Friday 6 April 2012

Dress Up Your Nails in Plum Colours

Recently i came across this article while browsing. Thought i'd share it. So here goes a few tips to pamper your nails and give them a glam look

This season, shades of purple (especially the plum-purplish tones), blue and grey are really big. Metallic shades of plum and purple work great for an evening out. Not in the mood to experiment? Classics like burgundy, maroonish red and bright candy shades always work. For people with brittle or bitten nails, acrylic nails are a great solution, says Simar, owner of Simar’s Nail Bar, New Delhi. This simple salon procedure can last about four to five months, after which you will have to get a new set.
You can also get permanent nail paint, the best way to make your nail colour last without chipping. Your favourite colour is painted on and sealed with a gel that is dried under a UV light. “It doesn’t chip and also hardens your nails,” says Simar. Permanent nail colour lasts about a month till your nail starts growing out, and you get regular fillers if needed.

At-home care
Using a cuticle oil every day is a must. Whether you get acrylic nails or gel ones, pamper your nails with oil at least once a day. Vitamin E oil could also do the trick. Never cut your cuticles and remember not to use sharp instruments to clean the underside of your nails. Use a cotton bud instead, suggests beauty expert Shahnaz Husain. Always use an acetone-free remover. A mani-pedi session once a month — not more than twice as it can make your nails brittle — is a good idea. Use a hand and foot cream regularly.

Fake nail tips 
Acrylic nails may look great, but it’s important to take care of them. Clean the underside of the nails regularly to avoid any infections. Acrylic nails could lead to allergic reactions in some people because of the polymer-based substances in the product, so keep that in mind before you opt for them. Also, they should be kept at a safe distance from heat sources like dryers, curling irons and direct flame.

Do it right 
For a professional finish, follow these tips
1 Shape your nails properly. If your nails are not shaped right, there’s a high chance of chipping. A soft square works for all occasions and is easy to maintain.
2 Direct air on the nails will dry the chemicals in the polish and not allow it to set properly. So don’t dry directly under the fan or right in front of the air conditioner.
3 Base coat is important as it promotes bonding of the nail paint and protects the nails from pigmentation. Wait for at least a minute after you apply the base coat.
4 Dip the nail polish brush in the bottle and while pulling it up, wipe off the excess colour from one side of the brush on the mouth of the bottle. Apply a thin, smooth first coat.
5 Once dry, add on a second coat, which will give you that intense colour. Finish with a top coat that will protect the colour from chipping and make your nail polish last longer.

Adapt the look
Love a colour but aren’t sure if you can carry it off every day?
Nail art is a super alternative, suggests Simar. “Something simple and small like a tiny flower can tone down a dark shade. A lot of women love black or other darker hues but are worried about wearing them all the time,” she says. Nail art solves this problem, letting even the safest women to be on-trend.

Around the look
Pair your dark purple nails with funky accessories in contrasting colours. Go ahead, mix, match and pop!

Expert tip
The trick is to ensure that the base and first coat are almost dry before starting the next coat, or else the colour will smudge.

Hope you enjoyed reading it :)
Source : http://idiva.com/news-style-beauty/dress-up-your-nails-in-plum-colours/11906