Be A Trendsetter – The Statement Toe

Image courtesy of www.Birchbox.com

You should have seen this coming. This year was ALL about the statement nail (or nails), nail art and the like.

Memorial Day Weekend is fast-approaching (the official start of pedicure season), and as reported by forward-thinking beauty mega star Birchboxthe statement toe has landed.

We think that this trend is totally adorable and can’t wait to hop on board. Since our toe nails are smaller (thus making it more difficult to lovingly adorn them with nail art) it makes the most sense to accent your big toe (as shown in the above image, courtesy of Birchbox.com).

This new nail idea has got us more excited than ever to keep our tootsies exposed all summer long. Plus, what better way to draw attention to our new sandals, wedges and peep-toe pumps?

We’re still deciding which way to go first – fun white polka dots or a glitter toe?! What do you think? Will you rock a statement toe this summer?

 

Nail Polish Porn: NYFW and Beyond

Fashion Week is in full swing, and before models even hit the runways, future beauty trends are being set backstage by some of the industry’s most creative hair, nail, and makeup pros. Be ahead of the game and see the nail trends that caught our eye this week!

1. BCBG: Semi-Matte Black

Courtesy of OPI

Models at the BCBG Fashion Week show wore OPI Black Onyx, topped with OPI Matte Nail Envy for a texture in between matte and glossy.

2. Candela: Warm Nude

Courtesy of OPI

Models at the Candela NY Fashion Week presentation wore OPI Don’t Pretzel My Buttons, a warm nude.

3. Illamasqua: Speckled Varnish

Courtesy of Illamasqua

As part of their new Spring lineup, Illamasqua launched these speckled polished paying homage to eggshells.

4. Houghton: Lace Nails

Courtesy of OPI

Models at the Houghton NY Fashion Week presentation wore OPI nail lacquer in Samoan Sand, topped with the same lace shown in the clothing collection.

5. Jenni Kayne: Bright Coral

Courtesy of OPI

Not to be deterred by the snowstorm in NYC, models at the Jenni Kayne presentation brightened things up in OPI MonSooner or Later.

6. Rebecca Minkoff: Swirled Metallics

Courtesy of Essie

The models at Rebecca Minkoff’s show had psychadelic nails, thanks to a mix of these Essie shades.

7. LIBERTINE: Rainbow Gems

Courtesy of butter LONDON

The  manicurist created a new golden hued polish with butter LONDON, Marbs, which will be sold Summer 2013 (stay tuned!). She covered the polish with the same crystals that appeared in the designer’s clothing collection.

8. ICB by Prabal Gurung: Matte Steel

Courtesy of butter LONDON

Chimney Sweep lacquer by butter LONDON gave nails an edgy silver-gray look, especially after it was topped with the brand’s Matte Finish Top Coat.

9. KAELEN: Black French

Courtesy of butter LONDON

Models played the part of the “cool girls” in school with a less-than-traditional French manicure:The base was butter LONDON lacquer in Union Jack Black (mattified with the brand’s Matte Finish Top Coat), with a glossy tip courtesy of P.D. Quick Top Coat.

10. Joanna Mastroianni: Silver Sheen

Courtesy of OPI

OPI nail pros layered OPI polish in Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous over My Private Jet for a high-sheen graphite shade.

5 Nail Trends for Winter 2013

A List by Essie

Celebrity manicurist Jade Morales splits her time between two high-end windy city salons: George the Salon Chicago and The Spa at the Four Seasons. Her previous gig as a manicurist for Oprah’s HARPO Studios helped her rise to fame and develop a roster of big-name clients. We asked her to share the 5 biggest nail trends for the season since, well, she would know!

Feast your eyes on some must-try nail ideas…

1. Red Carpet Trend: Classic Reds and Vamps
You’ve probably noticed all the celebrities with classic red nails lately, and they won’t be stopping anytime soon — it’s red carpet season! “With the Oscars coming up, we will be seeing a mix of more classic looks on celebrities such as reds and dark colors,” says Morales. “Essie makes a beautiful shade of red called A List, which is a classic, and a great dark shade, Velvet Voyage.”

No Place Like Chrome by Essie

2. Street Trend: Metallic
“No Place like Chrome by Essie is a great metallic silver that clients just love,” Morales told us. Try it when you’re craving something sparkly.

3. Salon Trend: Plum
Feeling purple? “Essie Luxedo is a favorite in the salon due to its striking deep hue,” Morales says.

4. New-Again Trend: French Manicure
This one is gaining popularity again. “I always use Essie’s base coat followed by one coat of Adore-a-Ball by Essie as the pink, then Blanc by Essie for the tip,” Morales shared. After that, “Apply another coat of Adore-a-Ball and finish with Seche Vite top coat.”

I’m With the Band by NCLA

5. Celebrity Trend: Coral
“Beyonce just rocked her nails out with NCLA’s I’m with the Band, which is a deep coral/orange polish. If you can’t find it near you, there are a few other colors similar to it that I would choose, like Macbeth by butter LONDON or Not So Safe Orange, a limited edition shade by Le Métier De Beauté.”

What do you think of Jade Morales’ choices? Tweet us a pic of what’s on your nails right now @SpaWeek.

Wedding Wednesday: Bride-Tastic Nail Art

Fun fact about Kim: I’m a nail art freak. It’s a fairly bad addiction. Even after blogging about the OPI x Muppets collection, I had to run out and get my hands on “Gettin’ Miss Piggy With It.” (P.S. it’s gorgeous!) So when it comes to my wedding (not any time soon folks), I will definitely be blinging out my nails for the big day. We showed you 6 mani/pedi themes to try with your bridesmaids but now it’s time to plan your epic wedding day manicure.

Here’s some inspiration we found on the manicured interwebs:

Mariah Carey Wedding Manicure

Pinned Image

Royal Wedding Manicure

Pinned Image

Disco Wedding Manicure

Pinned Image

Trendy Wedding Manicure

Pinned Image

Rainy Day Wedding Manicure

Pinned Image

Cleopatra Wedding Manicure

Pinned Image

Something Blue Manicure

Pinned Image

Lace Wedding Manicure

Pinned Image

Modern Wedding Manicure

Pinned Image

Traditional Wedding Manicure

Pinned Image

New Years Eve Wedding Manicure

Pinned Image

Garden Wedding Manicure

Pinned Image

Kim Kardashian Black & White Wedding Manicure

Barbie Wedding Manicure

Pinned Image

Tell us: what did your nails look like on your wedding day?

The Python Sssssssssssnakeskin Pedicure

In the eyes of your six-year-old son, you could instantly become the coolest mom on earth if you came home one day with a pet python.

In the eyes of your sixteen-year-old daughter, or any of the editors at Vogue for that matter, you could instantly become the coolest mom on earth if you came home with a python pedicure.

One of the hottest new trends in nail decor is nothing to hiss at; it involves actual snakeskin, generously offered by a python who has naturally shed its outer later of highly-coveted fashionable skin.

Vdara Hotel & Spa at CityCenter, Las Vegas, Spa Week‘s 2011 destination sponsor, is on the cutting edge offering this exotic pedicure. The pedicure of the season involves first meticulously trimming the snakeskin into the shapes of your toenails, and then using Bio Scuplture Gel to place the snakeskin on your nails and seal in the design for a glossy finish.

Not such a reptile fan? If you love the look but would rather not have dead snakeskin on your toenails, you can opt for faux snakeskin.

The Vdara Snakeskin Pedicure is $180, and the faux version is $150. Check out more of the cool treatments that take place in the 18,000 square foot Spa & Salon Vdara.

What do you think of thisssssssssssss trend? Will you be slithering into a Python Pedi?

Photos courtesy of Vdara; editorial photo via Vogue.