This spring/summer 2016 designers took the 1970s french manicure and gave it one almighty twist, here’s how to get the look in Dubai.
Forget the polished pink nail beds complete with pointed white tips that reigned supreme back in the day. Now, the runways are alight with neon tips, v-shaped talons and upside down crescents for an edgy take on the old classic.
Three places to nail the trend in Dubai:
Where: Soh Art + Beauty, Galleria Mall, Dubai (04) 3444147
Verdict:“Feeling adventurous and inspired by the new French mani as seen on the models at Francesca Liberatore’s spring/summer 2016 runway show, I headed to Soh Art + Beauty salon to have a little fun with my nails this week. I don’t usually wear loud colours so I opted for a silvery blue metallic tip and tiny star design. My manicurist Yna was super speedy and the manicure only took 30 minutes,” Carmel Gill, Stylist
Cost: Manicures from Dhs90
Where: The Nail Spa (thenailspa.com)
Verdict: “I’ve always been a massive cheerleader for nail art – probably something to do with me being raised in Croydon surrounded by South London’s finest talon renegades. The kind of women who would look at you with no judgement if you were to request a set of rhinestone-studded, three inch acrylics with the lyrics to Gangsta’s Paradise written across them. Thankfully, the trend for a new spin on the French polish is slightly more palatable, but every bit as fun. I took my cue from Cushnie et Ochs spring/summer 2016 nails, trying graphic triangles in bright red in place of the usual neat white stripe. Lien at The Nail Spa’s Lakes salon used Essie’s Minimalism for the base and Really Red for the tips, using thin silver tape to mark the outline. I was in and out in 2 hours and aside from the occasional sarcastic remark (“Have you let your manicure grow out?!”) I’ve had nothing but compliments,” Olivia Phillips, Fashion Features Editor
Cost: Classic manicure Dhs90 and Dhs15-25 per nail depending on nail art
Where: Tips & Toes Panorama branch (04) 5548431
Verdict: “With sheer dexterity and patience the nail technician applied the polish with her face inches away from my nails to ensure a suitably smooth straight line. With only two little blips, where she had to remove the entire nail colour and start again, I was in and out within the hour. That included soak, cuticles and lovely hand and arm massage. Like the Monique L’Huillier girls, I opted for a dash of the bright stuff in a cobalt blue. I initially loved them, but then a friend stated that it looked like I had dirty nails. Not what a girl wants to hear. Perhaps next time I would chose a paler colour so not to be mistaken for gritty nails,” Jade Sprowson, Style Director
Cost: French manicure Dhs90
Get the look at home with SOH salon’s 5 easy steps:
1. Shape and buff your nails.
2. Apply a clear base coat
3. Choose a fun colour for your French tips. Carefully paint the chosen hue horizontally, from one side of the tip to the other Follow with a second coat. If you make any errors clean up the line with a nail polish remover pen.
TIP: You can use the crescent-shaped nail guides to ensure a neat tip or create your own guides by cutting them out using masking tape or scotch tape.
4. Apply two thin coats of natural colour to eliminate any patches.
5. Finish with a topcoat and seal the edges.
No More Mistakes manicure clean up pen Dhs100 for two-pack
Color Ritual Nail Polish in Metallic Mint Dhs55 Wow by Wojooh
Main image: Photographer Taylor Jewel for Christian Louboutin
