As the festive season approaches, achieving a polished look often starts with your manicure. The right nail colour can add instant youth and luminosity to your hands, while the wrong choice can unfortunately highlight sallowness, redness, and uneven skin tones.
Choosing the Right Colours: Reds Over Nudes
According to Charlotte Lowe, a nail artist and OPI Education Brand Manager, some shades possess a timeless appeal. Classic reds and deep plum shades are timeless choices that draw attention to the nails rather than the age of the hands, she explains.
The rich, intense colour naturally draws the eye, but more importantly, red tones have a unique ability to brighten the skin, bringing warmth and contrast to paler or uneven complexions. Somewhat surprisingly, nude shades can have the opposite effect, potentially washing out pale skin and emphasising any blemishes.
Finishes and Shapes for a Youthful Glow
While glitter is tempting for party season, Lowe advises against chunky varieties. For those conscious of the age of their hands, it’s best to avoid full-on chunky glitter, she says. Instead, she recommends opting for pearlescent or shimmer finishes which create a more flattering, luminous effect.
The soft, light-reflective particles in these finishes bounce light off the skin, creating a diffused, youthful glow similar to using a highlighter on the face. For a festive look, Lowe suggests OPI’s Berry and Bright, a delicate shimmer.
Nail shape is equally crucial. Wearing your nails slightly longer in an almond shape can help elongate the fingers and hands, which can draw attention away from areas of concern, Lowe notes. Almond and oval shapes visually lengthen the hand, softening the appearance of knuckles and veins. For shorter nails, a softly rounded edge with a high-shine topcoat keeps the finish looking fresh.
Adding Festive Flair with Statement Details
You don't need complicated nail art to look glamorous. Lowe suggests a simple yet effective approach: create a statement nail by painting your ring finger in glitter. This single accent nail looks intentionally chic and can instantly elevate a simple manicure for Christmas events.
For those wanting to play with trends, Lowe points out that polka dots are a major trend. This look can be easily recreated using a bobby pin or toothpick with a highly pigmented white shade, like OPI Alpine Snow, over your favourite base colour.
