22 Nail Art

lian tra

Nails have been a canvas for creativity long before the age of Olive & June and acrylic sets. Modern nail art became popular during the 1920s when the classic red manicure and the “half-moon manicure” took center stage. Since then, trendy manicures have ranged from matte top coats to ombré, and social media has helped spur the widespread circulation and prominence of different nail designs. Thankfully, we as a society have moved past crackle topcoats and chevron patterns. Nowadays, nail art has become both a creative outlet for individuals and a booming industry. Professional manicures can range anywhere between twenty to hundreds of dollars, depending on the design, amount of colors, time required, and general quality of the salon, among other factors. Unsurprisingly, the average price of a mani-pedi in the United States has been on a steady exponential rise over the past few years. While nothing beats the feeling of leaving the salon with a freshly painted set, at-home nail art has also become a popular and cost-effective way to try out the trends. Social media, especially TikTok, Youtube, and Instagram, has proved quite useful for those experimenting with nail art as creators use those spaces to share helpful tips and tricks. More recently, many creators and style aficionados have focused on incorporating nail art into their outfit choices and makeup looks. While nails are certainly harder to change up every day than face makeup, using your nail colors or designs to inspire outfit choices always creates a unique and cohesive look.

writer: Sophie Boorstin photographer: Jack Grossi stylists: Anais Geronimo, Katrina Grzeszczuk, Naomi Drew models: Malik Irish, Emily Jiang, Eliza Pendergast, Britt Defeo beauty: Anna Villamil (nails), Jade Levitin (makeup) layout: Andrea Hayman

Like any other part of beauty and fashion, nail art trends come and go. Right now, some of the most popular nail art styles are 1970s-inspired swirl patterns, abstract designs, and rhinestone and bead embellishments, as featured in this photoshoot. Browns, muted greens, and blues were among the most popular nail polish colors during the most recent late summer and early fall seasons. As winter approaches, darker tones will undoubtedly make their yearly comeback. Classic maroons, blacks, forest greens, navies, and darker nude tones will always stay in style, however, metallic and chromatic polish colors are also a fun and more unconventional option for the colder months. No matter what your style is, nail art is a great, temporary way to experiment with color and pattern and to expand your beauty routine. Small yet mighty, nails provide a unique canvas for artistic and stylistic expression.