Galery

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Simona Peeva

The word ‘manicure’ comes from Latin and means ‘care for the hands and fingernails’. This procedure includes removal of eponychium, shaping of the nail plate, shortening or lengthening the nails, oil treatment and polishing. In manicure, just as in fashion, there are new trends and innovative approaches. Highly fashionable this season is the almond-shaped manicure and the extravagant Stiletto. 
    

Today, any lady can design her nails at her whim, because neither their length, nor their hardness is a hindrance to nail plastics.  This innovation was made possible by CND, one of the most popular brands for manicure and pedicure products. Back in 1979, CND started manufacturing unique nail polishes and various types of products which gained popularity fast and thus, in today's fashion world, many designers use the brand for the purposes of fashion models’ catwalk manicure and pedicure. 
    

Shellac is among the innovative ideas of CND. This is a nail polish for 15 days wear. It is manufactured in a rich colour gamut and is good for women with weak and brittle nails since it hardens the nail plate. Many women use this nail polish so that their nails grow healthier. Another manicure trend is the gel which comes in all colours, too. The gel allows for any length and shape of manicure. It is permanent and takes only one visit to the manicurist every two weeks for maintenance and filling. The gel procedure is different and lengthier than the one with shellac but the results last for a longer period.  In contrast to shellac, the gel does not harden the nails but it provides a solution for women with short nails who would like to have a long manicure. Both products can be removed: the shellac is removed with a special solution, while the gel is removed with an electric file. 
    

The hottest news about manicure is not the various types of polish but the 3D decorations. Ladies can decorate their nails with gems, ribbons, Swarovski crystals, flowers, logos of famous brands and various 3D miniature figures. There is a lot of clamour over the popular mirror-like nail foil with changing figures and colours which would otherwise be difficult to paint by hand. Quite fashionable are also the different manicure designs where the most common variation is a ring finger nail differing in colour and design from the rest. Nail piercing is also making a glamorous comeback. Every woman has numerous choices to make and have her nails in a unique and personal design 
    

The most bizarre innovation however, comes from Japan and is called LED nails. Late this April, the toy manufacturer Takara Tomy marketed self-adhesive artificial nails with a micro LED to react to different radio frequencies. The Lumideconail technology makes nails shine when in proximity to devices of certain frequency, including iOS or Android operated smart phones. They are sold together with a set of 16 regular artificial nails plus one that can light up. It is wireless and needs no batteries. The sale price is modest: 10 euro only.

The professionals recommend the coral, mint and orchid colours as well as sparkly sand, pink cotton, intense blue, chocolate brown and light matted colours for the season. Dark colours are on hold until the autumn as now is the time for fresh and sparkling colours which shine in the sun. French manicure is always in vogue together with the lunar manicure where in the base of the nail there is a crescent in a colour different from the rest of the nail plate, and ombre where colour gradients are used.