We know that many people arrange their life around their nail appointments, but with life being so busy, it can be hard to get an appointment when you need it most.
This year, polka dot nails have been one of the biggest manicure trends. From Hailey Bieber to Dua Lipa and Kylie Jenner to Sabrina Carpenter... In short, it seems like almost all the celebrities have done it in recent months. While they’re a beautiful style, what happens to them after just a few weeks? The nail growth becomes more noticeable as the space between the base of the nail and the manicure becomes larger. Whether intentional or not, it can convey a sense of neglect that doesn’t align with the clean girl aesthetic.
As one of the biggest obstacles for those who want to keep their manicure looking fresh for longer, instead of constantly revisiting the nail salon – which is both time-consuming and expensive – a better solution is learning to work with the natural growth process and make the most of it.
Aude Peyrefiche, national director of Vitry Spain, tells GLAMOUR that ”as the nail grows, the natural base is visible, which forces us to redo them more often” and that’s where the issue begins for many. Don’t panic though, there are designs that will conceal your growth to prolong the freshly done finish for longer..
The key is to opt for styles that integrate the nail growth as part of the design. “The most popular is the reverse french or inverted french, which involves applying the main colour in the centre of the nail (in a half-moon or half-circle shape), which reduces the contrast as the nail grows out. This makes any growth lines much less noticeable,” Aude says.
The manicure in question is everything we imagine when we think of evergreen nails, but also very stylish and trendy. To nail the technique, the main thing is to utilise the negative space on the nail – leaving part of the nail nude to create the effect of an empty space. It’s like a reverse French manicure, stretching towards the base of the nail. Or an inverted French nail that starts in the middle of the nail, without touching the cuticle area. Whatever suits you best.
In one example, the manicurist plays with blocks of colour and chooses shades ranging from red to sky blue, passing through muted green and powdered pink, but the beauty of this style is that you have free rein to go for whatever colours you like. The cherry on top is to crown each nail with a small dot on the border so it looks more intentional and doesn’t just look like a grown-out manicure.
A manicure that is easy to replicate at home, both hands can be completed within 30 minutes. Quick and convenient, you can transform an aesthetic problem – the space between the cuticle and the nail, unsightly growth – into a clear and intentional modern design. If you can’t beat them, join them.
As Aude of Vitry Spain suggests, “another alternative is ombré nails, in which the colour fades from the base to the tip. This soft effect perfectly camouflages the growth line and allows manicures to be spaced out.” Our favourites are the ones that end in white or pearlescent colour, imitating soap nail designs.
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As one final tip: go for ‘camouflage’ colours. Nothing to do with military or green, but natural shades as the manicure. “Nude, pink, beige and translucent tones are ideal because they blend in with the natural colour of the nail. Polishes with a milky or semi-transparent finish are also good choices as they maintain a polished look even when the nail grows,” says Aude. If you want to amp up the minimal manicure with a design or detail, make sure that you keep the cuticle area clear so there is no impact with growth.
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A version of this article was originally published on GLAMOUR Spain.
