Hard to believe, but fall is right around the corner. We know nail polish is always a great accessory, and by now you’re no novice when it comes to putting it on. Summer’s bright colors were chic and attention-grabbing, but fall’s nail trends are all about taking a turn for the dark side with a twist of texture. (Plus, OPI’s Swiss Collection is here! You’ve been waiting all summer—I know I have!)

Your Guide To Fall 2010 Nail Trends

The vibe to go with this season when choosing your nail color? Definitely dark and provocative. Autumn’s nail polish trends include jewel tones, neutrals, chromes and even some brights. And the season’s glitter-infused multi-chromatic polishes will spark up your nails in a second. This nail trend is everywhere—in fact, Orly’s Fall 2010 Cosmic FX collection is dedicated to it, with each shade showcasing multiple colors and multi-dimensional levels. I also really like Zoya’s Edyta nail polish, from the line’s Wicked and Wonderful collection. This dramatic nail color is a mix of olive, gold, smoky grey and blue-green, all wrapped up with a sparkling metallic finish.

Source: Flickr user Andrew Starwarz

Jewel tones have been around before, but this season they’re getting a little deeper. To brighten up your week, try infusing your beauty routine with a saucy gem-inspired nail polish. These nail colors are not only fashion-forward, but will make for a smooth transition into fall if you’re still in a summer state of mind. OPI’s Swiss Collection for Fall 2010 offers brilliant jewel tones, of which my top picks are Ski Teal We Drop, From A to Z-urich, Cuckoo for this Color and William Tell Me About OPI.

Army neutrals, as well as peachy-toned beiges, are also hot this season—and they’re great choices if you’re looking for something a little more low-key than fall’s flashier nail polish trends. If uber-chic on the low is what you’re going for, greige is your go-to shade. Yup, greige! That’s a blend of grey and beige, a la Lady Gaga on the latest issue of Vanity Fair.

Finally, the must have nail color for fall 2010 is a deep, gorgeous plum. On the runways, it was seen frequently on nails and as a key makeup color trend. A satin-finish makes this shade perfect for any special occasion. Plus, it complements nearly any skin tone. For the perfect plum nail this fall, go glamorous with Yves Saint Laurent’s limited edition Belle De Nuit.

A recent cover of Vanity Fair. Nails by Michelle Saunders

Nails! It’s all about nails in 2010, and everything goes! From green to gold, manicurists are applying all kinds of color, texture and art to nails. The best part? Aside from all the fun nail trends, there are now new innovative ways to keep that manicure looking its best. I was recently introduced to a new product hot off the nail market called Gelish. The name describes it – a gel that is a polish. It comes in every hip color you can imagine. It’s not the first gel nail product of its kind, but so far it’s the best I have used.

Using Gelish is a four-coat process similar to polishing nails. There is a base coat, two coats of color, and a top coat. All of which must be cured under a lamp – but it’s no ordinary lamp. Nail Harmony, the company that created Gelish, created an LCD lamp that cures the product in 30 seconds! Once applied, it dries instantly and can last up to 3 weeks. And if you want your manicure to look perfect always, all you have to do is visit your manicurist at least every other week to have a fill or a fresh coat applied. I predict a gel polish like this will replace old-fashioned acrylic nails and maybe even nail polish some day.

Recently on fashion editorials, the art directors have been asking for a longer, oval nail. The resurgence of oval shaped nails has required the use of nail tips again. Working with models and celebrities who request their nails stay in-tact, we as manicurists have had to come up with new, safe and innovative ways to extend nails. The new process is temporary, and it’s similar to Lee Press-On nails but so much better and a lot more current.

Twilight Eclipse stars with oval shaped nails.

ABOUT MICHELLE SAUNDERS:

Michelle Saunders is a Los Angeles-based celebrity manicurist. Michelle is on the forefront of nail trends and innovations. Celeb clients include Taylor Swift, Katie Holmes, Zoe Saldana, Kate Beckinsale, Mila Kunis and Kim Cattrall. Her work regularly graces the covers of magazines including Life, Glamour, Vanity Fair and Vogue. Click here to see Michelle’s portfolio.

Nothing makes me more excited for the seasons changing than the latest nail color trends. I have to say that I will wear EVERY single color in the latest OPI collection all year long. It’s absolutely important that the hottest 2010 spring nail trends are on my fingers in the next few months. Not only is it fun and keeps my nails in tip top shape, but it makes you feel good when you look down and see such a beautiful color like Lucky Lucky Lavender or Hot & Spicy. As a self proclaimed nail connoisseur, here are my picks for the most fabulous nail trend colors for spring.

SpaRitual’s “I believe in you” from their Believe collection is an electric orange reminiscent of a tangerine. Melon colors are definitely “in” this season and don’t just sweep this trend under the rug yet. This color is perfect for the transition of spring to summer and adds a little more anticipation to the warmer months. This color is lively and perfect to match with a peach lip and a cute sundress.  If that orange is too electric for you, you can tone it down for a perfect peach from Chanel in Innatendu.

Source: Flickr User Infilmity

Jade nail polish has been a hit even in fall and I love to see that it’s carrying over into spring. “Jade is the new black” by OPI is a dream color. Its fashion forward and goes with just about everything, hence that it’s the new black. I’ll probably be wearing this more than a few times on both the hands and toes. Another gorgeous color to watch out for in OPI’s Hong Kong collection is Lucky Lucky Lavender, which I happen to be enjoying at the moment. Periwinkle and lavender are gorgeous colors to be rocking for spring from your clothes all the way to your toes.

Another color trend to jump on is uniform blue. Deep, rich blues just shades shy from navy blue are fabulous and appropriate for spring. Remember, we’re just getting over winter but not yet ready for summer, so spring’s colors can be just a shade different than the last trend. Refinery 29’s top 10 nail picks for Spring explains these genius blues and where you can get them.

What’s a collection without something red? Spring 2010’s fiery red is a bright, orangey red. It’s the perfect color and shade to match your orange toned lipstick. Red is always a fun and spicy color to put on so be sure to enjoy and have those nails ready to be noticed.

There you have it! Now go and explore the world of color and nails. Your nail beds are a palette and make sure to take care of them and paint away. The best part about every season’s nail colors are the stories behind the color line. Learning each little bottle’s story brings a bit of fantasy and imagination, making your manicure and pedicure that much more special. Don’t just get it done for maintenance, but appreciate the wonderful world of nail color.

Silver and gold are always a trend for the holidays and celebrating New Year’s Eve, but who wants to be repetitive? Opi’s Holiday Wishes line has the perfect pairing of this season’s hottest colors and glitter to give your fingers a stunning glow. This collection has 6 “wish-upon-a-star reds” and 6 “most-wanted-for” dark and neutral tones. To keep my outfit current, I’ve chosen to go with Shim-Merry Chic. It has the perfect bronzy-gold color with a dash of gold flecks in it to be the perfect color to compliment my skin, outfit and hands without going overboard. For a darker color, Holiday glow or Merry Midnight are exquisite choices as well.

Matte colors have been a nail color trend for 2009 and we’ve seen it on celebrities and friends alike. Experimenting with this trend, I’ve found that these matte colors have to be dead on and applied very well otherwise it can get a little sloppy. Trying out a few colors like jade green, bubblegum pink, dark emerald and navy, I found that the colors that looked good on my nails were the darker shades.  A great line of colors to try for your New Year’s party is Zoya’s MatteVelvet Winter Collection. I absolutely LOVE all three of these colors and Savita looks exceptional with mostly every skin tone. Veruschka is also another gem to try and the darker green is elegant and festive.

If you’re looking for a more natural look for the big countdown, colors like nude and taupe would be a good choice. SpaRitual’s Forbidden Fall/Winter collection has gorgeous colors like Mystic and Inner Sanctum to give your fingers a classic, simple look. Another way to go is choosing a lighter color that has an iridescent look. She’s A River and It’s Raining Men are also good colors from SpaRitual.

2010 is only hours away, so make sure that you make the night one to remember and give your fingers some extra love. Remember, one key thing that people look at are your hands, and they always tell your age. If keeping them cute isn’t reason enough, keep your mitts youthful and give them some extra love and care. Most importantly, after making your extremities beautiful: Have fun its New Year’s!

Source: Flickr User Carbonated

Happy celebrating!

This week has been a little difficult because I’ve been getting these terribly awful hangnails and I think it’s time to talk about winter skin care – starting with our hands. Not only are hangnails annoying, but being the vain person that I am, nail care is important and I hate to walk around with my cuticles all over the place. Yuck! Since I can’t get a manicure once a week like I’d like to, I asked our dear panelist and celebrity manicurist Michelle Saunders what beauty tips she can give to take care of hangnails. Here’s what she had to say about what we can do to save our cuticles.

Celebrity Manicurist Michelle Saunders

“There are several reasons one gets hangnails. The most common reason they occur is due to the climate change from summer to fall/winter -the colder weather dehydrates the hands and cuticles. In addition, people tend to wash their hands more often because of the cold and flu season. Most of my clients will say during this time, “Why are my cuticles so dry and sore lately? I’m not doing anything different!” But because the skin is dryer, normal things like our hands going in and out of drawers, washing dishes, doing laundry – all of those every day things we do pull and tear on our dry skin which causes the cuticles to detach and pull away. So, there are two things that one can do to help in this situation. One, get a professional manicure – this will offer the opportunity for all of the hangnails to be removed properly, (kind of like going to the dentist for a cleaning so it’s easier to keep the teeth plaque free). Second, use hand cream and cuticle oil everyday and often, especially after hand washing! For home care, if you get a really bad cuticle that needs to be trimmed use a small nail clipper or cuticle nipper and gently remove hangnails and then immediately apply cuticle oil, or an antibiotic ointment (like Neosporin) if it is red and angry. And whatever you do – don’t tear them! This only makes them worse.”

So let’s recap:

To get rid of and prevent hangnails

1. Get a professional manicure
2. Use hand cream and cuticle oil often!
3. Use a small nail clipper/cuticle nipper to remove hangnails gently
   1. Use cuticle oil or Neosporin immediately after!
   

   Flickr user: Maria Clara de melo

So after taking Michelle’s brilliant advice, not only did I make time in my busy schedule to get a professional manicure, but decided to pick up some really good hand cream (love the Jaqua Pink Champagne smell) for dry skin. No matter where you are in the country, winter is almost here to dry your skin out and dry skin care is imperative, especially for your hands and feet. So yes ladies, this is your excuse to pamper yourself with many manis and pedis. J

About Michelle Saunders:

Michelle’s celebrity clients include Amber Heard, Amber Valetta, Angie Harmon, Devon Aoki, Eva Longoria Parker, Kate Beckinsale, Katie Holmes, Kim Cattrall, Lady Ga Ga, Melissa George, Megan Fox, Mila Kunis, Pamela Anderson and Shannon Elizabeth. Her work has graced many fabulous publications including Vogue, W, Elle, Flaunt, Maxim, In Style, Glamour and Bazaar.

Michelle kept Kim Cattrall’s hands hangnail-free for the Sex and the City movie.

BF: How should members go about finding a good manicurist and nail salon in their area?
MS: What we do at my salon is work on a referral basis. We do not pay for advertisement…it’s all word of mouth. I recommend that Beautyfix members do their research. They should talk to people in their community and get a referral that way. The questions to ask are “Did the manicurist communicate well with you?”, “Did he or she seem to care about your needs?’ and “Did you feel educated by their recommendations?” It is also important to find out find out how long their manicures last. The life of a manicure is a sign of how much experience a manicurist has and the quality of the products used. The higher the quality and the more experience the longer a manicure will last. A manicure & pedicure should last at least 5 days. Once you get a referral call the salon and find out how they sanitize their implements and pedicure bowls. All salons must follow state board regulations and all items that cannot be sanitized must be thrown away. All salons are also required by the state to keep a pedicure log that records the cleaning schedule of each station.

BF: What are the nail color trends for Fall 2009?
MS: Matte nail polish. Matte nail polish has no shine to it. This is very trendy and hip and includes shades from white to gray. All popular polish brands have a matte line coming out this fall. Another trend to follow is jewel tones such as purple, maroon, and deep reds. These colors are in line with what we are currently seeing in the upcoming fashions for fall. I also recommend reading the September issue of Marie Claire. There is a great article in there about fall nail color trends.

BF: What are some of the most common nail concerns you have seen among your clients? How have they treated these conditions?
MS: One of the most common concerns is dryness.  This usually occurs from using low quality nail products. To avoid dryness use a high quality rehydrating base coat. Lippmann Nail collection has a great one.  Also use cuticle oil every day. My favorite is SpaRitual’s Cuti-Coctail nail & cuticle oil. It smells delicious. You should always use cuticle oil after washing your hands. What I tell people is “You would never shampoo your hair without using conditioner afterwards so the same goes for your nails.”  Another common concern I’ve seen is brittle nails that split.  Most people suffer from this because they work with their hands. This condition can also be attributed to genetics. You should always wear gloves and take your time when working with your hands. I also recommend getting a shiny buff manicure no more than once a week.  Nails are made up of layers of keratin. When you buff your nails, it fuses those layers together making them stronger. In addition, you can combat brittle nails by taking dietary supplements such as Omega 3 fatty acids, calcium, vitamin D and magnesium. The fish oil makes your nails flexible and calcium, vitamin D and magnesium make your nails stronger.

BF: Any tips or tricks for a DIY pedicure at home?
MS: You should always start your pedicure after a shower or bath. That is when skin is at its softest. This is when you should use a foot file. Immediately hydrate afterward with a very thick dry skin cream such as Handprint Hydrating Hand Salve by SpaRitual.  The next step is to remove existing nail polish and then cut toe nails and file. After filing remove any oils from the nail bed with nail polish remover.  Then polish with nail color. Color will stay on longer if you use a base and top coat and finish with a drop of cuticle oil. Cuticle oil helps dry nail polish and it provides moisture all day. I personally believe that cuticles should be trimmed by a professional and should not be trimmed at home.

BF: What’s one nail color every woman should own and why?
MS: Sheer pink. It is flattering on almost every skin tone. I like SpaRitual’s Airhead -  it’s the perfect pink.

About Michelle:
San Francisco native and Los Angeles-based manicurist Michelle Saunders has developed a gentle yet thorough approach to manicuring with over ten years of experience in high-end nail care. Michelle’s personalized approach to
service began with her training as a manicurist for Chanel Boutiques in the San Francisco Bay area. Over the next 10 years, Michelle refined her techniques and ultimately owned a successful, appointment-only nail salon in
San Francisco, California. Her work can be seen in magazines, commercials, movies, and on the red carpet. Michelle’s work has been seen in the magazines Vogue, Interview, Flaunt, W, Maxim and on the red carpet for clients Kate Beckinsale and Eva Longoria Parker, and on the hands of elegant red-nailed Kim Cattral for the “Sex in the City Movie”. Click here to learn more about Michelle.

What’s your favorite nail polish color?