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Art comes alive at your fingertips - literally - with these nail art designs

SINGAPORE - The eyes may be the windows to your soul, but there are those who say your nails mirror your personality. More specifically, how you treat your nails.

SINGAPORE - The eyes may be the windows to your soul, but there are those who say your nails mirror your personality. More specifically, how you treat your nails.

We’re not talking only about not biting them and giving them a trim once in a while; but sometimes, it’s nice just to spruce them up with a little nail-art. It’s a fun and fanciful way of jazzing up your nails and your get-up (and yes, you can leave your fancy rings and bangles behind as you let your nails do the talking).

Valerie Lim considers nail art as a way of expressing one’s personality. The 28-year-old, who is in the advertising industry, visits a manicurist frequently to get her nail-art fix. “In the past year, nail art has become almost a third wave of how people express themselves,” she said. “It used to be hairstyles and accessories; now it’s nail art. A lot of nail salons are reinventing themselves and their services to keep up with the trend. Some can get really creative and fun.”

Chloe Zhang, 27, who regularly does her own nail-art designs, agreed. “I definitely love nail art. Sometimes, when you don’t feel like wearing jewellery, it’s great to dress up your hands in that way — it’s sort of like an accessory. I like designs such as the French tip, abstract nail art (negative spaces) and the half-moon design. I would go for minimalist designs to add sparkle to my nails. Ciate’s Monochrome Manicure Collection is great for achieving the abstract designs I like.”

But for Katie Hughes, global colour ambassador for British nail care and colour brand, Butter London, it doesn’t always have to be about covering each micrometre of your nail. “I think lacquer is going back to basics as far as nail art goes,” said Hughes, who was recently in town to launch Butter London’s Patent Shine 10X Nail Lacquer range. “I do think that whenever people are wearing nail art, it’s more grown-up and it’s more of a chic, elegant version like a negative space. (It could) just be the nails painted halfway — there’s a stripe through a bare-naked nail or a dot on another. Negative space was huge (during) New York (Fashion Week).”

Hughes believes “nails really are an accessory” today. “Nails were, like, 10th on the list of thought process backstage (during fashion weeks) eight years ago. Now it’s No 3 — obviously, hair and make-up are first and second and then there are nails. It’s really exciting.”

Hughes also offered a few tips you can try to absolutely nail the look you want.

1. “It’s always important to look at the ingredients to make sure there isn’t any formaldehyde in your lacquers.”

2. “Always make sure you dehydrate your nails before painting them. What that means is to remove your nail polish, but you always have to be mindful whether your nail polish has oils in it. If your nail polish has oils such as conditioning ingredients, the nail polish that is going to go on top of that isn’t going to stick as well. It’s fine to use them, but you should always sanitise with alcohol or a little acetone before you actually paint just to get rid of the oils.”

3. “When you are painting, you should go across the tip of the nail with your base coat, colour and top coat. Make sure you go across the tip of the nail, so it wraps under and around the tip. It’s going to give you about three extra days without you even knowing it.”

WHAT YOU CAN TRY:

Take your pick from the latest kits and shades and incorporate them into your next nail-art design.

Nails Inc Perfect Pink Collection in Earls Walk, S$27, at Sephora stores.

Dior Vernis in 001 Miroir, S$40, at Dior boutiques and counters from August.

Butter London Patent Shine 10X Nail Lacquer in Her Majesty’s Red, S$25, at Sephora stores.

Ciate Monochrome Manicure Collection, S$35, at Sephora stores.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in 674 Nightwatch, S$13.90, at Watsons, Guardian and BHG.

O.P.I ColorPaints Blendable Nail Lacquer in Chromatic Orange, S$16, at selected Watsons and department stores.

Credits

Photography: Jason Ho

Make-up: Larry Yeo (@larryyeo) using ZA make-up

Nails: JYan (@thenailtail) using Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure collection

Hair: Alicia Tey (@teyalicia), Mosche Hair Salon, using Redken

Model: Linde S, Ave Models

Sunglasses: Dolce & Gabbana

Scarves and rings: Hermes

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