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Spring 2012 Nail Colors

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Duke chapter.

While the beginning of February generally does not conjure up images of spring, Spring beauty trends have been all the rage since last fall.  And while we may still have at least a month and a half more before spring officially
commences, it never hurts to get caught up on all the nail trends for the upcoming season so you can rock some fabulous nails from the start.  Here’s a rundown of the nail color trends for Spring 2012:
 
Tangerine: Forecasted to be the color of the year, tangerine is one of the most hyped color trends for nails this Spring.  The color is very playful and just screams ‘warm weather,’ so even on those dark and dreary rainy days, you can still have nails that seem warm and sunny.
 
Green: Green has been seen on nails for a while, but this Spring, light green has taken the spotlight.  Numerous nail polish brands have already released some pastel green shades for spring that conjure up images of flowers and blue skies.  Just make sure that the green shade you select compliments your skin tone—if you have pinkish undertones, go for a green with a bluer base, and if you have yellowish undertones, select one with a yellow base.
 

Pastels
: Going along with the light green trend, pastels are also predicted to be trending in the next few months.  Unlike brighter shades, pastel nail polishes are a great way to keep your nails looking pretty and polished without making too much of a statement.  In addition, chips are much more difficult to spot with pastel polish than with brighter colors, so you can go longer in between painting your nails.

Nude: Nude nails have been big for a long time, and it’s easy to see why.  They are super versatile and flattering (when done right, of course).  That’s why they’re sticking around for spring too.  Just make sure you select a shade that matches your skin tone in order to maximize the finger-elongation effect.  In addition, to prevent nude nails from looking too dull, paint on a clear top coat for enhanced shine.
 

Hot
Pink: My personal favorite, this is an ultra girly-girl shade that is very on trend for Spring.  But just like other bright nail colors, make sure you choose correctly for your skin tone!  Remember: blue base for pink undertones, and yellow base for yellow undertones.
 
Photo Sources:
Hot Pink: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PSeXiyI6X2w/TYwFMBP6h2I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/CFzwBH8Ubv8/s1600/nail-polish-essie-pink.jpg
Tangerine: http://www.allure.com/images/beauty-products/makeup/2011/zoya-nail-polish-lianne.jpg
Pastel: http://www.bellouna.com/NLA06_opi_nail_polish.jpg
 

Betty Liu is a senior at Duke University where she is majoring in Biomedical Engineering.  Although her main interests lie in bioengineering, she loves keeping up with the latest trends on Duke's campus. Also, she enjoys learning about new music, reading and travelling around the world. One of her life dreams is to go to all seven continents! So far, she has been to four.