What to Wear: Top Trends in Nail Color

Photo via Flickr: Zitona

Story by Tara Hall

Constant Chatter Editor

Juggling work, kids, social commitments, housework and more can make it difficult to keep on top of the trends, particularly when it comes to your nails. (Unless your manicurist clues you in, of course, in which case you should tip her extra!)

With spring right around the corner, there are several new hues and styles you'll likely see. Here's your opportunity to get ahead of the game and pick out what excites you.

Spring pastels
This popular palette comes around every so often, the soft baby colors making fingers feminine and flirty. Here are some options:

Pastel green: Orly in Jealous, Much?
Pastel pink: Butter in Teddy Girl or Essie in Ballet Slippers
Lilac: Essie in Splash of Grenadine
Pastel blue: Chanel in Coco Blue

Nudes
Want the clean, classic look of nude nails? These hues are work appropriate by day and sexy by night. Word of warning: pay attention to your skin tone before you go grabbing your favorite nude hue and heading to the checkout counter. Though you might love the color, it may not fair well on your own nails. Two usually flattering options:

OPI in Tickle My France-y
OPI in Sweet Heart

China Glaze Magnetix Nail Lacquer
Bored with the standard solid tone? With this China Glaze line, nail lacquer is infused with iron powder, allowing you to create designs using magnets, which are usually sold separately. Add diagonal lines, starbursts or chevrons to your fingers for a fun, frivolous touch.

Laqa & Co. Polish Pens
Is the thought of painting your own nails enough to keep you going back to your neighborhood salon? There's an effortless answer for you now: Laqa & Co.'s polish pen. The easy-to-use pen comes in 12 luscious colors and fits easily in a handbag or travel case. My favorite hue: WTF, a delicate pale pink, in spite of the sassy name.

Laqa & Co. polish pen in WTF

OPI Gelcolor
One of America's favorite nail color brands, OPI, launched this long-lasting color line in October. The soak-off gel is faster-curing and thinner than traditional nail polishes. The new formula takes just 30 seconds to cure under light emitting diodes, or LEDs. The best part: the polish is said to last--chip free!!--for at least two weeks.

With 30 colors to choose from, it's hard not to find a handful of lovely favorites, including Cajun Shrimp, a spicy reddish orange, and OPI Ink, a beautifully bright navy blue.

About the author

Tara Hall

For the longest time, Texas transplant Tara Hall wanted to be a profiler when she grew up. A bona fide FBI agent with mad analytic skills who could take on crime and the jacked up minds that commit it.

Instead, the long and winding road has led straight to writing.

It all started with an obscure undergrad study spot: the usually empty upstairs of a local live music dive in Austin, TX. Psychology books in tow, Tara would grab a seat in the balcony and read her assignments between performances of local musicians, ultimately leading to an internship with Austin's Citysearch office in the late '90s.

Skip ahead a little more than a decade to present-day. Tara now spends her time interviewing musicians, researching stories and penning articles for entertainment-centered publications and websites such as Metro.pop magazine and SoundSpike.com.

Best part of the job: Researching topics I'm perplexed by and interested in.

Secretly obsessed with: Eyelash extensions. Instant femininity and loads of compliments!

Current dream vacation: An exotic beach locale with a beach bag full of new fiction. A hot man alongside wouldn't hurt either.

Theme song: Nina Simone's "Feeling Good"

Snacking on: Light rye Wasa crackers, little dollop of Dijon and thinly sliced turkey. That, or a spoonful of Nutella, my semi-healthy chocolate fix.

If trapped on a desert island: Cherry Chapstick and a fun, resourceful companion.

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