It’s that time of year again! With finals week winding down and summer about to begin, you’ve cleared out your winter wardrobe and made room for tank tops and shorts. And as the flip-flops come out and the days get hotter, it’s a good idea to spice up your manicure too. Check out the list below for 5 fun nail trends to try this summer.
1. The asymmetrical nail
Carrying over from spring, the asymmetrical nail is a fun trend if you want to try something new without getting too wacky. I think this style looks best with nude or pastel polish, but you can use any color you want. Start by drawing a diagonal line in the middle of your nail with your chosen color, and then filling in half of your nail completely, leaving the other half bare. Do another coat, and then go over your whole nail with a matte topcoat. If you want to make this look funkier, you can use two colors and alternate between every-other nail.
2. The half moon nail
Following the trend of partially painted nails, (its called “negative space nail art”), the half-moon look was a runway favorite this year. To get a half-moon manicure, start by covering your whole nail with a clear base coat. Then, paint a semi-circle at the base of your nail, using your cuticle as a guide. Lastly, paint your entire nail with a matte topcoat. This trend looks best with bright-colored polish, so it’s perfect for summer 2015.
3. Striped nails
Yet another variation on the negative space trend, stripes are an easy twist on naked nails. Once again, start by covering your whole nail with a base coat. Then, using a detail brush, draw horizontal lines across your nail, alternating the color between every-other nail. This look works best with eye-catching colors, like a black-and-white combo, neon, or gold. After you’ve painted your stripes, finish with a matte topcoat.
4. Neon
Although neutral nails have been in the spotlight recently, neon nails are still a great way to liven up your look for summer. Whether you choose pink, orange, green or yellow, bright nails are the perfect way to spice up a neutral outfit.
5. Polish layering
Layering colors is a great way to get creative with your manicure while making use of your entire collection. This trend also goes hand-in-hand with using neon polish, especially if you have a color that is too sheer for your liking. For more opaque neon, all you have to do is start by painting your nail white, allow it to dry, and add one coat of the neon on top of it.