Nail Art is here to stay, and SS11 was no exception, the girls love a bit of embellishment on their talons.
Christmas is the perfect time to get in some practice; from jewels and tattoos to nail wraps and falsies, you can accessorize your LBD with your manicure. Team ELLE has been putting at-home nail art to the test in time for the festive season. See which products have it nailed…
See ELLE and Sophy Robson’s Nail Art videos here …
Watch the nail art video that inspired the look at Topshop Unique’s S/S show…
Price: £2.50
Stockist: Stargazer
USP: Priced at £2.50 you can easily take your mani from basic to bling for less.
Pros: The small round gems are tiny, ideal for adding a hint of shimmer to your nails. If you want to ramp up the glamour stakes, buy a couple of boxes and use the small gems to decorate the edge of your nails for a bling French manicure.
Cons: The larger square gems only really work on the thumbs. I’d like to see Stargazer bring out a set with just the smaller jewels. Also, the glue didn’t have a lot of sticking power; I had to use my trusty Seche Vite top coat to secure them in place.
Price: £6
Stockist: Models Own
USP: A super fine pen for slick art work on the nail bed.
Pros: This nifty pen has a super rich black ink that only needs one application for a rich bit of detail. It’s great for working a couture nail and try pairing it with a nude or beige colour for an homage to Celine.
Cons: The cap is a bit fiddly and needs to be replaced or you will have spillage through the dispensing end.
Price: From £6.50
USP: For getting the Minx look at home
Pros: These nail wraps are really easy to use. You prep the nail (tidy cuticles, remove polish, file and buff), then place the wrap onto the nail at the cuticle edge and apply heat from a hairdryer. The wrap then softens so you can position it over the whole nail. Then just file off excess at the edge. There are 24 designs to choose from including gold, silver and various incarnations of leopard print.
Cons: On a long nail bed they are easy to attach but if you have unusual shaped nails (a short nails bed and square, for example) it can take a bit of practice to get right.
Price: £1.99
Stockist: Superdrug
USP: Nail art with no steady hand required
Pros: I was initially dubious envisioning that the end result would be more Cher Lloyd than Catwalk queen. However I ate my words once they were applied. They are foolproof and simply need a couple of coats of topcoat to protect them. They work best stuck over a strong colour for maximum impact. The Result? You could be excused for thinking I had paid a visit to WAH.
Cons: None, they are simple and effective.
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