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- With our makeup looks having gone back to basics this year, people have found ways to create cosmetic art through their hair and nails.
- Since our faces are still covered by masks, let your manicure make a statement these holidays instead.
- Here are five festive nail trends to try - from the modern French mani to The Grinch adding expression to your hands.
For many women, 2020 saw makeup taking a back seat in favour of comfortable and practical bare faces.
This was, of course, a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, which had us spending months of the year in isolation, with no need for false lashes and cut creases. Wearing masks has also become mandatory to try and prevent the spread of this disease, which had us saying goodbye to lipstick, at least for the time being.
So, with only half our faces exposed in public and ‘maskne’ sprouting on many a chin, a lot of people have prioritised skincare and taken their routines back to basics. One way you can still bring beauty looks over the holiday season, however, is with a standout manicure.
Here are five festive nail trends for 2020 that will bring some cheer to your safe and socially-distanced year-end celebrations:
Negative space
According to international beauty authority, Allure, negative-space manicures are going to be all the rage in 2021.
Hop onto this trend early by adding some surreal swirls to your fingertips and sealing them with a shiny topcoat. Using colours like red and green for this look will give it some festive flair.
Glitter
Who needs a sparkler on Old Year’s Eve when you’ve got nails like these? Nothing says ‘I’m ready to have some fun’ quite like a shimmery set of nails, and they also transition well from Christmas to New Year.
Go bold and paint each nail with glitter, or opt for a subtler finish by just adding some shine to the tops.
TIP: Wearing glitter on your nails is fun. But removing it? Not so much. To make the process easier, soak some cotton wool balls in nail polish remover, place one on each fingertip and wrap in foil. After five minutes remove the foil and cotton and your glitter varnish should glide right off.
Modern French
The French manicure made a major comeback this year and saw us swapping the traditional soft-pink look for more interesting shades and shapes.
For a polished manicure that still brings plenty of festive cheer, adorn your tips with classic holiday colours or a metallic finish. Or both!
Star designs
The classic star motif has year-round appeal and is a great way to bring an easy-to-DIY element into your manicure. The options are also endless when it comes to selecting your design.
A bold base shade with metallic stars or natural nails covered in colourful shapes are both fun takes on this trending look.
TIP: Drawing perfect and pretty stars when you aren’t using your dominant hand can get messy. Instead, make your life easier by checking out the nail aisle at the shops and grabbing some star-shaped stickers.
Apply them to your nails and seal with a top coat for the easiest DIY manicure of your life.
The Grinch
Thanks - no doubt - to the recent launch of the Kylie Cosmetics holiday collection, this green, grumpy Dr. Seuss character has been seeing some renewed interest of late. The result?
He is getting spotted on fingers all over social media and is apparently the character of choice for the 2020 festive season.
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