Nail Color Trends Fall Winter 2009

This season, nail trends go to the extremes; from pretty nudes to edgy ebony, signaling the return of strong sophistication after a summer full of pretty pastels and electric neons.
Healthy, round-shaped nails covered in darker nail polish are very IN.

Opt for intense navy blues, rich chocolate browns, from light purples to eggplant, lavender and chic greys.
 Nail Polish Trends Fall Winter 2008 2009

Rich jewel-tone hues on nails exude luxury - copper and wines and bright and deep reds will be also popular this year.
This season's colors are elegant, bold and suit women with strong fashion sense and who loves taking risks.
A word of warning, however, for mere mortals about to take the plunge: to avoid looking like a punk, quite literally, be sure to keep nails short and beautifully groomed to ensure the overall effect is chic rather than shocking.

Trends in Nail Colors for Fall Winter Nail Color Trends

TIPS
  1. Moisturize cuticles. Cuticle oils penetrate the skin bed best. Check out prices here:. Don't have cuticle oil on hand? Use a rich hand cream like Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Hand Cream or even lip balm.

  2. Prep nails by filing. File nails in an oval shape just like the curve of your nail base. Square tips could make your fingers look chubby.

  3. It's important to wipe nails with a nail polish remover before applying polish even if you aren't wearing polish. Why? Oils left on the nail (like the hand cream or lip balm) will keep polish from sticking. But don't clean nails with cotton balls. Why? They'll leave little fuzzies on your nails. A better option is to use a makeup sponge or try these Stripper to Go pads from celebrity manicurist Deborah Lippmann.

  4. Wrap the tips of your nails with polish. When applying polish, be sure to bring it over the front edge of the nail and slightly under the tip. This helps prevent chipping.

  5. If the polish chips, it's best to remove the paint from the nail and start over. If you don't have time, dip your finger in nail polish remover and smooth over the chipped area and re-apply a topcoat.

  6. Smudged your polish while painting? Try this trick: dip your finger in nail polish remover and use it to smooth the surface, repainting with a topcoat.

  7. The secret to keeping nails from smudging: Dry time! Surfaces will feel dry to the touch after 10 minutes, but don't be fooled. It actually takes an entire hour for nails to completely dry.

  8. When a nail breaks, the best thing to do is to cut it off. But here's a trick if the break is low down (& painful, undoubtedly): cut a tiny strip of gauze from a teabag, place it over the tear & the paint over with polish.

  9. To maintain a fresh polish, add a fresh layer of topcoat every other day.

  10. How long should your manicure last? Experts say one to 2 weeks. A pedicure should last 2 to 4 weeks.

Right Nail Polish Colors for Your Skin

  1. If your skin tone is very light, you can get away with lighter tones of nail color such as pink, pale peach and beige. (Wearing dark colors of nail polish when you are light skinned tends to look "vampy.")

  2. If you have a darker skin tone, you can get away with darker colors of nail polish, such as reds, blues and even black.

  3. Follow the rule of thumb: Light skin looks better with light to medium nail polish; darker skin looks better with medium to dark nail polish.