Trends in Nail Art Euro 2012

By : AlexxpuNkreaNk grEzIkraYa, at :04:05 - 15/06/2012

Nails used to come in three colours. Red, red and red. Oh, and let's not forget french tips. Over the past few years, however, nail art has exploded, and has become a fully-fledged industry within the fashion world, as subject to seasonal trends as dress silhouettes and heel shapes. From tacky to quirky, nails have transformed into yet another area where we can explore personal style as well as try our hands (sorry) at something that we might feel is a bit too 'out there' for an entire look.

Whereas previously the latest hot patterns and prints were confined to the catwalk or your handbag, now it's just as cool to have them lacquered at your fingertips. Increasingly, nail art has become a thrifty and creative way to pay homage to your favorite designers by taking inspiration from their most visually famous pieces and translating them via nailbrush and buffer. Leopard spots, aztec inspired prints, even the galaxy - thanks to Christopher Kane - is no longer out of reach for those of us who want to have a little more authenticity than a fast fashion knockoff.

Wah Nails have been the biggest influence on how nail art has taken off in the UK. Whilst the Kawaii craze has been going on for years in Asia, it wasn't until 2009 in London when Sharmadean Reid opened the doors of her nail salon and opened up peoples' eyes to the possibilities that nail paint can bring. Born from a hip-hop community with feminist values at its core, Wah Nails revolutionised the way in which the fashion world thought about nails, forcing it to acknowledge its potential and the creativity that can be fostered within it.

Now the company has a branch at Topshop's flagship store on Oxford Street, and its influence can be seen everywhere from the runway to celebrities like Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, and to the products that companies such as Barry M and Model's Own now create. New technology is being explored such as shatter effect and marbled nail paint; matte colours are gaining popularity, as opposed to the classic shine. It's also becoming easier and easier to learn how to do the effects yourself, with online tutorials teaching us how to use everyday items such as cocktail sticks and sponges to achieve that high-fashion look.



Where once spiky red talons were de rigueur, the world is now your oyster (although as we speak, spikes are making a terrifying comeback - see Amber Rose and Rihanna). It might seem intimidating and difficult at first, so start out simple. Try a nude, or 'greige' shade which will complement most outfits. If you're feeling a bit more daring, opt for pastels or brights, and always remember a base and top coat so as to stop discolouring and protect your varnish from chips and scratches that result from daily wear and tear. Remember, nail art is about having fun first and foremost!

Nail Art Designs Using Nail Art Stamping Kits

Even beginners can create unique nail art designs using stamping kits like Konad and Salon Express, and start saving money over expensive salon trips.

Konad and Salon Express are the most popular brands of stamping kits today and while getting a design manicure done at your local salons has its advantages, like the feeling of being pampered, it can also come with a hefty price tag depending on the type of designs you're having done.

For women, nails may be one of the most noticed parts of our bodies. Whether you are talking with somebody or just doing some work, your nails will always catch the attention of people around you.

Appearances matter a lot with nails; at the very least it is very important to have healthy, clean nails. But today you can do even more, like having nail art designs applied to your nails that are uniquely yours.

Nail stamping kits are just one way to get unique and salon-looking designs quickly and easily. Now one advantage of going to a salon to have a technician either freehand or by using a stencil and air-brush, apply unique nail designs to your nails is that the technician is able to use both hands to work on your hands. The art may come out looking more defined and professional as well. But on the other hand, it can start costing you a lot of bucks to keep it up.

Enter the latest craze, nail stamping kits, offering even beginner nail artist an inexpensive way to have nearly professional looking nail designs but without the expense of a salon, designs that be changed every day if you want!

Stamping kits, whether you buy the higher end Konad, the middle end Salon Express, or just a simple cheap stamper with a couple of plates and get the rest of the plates from online stores, nail stamping is an inexpensive and fun way to learn a new technique for your own look of nail designs.

Each kit provides the directions how to use the tools and you can find countless nail design tutorials on YouTube if you'd rather be shown how to do it, like the videos below. And the results are nothing less than fabulous, giving you beautiful nails in record time without having to drive to a salon and wait your turn.

The styles and amounts of designs that you can get with nail stamping kits and extra stamping plates are similar designs to what you can get at your local salon, but without the wait and without the price tag.

These stamping kits also give you the opportunity to create your own nail designs, which you can change whenever you want. The whole process takes just minutes and produces professional looking nails from the comfort of your own home and with no additional expense when you want to change your designs.

You can create fun and unique nail art designs in just three quick and easy steps - apply polish to the image plate, stamp it, and transfer it to your nails. You can stamp the designs on artificial or natural nails too. Use different color nail polishes on a variety of images to create colorful one-of-a-kind designs on your nails.

Sometimes, a sample design chart of nails created by a professional nail technician using the kit is also included, to make it easier for you to create your own unique designs using the stamping kit. The best part is that it comes complete with full instructions, tips and techniques for getting the best results.

Before you begin, read the user's guide to make sure you get the best out of your nail stamping kit. Ensure the surface you are working on is protected and that your nails are clean, dry and grease free. You can stamp the image design directly onto your natural nail or apply a base coat of polish in your favorite color before stamping on the image.

You can actually use any completely opaque nail polish on the image stamps. You can even go on eBay and buy a generic, or what's otherwise known as "fauxnad" stamper and scraper alone and buy your favorite image plates separately.