Talon talk

Fall nail trends to try

By Sharon Miki, Contributor

When the urge to be oh-so-au courant strikes this fall, there’s no easier—or cheaper—place to change up your style than your fingers. How else can you score brand-new Dior for under $30? While I feel that no one can ever go wrong, nail-wise, with a classic Revlon red, I have a few ideas for new nails for fall.

The quickest and most dramatic way to re-vamp your nails this season is to change their shape. For the last several years, the square-oval, or “squoval,” shape has dominated fashionable ladies’ tips. Since the spring, however, I’ve noticed more and more women opting for a more dramatic pure oval shape. While not necessarily sharp (who wants to worry about accidentally branding their friends and partner with a flick of their well-manicured wrist?), this almond-like shape offers a fresh change of pace. Do note, however, that this longer shape requires more upkeep (re: filing) to stay pristine.

When it comes to colour, fall is the perfect time to leave all things high-maintenance—whether it be five-coats-necessary neon brights, chip-prone bedazzled nail art, or that guy you met while doing tequila shots at Mirage—at the beach, where they look best and belong. Instead, opt for deep, soft, and satisfying muted tones of chocolate, flannel, and moss. My top shade picks are “Rich in Spirit” (a muted-yet-shimmery grey-blue from Nicole by OPI), “For the Twill of It” (a rich flannel grey by Essie), and “Nirvana” (a deep forest green from Marc Jacobs). If you’re looking for something with a bit more pizzazz, try a shimmery, spicy metallic sparkle topcoat like “The Golden Age” (a clear polish with gold and silver flecks from Sephora by OPI). The added benefit of a subtle sparkle coat is that it will disguise minor chips and imperfections for longer than an unforgiving solid-colour coat.

If you’re looking for long-lasting options, there are now a variety of at-home options for gel manicures, which last two to three weeks without chipping. While they require a bit of an initial investment (I bought my bestie the mini Sally Hansen Insta-Gel Strips Manicure Starter Kit for $30 at London Drugs), it can save you a lot of time in the long run if you’re only doing your nails once a month or so, and at-home kits are significantly cheaper than going to the salon for a gel treatment.

Well, what are you waiting for? With so many sumptuous choices, you must go forth immediately and sharpen your claws for fall.