As said by nail pro Shari Gottesman, “When it comes to nails, there is a color for everyone and a right way to experiment with every trend, no matter how intimidating it may seem at first.” Read on for her suggestions on wearing your most thought about lacquers.

1. Opaque Nudes
This has been one of the biggest, yet most unconventional summer color trends, and it shows no sign of abating come fall. These “greige” tones can easily be over-the-line unflattering, so there are a few important things to be aware of. First, your manicure must be perfect. Nails do not need to be extremely short. Mid-length or shorter will be most flattering and either square or slightly rounded. Go for a browner tone if you still feel uncomfortable at the office.

2. Whites
Turning up all over the place on runways, find a shade that is not 100% white. It’lll be a little more forgiving if it has a slight tone to it. A very sheer coat looks great on all nails but is a tad more favorable when taken to its opaque extreme. Go for one gorgeous piece of jewelry as a focal point to balance out the hand.

3. Bold, Heavy Metals
This is a very fashion forward look, so if you’re going to go there… then GO there!  Use a mattifying top coat for a total fashion slave effect. Also, this look loves lots of bold jewelry, so break out your rings and bracelets.

4. Bright Oranges & Pinks
The easiest trend to pull off by far, vivid hues looks just as good on feet as on hands. A suited match on long nails and short, round, oval or square, the most important thing to do is use a high gloss top coat to keep the color looking wet and unabashed. Plus, chips must be tended to immediately! Beachy bangles that won’t compete too much are best, jewelry-wise.

Creating nail color collections for some of the most well-known beauty companies in the industry, Shari Gottesman, Vice President of Cosmetic Coatings Corporation and founder of Perfect Formula, is a major player when it comes to setting trends. For spring, Gottesman confirms she is continuing to see some very untraditional, not-so-subtle color styles. “Spring used to always be about feminine pastels, but we are really seeing very little of those sweet and natural shades this year,” she says. “No one wants pastels of any kind right now. The trend toward bright shades is continuing, though they are a little toned down from the electric heights of last season.”

What to Buy:

1. Bright Gerbera Daisy shades will replace last seasons’ crazy neon’s. Fluorescent tones were fun, but now super vibrant oranges, reds and pinks much like a tropical garden will be more flattering and great for toes!

2. Effects that showcase a whimsical effect are a major trend on the horizon. For instance, mood polishes that basically change color depending on body temperature are becoming increasingly popular. Look for them!

3. Bold, heavy metallics from bright cobalt to deep fuchsia and C-3P0 gold have moved away from the matte chrome look of winter and amped up the shine wattage. It’s all very Terminator!

Sometimes staying up-to-date on a weekly mani and pedi is just not an option, but that doesn’t mean the great tricks of the trade can’t be duplicated in a cost effective, comfort of your own home sort of way. “Nail and hand care needs always make for perfect at-home spa treatments,” says Shari Gottesman, founder of Perfect Formula. “It is so easy to do things to care for these workhorse body parts that are inexpensive, effective and incredibly pampering all at the same time.” Read on to learn Shari’s top at-home spa tips for hands and nails.

1. Drop your bottle of cuticle oil into a glass of hot water for a few minutes before applying to maximize penetration and effectiveness. It’s the cuticle version of a hot oil treatment!

2. Nothing beats a warm foot soak with some Epsom salt. It is such a great thing to do for foot health, and it makes it so much easier to buff away the dead skin. Epsom salt is detoxifying. It soothes aches, reduces swelling and is exfoliating. It’s literally the perfect gift for tired, unhappy feet.

3. Mix together olive oil and sugar for a luxurious and wholesome do-it-yourself exfoliating hand treatment.

Made by the online beauty boutique, www.abeautifullife.com, this is a huge step in the category of eco-friendliness for nail care. The dramatic twelve shade lacquer collection, inspired by hard to find hues, replaces the chemicals found in most polishes with essential oils and natural compounds. Expect the same all natural treatment in the Soy Polish Remover, whose refreshing citrus burst makes us want to kick all our other polish removers to the curb.

The Twelve Shade Collection

Soy Polish Remover

Short, round nails are in, and they’re polished with dramatic hues like deep reds, dark purples and shadowy browns. When scouring the shelves, keep an eye out for nourishing formulas like Dior Vernis,designed to strengthen nails and produce a long lasting shine. Chances are they’ll be more costly ranging around $20 a bottle, but it’s worth it for a little at home luxury. Plus, achieve the perfect polish with these five easy rules.

1. Before applying, wipe brush on the bottle’s rim to thin out your polish and prevent peeling.
2. Always use a base coat to give the polish something to cling to and make your color lasts longer.
3. Wait for nails to dry in between coats to avoid sloppiness.
4. Finish each coat with a sweep across the edge to prolong chipping.
5. Signs of aging polish are thick and goopy, and decrease in staying power. Add a few drops of polish thinner (not remover) for revitalization.

Quick fingernail polish fix needed?  Think toothpicks!  If the polish has gotten on the finger’s skin, dip a toothpick in nail polish remover and work the polish off by rolling the saturated toothpick around the unwanted polish.  As well, if the polish has rolled up onto itself on the nail, itself (you stuck your newly manicured fingernail into your handbag too soon, didn’t you?!), then dip a toothpick in the polish remover and roll it around the varnish pileup until it smooths out.  Add/roll the same color onto the area, if color is needed.

Or forget all that nonsense and make sure to have the Essie Nail Corrector Pen on hand.  Talk about easy!  It cleans excess nail polish quickly and effortlessly… plus, it’s travel-friendly and refillable.  Life is good!

One doesn’t have to have flashy colors to be noticed, and Dior Vernis Sweet Orange Fingernail Polish is rich, high-gloss, long-wearing nail color that’s both subtle and chic—who’s not going to notice that?

And for those who are just desperate to wear nail polish but are stuck with a bad nail biting habit, read How To Stop Biting Your Fingernails.  You’ll be happy you did!

Hello Essie Spring Mini 4-Pack Fingernail Polishes! Come to momma!  Wear the one-of-a-kind Poppy Red Kiss or the Cherry Blossom Pink with anything.  Smooth some of the Royal Va-Va Blue on for a night on the town (imagine those fingers wrapped around a mojito!). And for the office, when you must dress conservatively, make a break-through statement with Feisty Hot Pink nails. You also make a statement on your wallet - 4 colors for the price of 1!



With nails this pretty, there’s only one perfect handbag for Spring—the MICHAEL Michael Kors ‘Braided Grommet - Large’ Leather Shoulder Tote, with its high-shine grommets and sweet tassels.  Snap closures and interior zips makes for safe, fast cell phone grabbing.  Plus, the neutral hue allows you to wear any color—and it’s also an all-year-long accessory, as the brown isn’t too dark for the warmer seasons.

Now, to bring it all together, this Michael Kors ‘Pink Catwalk’ Chronograph Watch is a must!

The hot coral color will work with any red, orange, pink or even blue… and it will pull the color out of the handbag. If you want to see pretty—look at anyone with a bit of hot coral against their sun-kissed skin.  We’re talking oh-la-la pretty and we want some of that for our own!

Essie Spring Mini 4-Pack - available at Nordstrom - $17.

MICHAEL Michael Kors ‘Braided Grommet - Large’ Leather Shoulder Tote - available at Nordstrom - $498

Michael Kors ‘Pink Catwalk’ Chronograph Watch - available at Nordstrom - $195.

Unless you—the beauty fanatic—have been in a beauty bubble, you know that Sephora does for makeup junkies what Target does for shopping junkies—it provides the good fix.  So if you also happen to be a fingernail polish junkie, you’re going to love the O.P.I. hats-off-to-Sephora salute: SEPHORA by O.P.I..

You get the long-lasting, chip-resistant polish (which eco-consciously excludes DBP, toluene, and formaldehyde!), along with a sophisticated, yet fun, bright plum color.

SEPHORA by OPI Nail Colour Access 24/7