Last week, I went through some upcoming trends for this year, focusing on women’s fashion. However, trends are not limited to clothes; there are also trends in hair, makeup, and beauty. I’ve recently found myself practicing self-care through at-home manicures and began exploring trends in nail color and art. Here’s a rundown of upcoming manicure trends to try yourself or for your next appointment with your manicurist.
My personal go-to in winter are black nails. In my opinion, few colors can make a statement that is equal parts class, sophistication, and power the way that black can. And with colder weather, you may find yourself in the mood for a richer, darker shade. Of course, you may find full-on black nails a bit too edgy. Black, as well as any darker shade in general, can work as an accent color for your manicure.
Speaking of accents, this year, the classic French manicure is getting a twist. Instead of reaching for the white nail polish, change it up with something that packs a punch, like a red, black, or your favorite bright shade. Or consider double French tips where the edge of the tip is thicker than the second line across your nail. Double tips allow you to work in more color on your nails and create an unexpected impact. I would definitely NOT try this at home. Unless you are a veteran of the self-manis, leave this to a professional.
A close cousin to the French manicure is the negative space nail. This nail treatment is low maintenance but still polished. All you have to do is leave a small section of your nail blank, then paint the rest with your favorite polish. With this design, you have the freedom to choose what space you want to show off and, because negative space incorporates your natural nail, they will still look great in three weeks when your nails have started to grow out. You can use black polish or a light shade but stay away from using a nude polish with this treatment because it appears less intentional and has less impact.
If you’re usually a fan of nude nails, try switching things up here this season with a tonal manicure. This is a super easy method; choose five colors from the same color family; they could be neutrals, pastels, or jewel tones. Then paint your nails from lightest to darkest. You can match each hand with the same colors on opposite fingers, like pinkie to pinkie, or create a spectrum across your hands, where your right pinkie and your left thumb are in the same shade — either method results in a super trendy look.
Looking for something more festive? Try glitter nails. Glitter polish is the perfect way to have your nails stand out and can elevate basic all-black outfits into dressier looks. You can go with multi-colored glitter polish or simply coat your standard color with a glittery top coat for a sparkly finish. Not really feeling a particular color? Then just paint nails with a sparkly base for some low-key shine. And while glitter nails are definitely a trend for 2022, let it be understood they never really go out of style.
Not much into shine, but still wanting to have a standout manicure? Then try experimenting with minimalist nail art. While nail art can sound overwhelming, thinking about artificial nails with flowers and chains, or intricate graphic patterns, minimal nail designs are meant to be simple. Minimal nails usually have a nude base with a small feature. Think of a nude nail with a single dot in a contrasting color. Or white nails with black strips down the center. Or simply reverse your French manicure to be at the base of your nail instead of the tips. This trend has endless possibilities, allowing you to be as creative as you’d like.
Whether you get regular professional manicures, are new to nail polish, or prefer to paint your nails yourself, consider trying one of these trends to mix things up here this season.
