The Chic Way to Wear White Nail Polish

Normally while riding the subway I get lost in my headphones and try to mind my own business, but recently I was struck by a manicure.  The girl sitting directly across from me had the most perfectly painted white tips and I found myself instantly envious thinking, white polish would never look that striking on my nails.  Eager to put the hot new spring beauty trend to the test, I visited the Jin Soon Nail Spa in the West Village and spoke with Jin, herself, about the do's and don'ts to wearing hot hue.

"White is very tricky and can be done horribly wrong," she commented.  "There are a few simple rules that come into play when wanting to wear it."

1. Find the right formula.  Opaque whites can be gummy or streaky.  You need to find a formula that paints on smooth.  Two coats should do it.  It's really all trial and error.
2. Shape your nails appropriately.  In order for the color to look modern, your nails should be short to medium in length with a rounded square shape.  Wearing white polish is a whole look, not just about the color.
3. Apply precisely.  A professional job may be worth investing in unless you have a very steady hand.  Make sure it looks chic and not cheap by making sure the polish doesn't touch the cuticle.  

Jin Soon used her new "Kooki White" shade for fashion shows like Karen Walker. Inspired by the 1950's,"Kookie White" isn't stark white, like you may think.  It's a universally flattering shade of with blue and grey undertones, which even looked chic on my pale skin.  That's right, no tan needed. (Note: Kooki White will be available here soon).

Essie Gels Are Making A Lasting Impression

When I announced on Instagram that Essie was launching a gel polish you all went nuts!  Now, I see why.  Normally, I opt for regular manicures, but the past two times I tested out the new gels.  Tough job, but somebody's gotta do it!  Seriously though, (and I say this as I stare down at my shiny, perfectly polished tips), I may be converting.  Here's the scoop.

The first time I tried the gels I wanted to see purely how long they would last since I've tried all of the other gels and wanted to compare.  I chose my staple Wicked-like color.  To be fair, thanks to my anxiety, I pick and eat off my polish.  With gels of different brands in the past when I was good about not eating them off (gross!) they normally last me about a week  to ten days.  Then, they'd begin to peel on the bottom corners and naturally, I'd attack them.

My first Essie gel manicure lasted ten days.  I was impressed (as was my fiancé and anyone who knew me).  Then, I began picking.  The next time, I chose a shade that corresponds with Russian Roulette called Bank Roll.  Yes, you can match the shade of gel polish to your favorite corresponding Essie polish through a color wheel, which I feel is crucial!

I will say my manicurist the past two times has been phenomenal, as I truly believe that the way the gels are applied have everything to do with them lasting – light layers. The new Essie gel polish collection comes in 36 shades and uses an LED lamp.

Get the Look: Beyonce's Neon Mani in "Blow"

This just in – Beyonce's long time manicurist, Lisa Logan, revealed what she used on Bey's nails on set for her video, Blow.  When the rollerskating rink turns into an ultimate '80's party, her nails pop neon yellow.  Want the look?  Lisa used Ciate's Corrupted Neon Manicure Kit in Megaphone. Sure, leave it up to Bey to drop a full album overnight, but leave it up to Lisa to match her tips to her lips and keep it on the DL.  In case you haven't seen it yet, check out the video below.

Beyonce - Blow (Official Video) HD

Spotlight on Katy Perry's AMA Nail Art

While I wasn't a huge fan of Katy Perry opening the American Music Awards as if she was in Japan last night, I was a fan of her polka dot manicure.  Did you catch that?  Her manicurist, Kimmie Kyees, created the look to compliment her black tulle and white sequin polka dot Oscar de la Renta gown.  Here's how to recreate perfect polka dots. Kimmie painted press on nails prior to meeting with Katy.  After all, they don't have much time to get ready for red carpet events and this takes precision and some serious dry time. Here, she tweeted that she used two coats of Sally Hansen Triple Shine Nail Color in Slick Black as a base color and Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear in White On to create the dots.  First, make sure your base coat if full dry, then, dip a tooth pick into the white polish and add little dots on top.  Allow them to fully dry before applying a shiny base coat.

Top 5 Fall Nail Trends

Backstage during New York Fashion Week last season, it was no surprise that nails were still a main accessory. Playing with texture keeps nail art interesting, proving it's here to stay. I spoke with Celebrity Manicurist, Jin Soon Choi, who broke down the top five nail trends for the season. Get ready to play!

1. Black Matte 

Seen at: Karen Walker, Kaelen, Prabal Gurung, Tibi

Black matte is the hottest thing this fall and there are two different matte finishes available: A pure matte finish which is more young and edgy (Karen Walker) and a satin matte finish (Tibi) which gives a more finished matte look.  I recommend matte black on short to medium length nails with any types of shapes and with natural make up.  Another hot interesting black matte look is a shimmer black matte that was shown on the Tibi Fall 2013 Collection.  Satin matte finish on shimmering black nail polish (JINsoon Obsidian and Matte Maker) goes with all different age groups and skin tones because it provides a satin sheen and it looks more finished than regular matte finish.  Try JINsoon Matte Maker top coat for a satin matte finish instead of a dull unfinished look.

2. Matching Lips & Tips

Seen at: Zac Posen

If you wear unadorned dark oxblood nails, this look can be both modern and chic.  If you want to match your lips and nails, make sure the makeup is very minimalistic, dewy, and not overdone so it will highlight the nails and lips.  Fair skin tones would pull off this look the best.

The nails should be on the shorter side and the shape should be round to square. 

3. Talons

Seen at: Kate Spade, Katie Gallagher

Talons make a really strong statement and are tricky to pull off if they are not done well, otherwise they look like fake nails.  I would recommend talons for someone with long fingers. Talons work well in a hip hop version or for a super glam fashiony look.  If you want to make even more of a statement with talons, you can apply simple studs or nail art.

4. Texture

Seen at: Houghton, Nicholas K., Ruffian,

Adding texture is very versatile - it enhances everything from talons to sophisticated high end "Punk" looks, and is especially applicable to nail art.  It can be fun, creative, and hot.  You can easily use a simple version of this in your daily style; just make sure to coordinate with your outfit and use the most appropriate studs or laces to go with it.

5. Ombre

Seen at: Vivienne Westwood

Ombre can go with all different looks, different length of nails, and different shapes.  It can be casual or it can be theatrical like Vivienne Westwood herself.  You can apply two to three colors and mix them up, but I would recommend a more clean pastel ombre (choose lighter colors from your outfit or make up) if you have strong make up or style. Be careful to avoid clashing Ombres with your make-up so your look isn't too exaggerated. Having a perfect color combination is the key for ombres to achieve a more fashiony, stylish look, rather than a cutesy, childish look.

The Best Polish Hues for Medium Skin Tones

Last week I posted about the best nail polish shades for light skin tones (see post here) and of course, a bunch of you were tweeting me for more.  I told you I wouldn't leave you hanging! Here, Celebrity Manicurist, Jenna Hipp, suggests the best hues for medium skin tones.  Chanel "Provocation" - a mysterious deep raisin

Zoya in "Renee" - the perfect pink to show off your summer tan

Estee Lauder "Blue Blood" - for color that doesn't get in the way

The Best Manicures of the Met Gala from Punk Chaos to Couture

This years Met Gala revealed the exhibit, "PUNK: from Chaos to Couture," which allowed our favorite celebs to donned punk-inspired beauty and fashion looks and some of them really went all out.  Of course, Nicole Richie killed it with gray hair, a burgendy lip shade and a manicure to-die-for.  Other celebs like Blake Lively and Emmy Russom had nail art worth coveting.

How to Wear Gray Polish to A Summer Wedding

All of my friends are getting married!  Recently at one of their bridal showers I was asked what color manicure was appropriate to wear to a wedding?  The bride's mom was looking for a neutral and it got me thinking.  Of course we associate pale pinks and peaches with formal events, especially during the summer, but this year, I'll be wearing a new neutral on my tips for my friend's summer weddings and think you should consider it too. The shade: pale gray.  You can rock this one of two ways, with lavender or blue undertones. Of course choosing your shade is just like choosing the perfect red lipstick.  It depends on your skin tone and what you're wearing.  If you have a paler complexion, blue based grays are best, but opt for a lavender based gray if you have olive to dark skin.

Some of my favorite blue based grays are Dior Vernis in Gris Montaigne and Butter London Nail Lacquer in Billy No Mates.  For lavender based options, try Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Earl Gray.

Spring Beauty Trend: Pastel Manis

While the runways declared nude and shiny, metallic manicures must-haves for Spring, celebrities like Jessica Alba, Beyonce and Ginnifer Goodwin prove that pastel polishes are still all the rage.  The spring staple has been spotted on the A-listers on red carpets throughout awards season and they all chose ones that compliment their skin tones. Despite popular belief, all pastels aren’t created equal.  The shades to covet this season are creamy pastels, which look as if the pigment’s been mixed with a white base.  Think shades like creamsicle, mint, lavender and eggshell blue that pop (yes, even on fair complexions).  If you have an alabaster-like complexion like Ginnifer Goodwin, chose a cool shade like Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer in Green with Envy.  A peachy shade will compliment medium skin tones like Jessica Alba’s, opt for a polish like Butter London Kerfuffle Nail Lacquer in Opaque Pink Coral Crème.  Consider yourself lucky if you have a darker skin tone, as all pastel shades will look flattering.  One of our favorites: CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss in Lav-endure.

Rose Petal Nail Art Inspired by DKNY pureDKNY a drop of rose

With the launch of pureDKNY a drop of rose, my mission was to seek out nail art inspired by the new fragrance.  The first time I partnered with DKNY to interpret fragrance through nail art it was for the holidays so the theme was intensity through glitter (see here).  This time, it's much different.  Dare I say more wearable?  You tell me. When I was first introduced to pureDKNY a drop of rose back in October (see post here) I fell in love and it quickly became my new daytime scent.  To replicate the softness of the pure pink rose petals, I chose to have my nails marbled through a combination of pinks and whites of various intensities.  What do you think?

Check out the DKNY Fragrances Facebook page for an easy step-by-step guide on how to recreate my look at home or try interpreting the fragrance your way and post on their wall.  Can't wait to see what you come up with!

You can purchase pureDKNY a drop of rose at DKNY.com or Ulta.com for $45.

3 Hot Luxury Items for Less: Diamonds, Gold & The Most Expensive Perfume in the World

When it comes to shopping for clothes and home goods, I'm a Maxxinista, but there's nothing like scoring a gorgeous pair of Louboutins or an ornate Alexis Bittar cocktail ring at sample sales.  There's something to be said about luxury.  We all want it, but have to be strategic in the ways we obtain it.  Retailers are now finding ways to bring their luxe items to the masses and I, for one, couldn't be happier.  Here are some covetable beauty buys that you may rethink purchasing. Perfume

Deemed the most expensive perfume in the world, Clive Christian No. 1 will have you smelling close to a million dollars.  The original retails for $865, but it's made with the rarest ingredients, of course.  This fall, V Perfumes was launched for half the price at $405.  Not bad considering.  The scent contains notes of honey and sandalwood on top of jasmine, orange blossom, rose and chamomile.

Manicure

How much would you actually spend on your nails?  When it comes to nail art some go to extremes.  Take Kelly Osbourne for example.  At this year's Emmy's she flaunted a $250K black diamond manicure by the jeweler, Azature.  The most expensive nail polish in the world has 267 carats of diamonds in it.  What happened to the diamonds when she took the polish off?  Crazy!  The company created a bottle of the sparkle for only $25 so you can DIY.

Gold Accents

This fall, ornate gold accents are in.  Whether it be in head pieces, makeup or jewelry.  A Dior cuff would run you about $500, but the brand just came out with these Golden Tattoos made out of 24K gold leafing.  From charms and rings to cuffs, the delicate tattoo jewelry is a true form of luxe for less, but less meaning $120.  Would you spend that much on a tattoo just to have something Dior?

6 Chic DIY Halloween Nail Art Ideas

Personally, I think holiday nail art can get really cheesy.  If you take a look around the web you'll see countless ideas for Halloween inspired nail art, but are you really going to paint a pumpkin on your ring finger?  Let's be serious.  We're not all 50 year old third grade teachers.  The candy corn nail art above?  Yea, I let that one slide because I thought it was so well done and super easy to do, but below I rounded up the chicest Halloween nail art that excuses you from wearing a costume at all.

 Which one do you like best?

5 Glam Celebrity Manicures for Much, Much Less

When on Pinterest, the one thing I find myself getting lost looking at for hours is nail art and I have to think that celeb manicurists and even celebs themselves are with me on this one... and as are you, of course.  From Rihanna's liquid gold to Zooey Deschanel's swarvoski crystals and of course, who can forget Kelly Osbourne's $250,000 black diamond manicure from the Emmys, A-listers have been dropping major cash on their tips in order to make a statement and showcase their personal style.  I rounded up my top five of the year along with DIY ways to get the look.

At this year's Grammys, Rihanna rocked a $5,000 liquid gold manicure.  By Amor 24, each bottle contains an ounce of 24K gold.  Fancy!  Red Carpet Manicure came out with one for less., but I'm a huge fan of this Sephora by OPI top coat with 18 K gold flecks.  You can get it at Sephora for $30.

To promote her upcoming movie, Part of Me, Katy Perry was in Tokyo worked with the manicurists of ES Nails Tokyo to have each of the characters of Daria painted on her nails.  Yes, Daria!  Each nail costs her about $120, which makes the total about $1,200.  She tweeted this pic.  For this kind of skill, I recommend using decals!  There are a ton of cartoon character ones on Amazon, eBay and beauty boutiques like NailDelights.com for under $10.

Rihanna Instagramed this pic saying, "Rubies in my damn gel polish!" from the iHeartRadio show in Vegas this year.  Manicurist to the stars, Kimmie Kyees painted the songstresses tallons with Red Carpet Manicure in Your Fortune Awaits, which contains 4 carats of ruby dust.  The cost? $5,000.  Red Carpet Manicure is coming out this fall with a version called Draped in Rubies at Ulta for $24.

Kelly Osborne wore a $250K mani by the jeweler, Azature to the Emmys this fall.  Her polish has 267 carats of black diamonds throughout it.  Imagine it chipped!?  Now, you can get a bottle of Azature nail polish with a glittery sheen for just $25.

Zooey Deschanel is known for award winning manicures and this year at the Emmys she donned a mini TV on her thumb and had her manicurist, Tom Bachik, use Swarovski crystals on her other fingers to create a peach galaxy.  A full manicure with Swarovski crystals can cost up to $300.  Try adding these Kiss Nail Art Stones for only $2.99 and a hint of glamour.

Fall Nail Trend Predictions: Metallics, Shimmer & Texture... Oh My!

Last spring I covered backstage during New York Fashion Week as I do every season and of course, the nails blew my mind.  Designers Rebecca Minkoff, Pamela Love, Alice & Olivia and Nicole Miller all had their models sporting nail art to compliment their collections.  While nail art is here to stay, there's a lot more to look out for.  L'Oreal's Celebrity Manicurist, Tom Bachik, filled me in on the top four trends for fall and they're all easy enough to do at home! Trend 1: Mixing Texture & Dimension

“I think mixing texture and dimension is important. If you're going with a chunky metallic on toes, go with a rich deep ‘creamy’ color on your fingers – and vice versa. If you're wearing a full-coverage nude on toes, then pair with a rich deep shimmer shade with dimension to the fingers.”

Trend 2: Antique Metallics & Full-Coverage Nudes on Toes

“I love antique metallics and full-coverage nudes on toes, so there’s no competition with all the great shoe colors for fall. Keep color on the fingers to play off lips and eyes.”

Trend 3: Classic Looks in Deep Rich Tones like Burgundy & Eggplant

He recommends L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche nail in Haute Couture Red (Burgundy) and Breaking Curfew (Eggplant).

Trend 4: Sheer Shimmery Lace

“Sheer shimmery lace is a big fall trend. A great look I've started to do as summer wraps up is to use a single coat of a shimmery metallic on nails, so the color stays sheer but sparkly. It’s a great modern take on nudes that stays sophisticate and chic.” 

New Ice Cream Study Is Making Me Enjoy Mint Chip in A New Way and You May Thank Me

One of my guiltiest pleasures is ice cream.  Are you with me?  I have to have it several times a week (having a BF who loves it just as much doesn't help either).  Gross? Probably, but I work it off!  My ice cream addiction now makes sense thanks to a recent study that compares your brain on ice cream to your brain on drugs.  I'm not kidding.  From now on I'm going to "Just Say No" to another scoop and found a new solution... check out the video below.  It just may help you too!  

Play the Qwiki: Mint Chocolate Chip Manicure, 0 Calories!

Avril Lavigne Designs A Rockstar Collection for Sally Hansen Salon Effects

Last night I attended a Sally Hansen press event at a suite at the Crosby St. Hotel in Soho to celebrate their partnership with Avril Lavigne.  We were all gathered around a table filled with new designs from Avril's Salon Effects Collection when the songstress, who looked no older than 13, walked in and hopped into a chair. She looked... very Avril, with long straight hair, raccoon black liner, a little biker leather jacket, black leggings and pair of black Converse sneakers with dirty white laces that were accented by white socks with little pink hearts on them.

"A lady came in to give me a manicure (with her Sally Hansen Salon Effects) and I just asked her if I could do it myself, because I can do it so much quicker," Lavigne explained as soon as she walked in.

Showing off her DIY mani, a sparkly pink polish with skull pattern, she pointed out her favorites in her 12 piece collection, which are "Fur-ocious Vocals," a leopard print and "You're A Star," a blue star pattern.

I'm a huge fan of the Sally Hansen Salon Effects.  If you haven't tried them yet I encourage it.  They're easy to apply and last about ten days.  Here's a post from the first time I applied them.  Lavigne says she does them on the plane and in the studio.  I do them at home and have even cheated and brought them to my manicurist!  This collection reflects her personality so if you're into grungy rock and roll, these are right up you're alley!

New Trend: Album Cover Nail Art, Something I Should Have Thought About in 2001

I'm completely obsessed with nail art for more than one reason.  While Japanese nail art has been around forev, I can't believe how mainstream it's become and all of the different trends that are coming out within the genre.  Last week I was in the DBA offices (my management co.) and Karen Robinovitz's nail art was inspired by a dress from Prabal Gurung's Spring/Summer 2012 collection (pic).  Amazing.  The latest in nail art is rocker chic – album cover, which as a former Dave Matthews Band "groupie" I wish I thought of earlier... Here's why... My nails chip after about two days so when I do nail art or anything fancy I have to resort to gels.  However, there's a slew of nail bloggers who primp their nails daily and have been showcasing some of their favorite album covers painted across five fingers.  Really impressive.  MTV reported on the trend highlighting six of them.

When thinking of my favorite band, DMB, I wish I thought of nail art back in 2001 when I had the "Stand Up" album cover tattooed on my lower back.  (The album came out in 2005, but the symbols been around forev, so yea, technically it was on my back before the album release - go me)!  Nail polish remover is much cheaper (and less painful) than laser treatments.

What album cover would you like to see as a mani?

Golden Globes Beauty: Zooey Deschanel's Tuxedo Mani, Hit or Miss?

Zooey Deschanel hit the Golden Globes red carpet in a green and black silk Prada gown that was very, well, very Zooey, but what really caught my attention was her tuxedo mani. While it is expected for men to wear tuxedos to awards ceremonies, I have to admit, I didn't really like the look on Zooey's nails.  Even though nail art was a huge trend backstage during fashion week for Spring 2012, I think it should be kept off of the red carpet.

Her dress on the other hand, I loved.  I thought it was elegant and expressed her personality. What do you think of nail art on the red carpet?

Navy is the New Black

You've heard it once, you've heard it twice.  This is the new black, that's the new black, but really ladies – navy is the new black.  At least when it comes to nail polish.  High shine navy manicures are it for fall. If you're anything like me you've been wearing a slew of dark polishes on your tips from Chanel Black Satin to OPI Lincoln Park After Dark, but this Fall in case you haven't noticed, already in your local nail salon are Essie in Bobbing for Baubles and OPI in Road House Blues – two perfect navys.

My favorite right now is by Creative Nail Design called Midnight Sapphire. It's a very inky navy that resembles a an ink mark a dark felt tip blue marker would leave behind.

Haute Trend: Color Blocked Nails

When I get my weekly mani, I normally play it safe and get a purple tinged black hue, like Essie in Luxedo, that I feel comfortable wearing. I think dark colors look chic on my short nails, and complement anything I wear. This week, I stepped out of the box and played with nail polish—even my manicurist questioned my choice! I decided to make my nails pop and play them up as my main accessory with Essie in Haute as Hello and painting only my ring fingers with Essie in Too Too Hot. Being that the two polishes are both warm-toned, I like the way it works. It’s definitely a conversation starter!