Fashion-able: Hot Nails for Summer

Come summertime, your nails are your greatest accessory. Hands are out of gloves, toes are exposed… whether you like it or not, all nails are on display. Today, we present a few ways we will be having fun with our nails this summer.

Neons

A neon rainbow! Image source.

Neons are showing up everywhere and we love a bright neon pink or orange, especially on toes. Our recs? Summer Pink by Pixi Beauty, Neon Red by American Apparel, Glowstick by Orly and Orange You Hot? by China Glaze.


Caviar Manicures

Ciate Caviar Manicure. Image source.

We’re intrigued by these texturized manicures involving tiny microbeads stuck to the nail. Not really appropriate for a regular day at the office (no one wants to be blamed for a floor covered in beads), this would be fun for a wedding or bachelorette party this summer. Ciate offers a caviar manicure kit for $25 from Sephora, or you can invest in a thick topcoat and package of microbeads (also called bullion beads) from a craft store for less than $10.

Nail Art

An Erdem-inspired manicure from FASHION Magazine. Image source.

Inspiration is everywhere for
complex manicures that look more like miniature works of art than nail designs.
FASHION Magazine’s Nail Corner
has us in awe every week, while the f*ckyeahnailart
tumblr collects some of the most intense manicures from across the Internet. Try typing Nail Art into YouTube for step-by-step instructions – over
79,000 tutorials show up!

Cupcakes for your nails! Image source.

If you lack a steady hand (or
patience, creativity, an unending supply of nail polish colours, etc.), you
might want to have a professional step in. Tips
Nail Bar in Toronto is especially good for creative, out-of-the-box manis.


Nail Decals

Regular nail polish doesn’t get this shiny. Image source.

Nail decals are another fun
option. “Protective coatings” for your nails, they’re basically
stickers that can last up to two weeks. A favourite of celebrities like Beyonce, Katy Perry and Blake Lively, Minx
Nails make some of the craziest designs. A number of salons in Toronto apply
them, or you can buy a package off eBay
for significantly less and easily do it yourself. 

A design for every occasion!  Image source.

Sally Hansen Salon Effects nail polish strips offer a similar
effect. You can get them at most drugstores, or at Winners, where they’re usually discounted by a few dollars. 

Ombre

Ombre nails in Tangerine – this season’s hottest colour Image source & tutorial.

It was only a matter of time before the ombre trend moved from hair and clothing to nails. We’ve seen it done two ways: one nail with gradients of colour (like above), or gradients of colour going across all five nails (below). A great look for any girl who’s looked at her nail polish collection and realized she bought almost the exact same colour five times.

Only skill needed to create this look is excessive nail polish purchasing. Image source.