Nail Road Test

Tuesday, 13 July 2010 11:13

It’s hard to accessorize without adding another layer, so this summer, we suggest you heat things up by giving your nails a much-needed makeover. Few updates are cheaper or more accessible than a new nail color—or colors—so break away from the tired mani-pedi routine and try one of these top 5 trends, which we tested and rated below.

Story by Sarah Jackson; photos by Sean Kelly

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Nail Stickers

Nail adhesives, which look like intricate painted designs to the untrained eye, have been seen on spotlight-stealers ranging from Katy Perry (flowers) to Lady Gaga (golden lightning) and Rihanna (Obama). Sephora by OPI offers Chic Prints for Nails ($15), with designs likes skulls and anchors, checks and stripes.

We tried the fuchsia Fishnet print and found the process relatively easy. You just warm the strip, apply the sticker, trim and file excess off the tip. The hardest part is making them smooth on the nail. The package comes with 16 different stickers, though the sizes still may not fit perfectly. Though these patterns are great for an eye-catching night on the town, the stickers tend to fray a bit at the tips after a couple days.

Usability: 3
Durability: 3
Affordability: 2
Trend Appeal: 5

Nail Pens + Metallics

All-over nail pens create a surprisingly easy manicure that dries quickly and fits well in a purse. We tried Sally Hansen’s Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pen, and to go full-throttle on the trend quotient, we combined two trends: green and metallic, with Green Chrome ($8). The green is similar to Chanel’s Jade polish, which sold out almost instantly after appearing on the runway and now goes for about $100 on eBay. And just turn to Beyonce of Ke$ha for metallic inspiration. Tip: For metallics, make sure you have a really smooth nail bed, because every imperfection catches the light!

Usability: 5
Durability: 4
Trend Appeal: 4
Affordability: 3

Sheer Nail Enamel

Work in a conservative office? Neutral shades like white, pink and nude were seen on the runways of many 2010 fashion shows, including Marc Jacobs Spring 2010 show. Nail enamel (rather than polish) offers a shinier finish, and we tested Revlon’s Sheer Translucide Nail Enamel in Sheer Petal ($4.80), which has a “silk-protein shield” to even out the nail surface. We found a few coats were needed to make the color stand strong.

Usability: 4
Durability: 4
Trend Appeal: 3
Affordability: 4

Brights

Bright manicures are the perfect way to accessorize, well, anything, and summer calls for citrusy shades and tropical greens and blues. Need proof? 90210’s AnnaLynne McCord was recently spotted on the red carpet with yellow polish to compliment her LBD, and Audrina Patridge did the same with neon pink. We tested out N.YC.’s Quick Dry Nail Polish ($2) in Orange Creamsicle, and it was almost good enough to eat. For a discount brand, this worked surprisingly well. We loved that the color was a bit creamy, rather than fluorescent.

Usability: 4
Durability: 4
Trend Appeal: 4
Affordability: 5

Reverse French Mani

A bright or dark strip of color on only the tip of the nails is a timely update to the classic French mani, and nail pens—much like elementary school do-it-yourself paint pens—offer the perfect amount of creative freedom. Dita Von Teese is rarely spotted without the sister-style of the half-French, the “half-moon,” when the small moon shape near the cuticle remains either unpainted or a different color (cueing Rihanna). We tested Sally Hansen’s Nail Art Pen’s in Hot Pink ($8), which can be painted over another color or on naked nails. It goes on really easily (when drawing with the dominant hand especially) and dries almost instantly, but it definitely needs to be sealed with a clear topcoat before any heavy lifting.

Usability: 3
Durability: 2
Trend Appeal: 5
Affordability: 4

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