For the nail art obsessed among us, Fashion Week is prime time to steal new inspiration from the runways. But, it's also a great time for learning new tips and tricksfor achieving the DIY nail art of our dreams — from something as subtle as an inverted French to something more intense, like hand-drawn animals.
Even when you're simply doing a sheer manicure or classic top coat, ensure that you're cleaning up any "issues" on your nail first. Shiny top coats help to blur any errors, but trendy mattes can make issues stick out. We chatted with Deborah Lippmann backstage at Jason Wu(where the nail was a classic, shiny nude). She told us that you need to use a ridge-filling base coat every time you do a sheer or matte manicure, or else you end up seeing every nook and cranny.
Upgrade Your Art With Delicate Stars
Image Source: Courtesy Essie
Manicurist Michelle Saunders, who led the team for Essie at Jenny Packham's Fall 2016 show, said it herself: even nail art can work for the red carpet, and these gorgeous little gold stars definitely upgrade a look. Have a fancy event? Use a striper brush and outline a five-point star on one nail. Saunders recommends to draw it all in one line, dragging the polish along, instead of stopping and starting along the way.
Nail artist Naomi Yasuda, working with China Glaze, took art to an entirely new level backstage at Opening Ceremony by reinventing the French nail tip. Yasuda cut the tips to look like they were "melting" and painted them silver and simply glued them on with nail glue to an already painted nail. She said that this optical illusion can be a great added dimension for DIY art if you're up for it, and it's simply a new way to update your tips!
Get the Perfect French Tip Every Time
Image Source: Courtesy Christian Louboutin
Manicurist Madeline Poole, who led the team at Cushnie et Ochs with Christian Louboutinpolish, created a new spin on the classic French tip by splitting it down the middle with a deep purple (Lady Page) and a black (Khol). Poole suggested using paper reinforcements to copy the look at home and just wait a good few minutes for the polish to dry before peeling the sticker off.
Become a Color Mix Master
Image Source: Courtesy Essie
At Rebecca Minkoff, Essie's key artist Michelle Saunders suggested that if you have trouble picking multiple hues that work together, start with tones. "It's very modern to do right now, so you can choose a light blue, a medium blue, and a dark blue, and keep it in the tonal family. Even if you just want to do two, go with the light and dark of the same tones."
Finally Master an Ombré Manicure
Image Source: Courtesy Morgan Taylor
Manicurist Danielle Candido with Morgan Taylor taught us how to finally nail the DIY ombré backstage at Tanya Taylor. Tear a corner of your makeup sponge off (the soft, fine ones will give you a delicate fade; the ones that are more porous will give you a more intense fade). Then, paint your polish directly onto the sponge, and dab it once on another surface. Next, gently press it into the nail at a 45 degree angle — never put it flat onto your nail or you'll simply get a straight line. Continue up the nail until you have your desired design.
Master Straight Nail Art Designs
Image Source: Courtesy Tibi
At Tibi's Fall 2016 Fashion Week Show, Jin Soon Choi created a military-inspired design with a soft gold shade. To master any look that requires straight lines like this one, Jin Soon suggested that you should always work in sections. So, for this "V" shaped look, you would draw it in two sections with a small striper brush, stopping in the middle to create the next angle.
Like many of us, if you struggle with discolored nails, use this tip we learned from Jin Soon Choi backstage at Vera Wang — especially if you want to rock a sheer or clear nail polish. She told us that applying peroxide to the nail actually helps get rid of any yellowing that has happened over time.
If you want to attempt a dark color at home, you can, without the mess. Lead manicurist Sunshine Outing for Zoya told us to just simply use tape on both sides of each nail, then let everything dry well before pulling them off. You'll have a crisp, clean dark mani in no time!
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