One of my favorite trends for the fall and winter seasons is dark nail polish. I used to be so opposed to it. I was that girl who would get her weekly mani/pedi and always pick the same polish – Limoscene or Ballet Flats by Essie – two impeccably pure light pink polishes that looked more like wisps of cotton candy than nail color. They gave my nails a beautiful, soft, feminine look that I just adored. It’s not that dark polishes didn’t have their appeal, but I just didn’t think I would ever cross over to the “dark side.” I never felt like I had that “bad girl” vibe to carry it off.
Well, all of that changed this past Halloween. I decided to get in the spirit of things and painted my nails a deep dark purple hue that almost gleamed black in the light. I absolutely fell in love with the richness and sensual appeal that it gave my nails – almost as though I was bad enough to be that sultry woman in the shadows smoking her cigarette with her dark ruby red lips blowing rings of smoke into the air. I could be that mystery femme fatale.
When it comes to wearing dark polishes – there are a few things you must do in order to avoid the dreaded, punk rock, messy nails that will look anything but chic:
#3 Rocking Dark Nails Tip: Trim Nails Short
This is very important as long nails tend to look more cheap and tacky than beautiful especially when you apply bold, deep hues. Be sure to trim them short and file them in a nice square shape with rounded edges for a nice neat looking nail.
#2 Rocking Dark Nails Tip: Apply Base Coat
After nails have been filed, cleaned and dried, the next step is to apply a good base coat which will help with the application of the dark polish as well as lessen the chances of nails being stained or yellowed by the dark color.
#1 Rocking Dark Nails Tip: Apply Two or Three Coats of Color
For maximum effect, apply three coats of color. One coat is not enough to showcase the true richness of the dark hue that you choose. Be sure to clean around the nail after painting them in order to maintain a clean look.
Now that you have the tricks of the trade - how do you pick the perfect shade of darkness? Easy, it’s all about your skin tone. For those with fair skin, choose cool, metallic blues, purples, and grey. The thing to remember with fair skin is cool undertones. For those with medium skin or dark skin, black, reds, and plums, go for colors with a hint of warmth and texture. Have fun chicas because it’s all about being dark and delicious!
