The surprising nail colour of the season
So popular is a dark berry red nail polish for winter, that I am sure nail technicians have a conveyor belt of rouge noir manicures as soon as the clocks go back. However this year there’s a new shade that has soared in popularity - dark green. Pinterest reported searches for dark green nails have jumped for this winter, and there are more and more green nail colours hitting our shelves.
Using Pinterest trends data, WeThrift found that searches for emerald green were up by 300 percent, khaki green by 244 percent and forest green by 244 percent. As a nation we’ve become more experimental with nail colours, too. Particularly over lockdown, sales of at-home polishes soared.
This rings true with John Lewis & Partners; its buyers have noticed a year-on-year increase of 47 per cent in nail polish, and manicure bookings for Secret Spa are up by 25 percent compared to pre-pandemic. And while a dark red looks timeless and chic, there is something slightly cooler about a shiny, dark, forest green nail. Here’s how to wear it.
The shape of your nail
Any dark nail colour shades look great on a short, clean nail, unless you’re into a vampy look. For the nail technician Jenni Draper, the prep is essential. ‘You want to push back your cuticles with a rounded nail pusher, but don’t cut any dry skin - leave that to the professionals,’ she says. The ‘Split’ Set by Personaility has all you need for a good at-home manicure. As for the shape, if you’re ever in doubt, a square nail with rounded corners always looks chic.
Find your perfect green
When finding your perfect dark green shade - or any colour that works for you, for that matter - Draper has some good advice. ‘Get a piece of clear sticky tape and paint the colours you think you like and stick it on the back of your hand. You’ll immediately see the one that suits the undertones of your skin.’
A glossy top coat
Short nails look best when they are glossy and opaque. Draper’s favourite base and top coat are by Seche Vite, which she likens to double-sided sticky tape. ‘This classic top coat gives the shiniest, long-lasting finish for an at-home manicure,’ she adds.
The best green nail polishes
Nail Polish £7.83 by Essie; Teal We Meet Again £15 by Nailberry; Nail enamel in Vert Écossais £42 by Les Mains Hermes
