BellaSugar

See All the Prettiest Manicures From the Grammys

Miriam Lacey — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:27:55 PST

The Grammys are always an exciting evening for music, but with nail art fans like Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Adele in attendance, they're a pretty great night for manicures, too. See all the best-looking nails of the night, from Taylor Swift's short and simple look to Gaga's talons and Adele's surprising polish job.

Fashion Week Trend: Barely There Nails

Miriam Lacey — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:47:07 PST

For the past several seasons, nail art has gone positively wild on the runways, so it was inevitable that we'd see a backlash. Fall 2012 is showing hints of a more subtle route, sending out manicures that are high on gloss but feature faded, sometimes altogether absent color. From BCBG to Richard Chai, there are a lot of new ways to wear next to nothing.

Polka-Dot Nails Are Adorably Imperfect at Kate Spade

Miriam Lacey — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:50:07 PST

Who says nail art has to be completely uniform to be winsome? At the Kate Spade show, models showed off these pretty black and cream polka-dot nails with asymmetrical and multisized dots. Along with the models' almond-shaped nails, the quirky dots gave the manicure a whimsical feel that was fresh and simple, not to mention easy to copy at home. So next time you're in the mood to change your spots, take a page from Ms. Spade's book and don't worry about "perfect"-looking polkas.

3-Layer Nails Make For the Ultimate Polish Trifecta at Costello Tagliapietra

Jaime Richards — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:27:00 PST

What do you get when you sandwich a classic red polish in between a deep, rich brown and a heady black-brown? Why, the ultimate trifecta of cool nail polish palettes, of course. At Costello Tagliapietra's New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 show, models donned manicures featuring a clever "stacking" of three different richly hued shades: Essie's Carry On, followed by Bordeaux, and Little Brown Dress, respectively.

The result was "beautiful, elegant, and warm," according to Essie founder Essie Weingarten (for Beauty.com), who also recommends experimenting with mixing and matching the above colors to create your own unique formulation. The key, however, is to allow two minutes of drying time in between each layer. And while you wait? "Have a glass of bordeaux in between," she quips. See more of the rich red manicure up close now.

Catch Fire With The Hunger Games Nail Collection

BellaSugar — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:39:44 PST

Adding to the continued excitement of all things Hunger Games, we got our hands on the polishes from China Glaze's forthcoming Colours from the Capitol collection. Nail colors inspired by movies can sometimes be a yawn, but these will charm die-hard fans and manicure connoisseurs alike. From ashy, matte shades to high-definition glitters, these polishes could soon be among your most favorite nail colors. Preview them all in our video now!

February's Brightest and Best New Nail Polish Colors

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:08:40 PST

Spring ahoy! We may still be in the middle of snow drifts up to our schnozes, but your favorite nail polish purveyors are determined to get you in the mood for something a little fresher and maybe just a touch warmer, too. February is the month when most companies debut their first collections for the new season, and the best shades run the gamut from gorgeous, moody viridian to eye-popping fuchsia. And did we mention the animal-print nail appliqués? Whether you're ready to move into warmer weather or happy to stay on the dark side, the shades here are well-nigh irresistible.

Source: Flickr User foxandfeathers

Avril Lavigne Designs a Nail Strips Collection For Sally Hansen

Jaime Richards — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:34:00 PST

She's known for her pop-punk hits and even as a clothing designer, and now Avril Lavigne has channeled her creative spirit into nail art. Starting this April, the singer will launch a limited-edition collection with the Sally Hansen Salon Effects brand. And in true Avril fashion, the polish strips ($10 each), which will feature 12 different designs, will include rocker-chic patterns like tiny skulls and leopard print.

"It's supercool because the designs that I came up with are my personal style and vibe - they're rock 'n' roll and fun and bright and colorful. You have sparkles and little stars - they are cute," Avril explained in an interview with WWD. Avril has already ventured into the beauty business with the launches of fragrances Black Star, Wild Rose, and Forbidden Rose, so what can we expect next from the star? Avril quipped, "I think it would be cool to do hair color."

How To Tell If a Gel Manicure Is Phony

Miriam Lacey — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:01:13 PST

As gel manicures become more popular, so do knockoff products and shady application techniques. It's not unusual now to hear that someone's gone in for a gel manicure only to find out later that what's on their nails isn't Shellac, Gelish, or any reputable gel for that matter. To help consumers avoid nail damage and the risk of having weird chemicals affixed to their digits, CND Shellac has come out with its own salon certification system, and we've assembled tips for discerning whether your salon uses authentic application and removal methods. See the guidelines below.

How to Create Zooey Deschanel's Tuxedo Nail Art

BellaSugar — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:22:01 PST

Zooey Deschanel may have wowed in a Prada gown at the Golden Globes, but her nails were equally dressed up in little tuxedos. Zooey is known for her love of perfectly decorated manicures, and this black and white look was the talk of the red carpet. Watch our video to find out how easy it is to re-create this look at home. Your nails will be best dressed in no time.

What We're Sweet On: Fun, Flaky Topcoats

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:05:34 PST

If you missed out on the "flaky" nail polish trend the first time around, this is your chance to try it out. Zoya's new Fleck Effect topcoats ($8 each) are full of Mylar "flecks" that create a pretty holographic effect on nails. They're all transparent and pretty versatile, but if we had to choose one we'd take the pink shade, Chloe. The orange, gold, and red tones in the flecks will go well with any warm-toned nail polish, and the shade reminds us of the fire inside an opal. The other two shades, Maisie (blue) and Opal (green) are also really fun to wear, but Maisie looks better over cool-toned polishes, and Opal is prettiest over black, navy, and green, making it a little more edgy. Get them now and you'll be able to wear them all year long.