish doesn't do so well on its own, so I think layering is a must. I chose to go with a red-on-red. However, the red flakies would probably look KILLER on top of gold, silver, or white. Who knows, it could even elevate a rich chocolate brown color to the next level.
Want to see more? Be sure to read the rest of the post now. And when you're through, why not start an OnSugar blog of your own? You could be featured here on Bella.
Just when I thought the hellacious polish job I've got right now from multiple rounds of testing and at-home Minx foiling was something I should fix, I find out that my "look" is the hot new thing in the UK. Apparently British Vogue and Elle editors have been spotted wearing intentionally chipped red polish recently, and salons there even offer chipped manicures. (You could also just do your nails and then, you know, wait). This isn't the first time imperfect polish has been hyped as a trend, but maybe this time it'll take off. What do you think, though? Is this still a fashion faux pas, or am I ahead of the trend?
With the H1N1 scare still fresh in our minds, I'm not sure many of us will be partaking in any activities involving saliva-swapping, like round after round of beer pong or a playful game of bobbing for apples. But since we're in the heart of apple harvesting season and Halloween is upon us, I figured there had to be another way to do the whole apple bobbing thing without transferring communicable disease. That's why I've gathered together different apple-colored polishes to pay tribute to this classic autumnal symbol. From red to trendy green to every finish in between, here are 15 polishes you might like.
Much like red lipstick, red nails never seem to go out of style. They're classic all the way, and they go with just about any ensemble. Talk about versatility. Since the beginning of the new year, I've taken note. Various celebs have been out and about sporting different shades of the bold hue on their digits. I don't know if I can call it a major trend, but it's definitely one that has been going strong for quite some time. . . er, millennia. In fact, it's commonly thought that the first nail polish (a pinkish-red) came to be sometime around 3000 B.C. in China. So, let's have some fun. See if you can guess which celeb is caught "red handed" by taking cues from the photos.
I hereby nominate PrincessTracy as the TeamSugar guru of dark red nail polish. For this Beauty Mark It challenge, she scoured the Web to find 25 different options, from drugstore bargains to luxe lacquers. (Did you know that Joan Rivers has her own nail polish line?)
Of course, there were lots of other great suggestions. After reading Daydreamer's opinion of OPI St. Petersburgundy, I'm adding that color to my shopping list. It seems like a rich, creamy color that would look amazing on short, square nails. Have a look at everyone's favorites here, and if you have your own suggestions, share 'em in the comments!
Welcome back to another Beauty Blooper. My hope is that by sharing our mishaps, we'll see that nobody's perfect—and we can learn a few lessons along the way, too. Here's this week's anonymous tale:
"Hey Bella, I wanted to share my beauty blooper with you so that other readers don't make the same mistake I have. Since red nails are this season's hottest trend, I went out and bought a bottle of that gorgeous Saratoga color from the Nars Holiday 2007 Siren Song Collection. I figured that I could afford to splurge on a designer polish, since I was going to get at least ten at-home manicures out of the bottle.
"I could barely wait to get from the mall to my house to get to work, so at each stop light I'd paint another digit. As you can imagine, this wasn't the brightest idea. By the end of the ride I'd managed to paint all but three nails. I didn't use a base coat, I didn't treat my cuticles and the messy red polish wound up all over my fingers.
"To tidy things up, I took out my wooden stick tool, wrapped it in cotton and dunked it in nail polish remover. When that didn't work at removing the pink stains, I went to town with my cuticle cutter.
"You should see the sad condition of my fingertips now. They're puffy, red, sore, dehydrated from the polish remover and I no longer have any cuticles left. My blood-red manicure is a bloody mess!"
Lesson Learned Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to beauty. If you aren't going to take the time to give yourself a proper manicure, let a professional do your dirty work.
To submit a beauty blooper of your own, simply become a TeamSugar member, register here and then send me a private message!
It's not that red nails have ever gone out of style, it's just that the variation of shades and the shape of the nail changes. For example, in the '80s, long pointy nails rocked, and in the '90s, long rounded nails were stylin'. This season, short red nails are red hot! Just check out the digits on trend setters Keri Russell, Nicole Richie, Christina Aguilera and Mary-Kate Olsen.
As for color suggestions, you already know what my favorites are—and if you're not into those, there is always the Deborah Lippmann Lady in Red Collection and as well as some past red nail polish picks. Enjoy!
