Trends come and go, but bare, glossy nails will always look neat, squeaky clean, and beautiful.
For SS21 we’ve seen lilac, chartreuse and leather-look nails all take off, but they’re not for everyone. Minimalists know there’s one sure-fire way to guarantee their nails look chic with everything, and that’s sticking to nudes and neutrals.
The good news is, nail artists have worked out a way to give our mani the longevity of gels, without looking artificial. We’ve seen Bio Sculpture’s Gel mani‘s pop up numerous times over on the gram. The thicker gel coating gives natural nails a protective layer, before neutral gel polish can be applied on top. With salons opening soon, you can track down your nearest manicurist here.
So far the shades Creme, French Creme, and sister-brand EVO’s shade Dané have proved the most popular, but the wide range of “nudes” means there are plenty of options to suit all different skin tones.
If you’re looking to DIY a neutral mani yourself, however, there’s plenty of traditional and home gel shades that create a similar effect.
OPI’s Put It In Neutral Polish (see above) can be brushed on at home using the classic polish formula (£13.90), or applied in a gel format in-salon. The sheer pink-neutral finish had become a cult choice for its soft and delicate finish.
Elsewhere, CND’s Vinylux Longwear Polish in Beau (£11.95) bestows a bare pink shade and a tiny touch of shimmer to ensure your nails look beautifully glossy. And Meghan Markle chose CND’s Unmasked (a stone-toned nude) with two coats of Negligee (a sheer iridescent pink with a hint of lilac) for her wedding mani.
And Essie’s at home Gel Couture nail polish (£14.99) in nudes like Sheer Fantasy and Sew Me give a pro-looking result without leaving your sofa.