Nailed it! Hot Colors for Summer 2018

-SLH West Coast Beauty Editor :

Are you still hiding your tootsies in closed toe shoes? Paralyzed by polish FOMO? Well, worry no more, we here at SLH are here to get you inspired with the hottest trends in season.

First, let’s talk shape. The killer stiletto dagger nails so popular just a few months ago are getting chopped and rounded out. Almond and oval are the theme for summer. Elegant and practical, these shapes can allow for the polish to take center stage.

almond shaped nails

Now in terms of what to put on those darling digits, there’s quite a bit to choose from, so let’s run the options.

#1 Red rules! – Usually reserved for cooler times of the year, red is still going strong for summer. Popular colors include Watermelon, Electric oranges and even gothic burgundy shades. Essie has a great one, named perfectly enough – Watermelon! CND Vinylux has lots of cool and spicy orange shades. For burgundy, think homage to gothic and update it by keeping the look super glossy. Christian Louboutin’s The Noirs is spot on, but if you’re more budget conscious check out Formula X Blazing.

red nail polish

#2 Think Pink – Speaking of Formula X, we here are super obsessed over their color Ladylove. It hits that perfect note of cotton candy meets sophistication that will look just as good on your mani as your pedi. Really looking to get your saccharine on? CND Shellac in Cake Pop is just what your sweet tooth ordered. Other honorable mentions include Pretty Vulgar Pinkies Up, Essie Excuse Me Sur and OPI It’s a Girl.

pink nail polish
#3 21st Century High Tech Cool – Nail color that just sits on your nails? Sooo last century. Today’s polish is as interactive as your smart devices. Thermal changing Polish Gel is like a next generation mood ring for your fingers. After application, the color will continuously change temperature, so the area of the nail closer to your body will be a different color from the tips. It also changes colors when washing your hands in cold/warm water or depending on the temperature of the room you walk into. Color Club’s Rays the Bar gives you a sunset on your fingers while Elite99’s Chameleon in Midnight Blue goes from sunny blue sky to chic midnight black.
color changing nail polish
#4 Find your Inner Greige – Just like that button down wardrobe staple, whites and nude colors are the classic go-to for clean, minimal style. We’re loving Essie Tuck It In My Tux for that perfect soft white, while Deborah Lippmann Chasing Pavements is just the right amount of greige. Zoya Nail Polish in Kennedy gives a lovely hint of grown up pink and OPI Euro Centrale Collection Nail Lacquer My Vampire Is Buff is a latte for your fingers.
nude colored nail polish
#5 Green Goddess – Really looking to stand out at your next music festival? Take a cue from the warm summer nights and think tropical. Dark palm green is gaining steam as the underground ‘it’ color for summer 2017. Check out Floss Gloss in Night Palm, Essie Going Incognito, Zoya Hunter Green and Piggy Polish Ivy Leaf, just to name a few.  Give it a try, we think you’ll be surprised at just how versatile it works against your summer brights.
green nail polish
#6 Moody Metallics – There’s bronze, there’s pewter, there’s gold…and every color in-between it seems. We’ve seen them separate and two-toned (like Essie’s Sole Mate in dark pink dripping from the edges of Sally Hansen Go For Gold) and even around the cuticles a la Rodarte “gold chain” look.
rodarte nail art
#7 Graphic Art – Mod nail art covered the runways. Bright half-moons on white-out white, rainbow French manicures, Mondrian squares of color creating negative space on nude nails, and complete mismatched pastels displaying graphic arts and stripes with the only thing in common is that they are on the same hand. Designers were having tons of fun showing off just how creative you can be when you let go of the rules and just go with what feels fun. We at SLH agree.
mod nails
#8 Bedazzling Fingers – Don’t get us wrong because we mentioned this one last – there were plenty of bedazzling finger flashing at the 2017 shows. You can go subtle with a few flakes of confetti or take it full throttle with 3d effects. Fuzzy nails, Nail Rays (no really, it’s a thing!), encrusted gems – if you have a job where you can explore these options – we say grab that nail glue and go for it!

bedazzled nails

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