With summer on the horizon, we spoke with two nail experts to find out which looks will be heating up this season.
As temperatures continue to rise, more clients will want to flaunt their new mani/pedi for the season (#hotgirlsummer!) While some nail salons remain closed in some regions due to the pandemic, it’s still important to know what clients will be looking for once it’s time to reopen. “I’ve really been able to take a step back and look at what I love about my own artistry,” says Lise Pavich, a nail artist and education ambassador for CND, based in Edson, Alta. “Today, I feel that the shift for many of us has been about what we recognize and what’s familiar to us—who we are, what represents us and how we feel.”
With trends from the virtual spring/summer 2021 Fashion Week ranging from minimalistic nudes to soft pastels to bright pops of pink, there’s no time like the present to help your clients try something new. “The trends are all over the place for colours,” says Pavich. “In the salon, I’m getting more requests from clients that are based on how they feel about the colours: How does fresh grass green make them feel? How would a splash of bright orange or pink look on their skin tone? What about pastel or bold colours? Maybe a bit of both. Nails are coming alive this summer!”
Neon (and On and On)
With neon as a summer go-to for some of your bolder clients, don’t expect that to change just because we’re in a pandemic. “I personally think neons for summer will always be a staple,” says Hayley Woolley, a nail artist and Bio Sculpture Canada ambassador based in Barrie, Ont. “I know my clients take advantage of their mid-summer, sun-kissed tan and always want to go bright, especially for pedicures. Here in Canada, we don’t get to wear those bright neon colours for long, so it’s always exciting!”
“Neon still seems to add that amazing bold pop of confidence,” adds Pavich. “Maybe it’s a slight accent in hand-drawn nail art techniques to bring street art alive, or bold and bright strong backgrounds to pop out linework, patterns, or animal print.”
PRO TIP: When displaying your nail designs in the salon, consider including a price with the swatch that factors in the time and product cost to help manage your clients’ expectations.
Give Them Space
Whether it’s half-moons, stripes or cut-outs, negative space continues to be a fun way to add a playful yet understated detail to your nails. When combined with other trends, it can truly take your art to the next level. “I am loving a negative-space nail with colour blocking designs, using a variety of shades and shapes,” says Woolley. “Marble nails are another trend that I am a huge fan of. I like when the marbling runs only partially though the nail—like a river—adding some chrome, glitter or foil to make it pop.”
“I’ve been seeing a combination of textures, patterns and colours that might look like a blend of a nude canvas with a splash of colour, with a very simple accent like a hand-drawn outline, foil, or print,” adds Pavich. “Mixing techniques like soft, flowing line-work with nudes and a matte top coat can feel very elegant. Bold patterns can be achieved with transfers, water decals, stamping, or freehand. And who doesn’t love sugaring, embossing or imbedding color, or glitter! Don’t forget about the fresh feels of nature and fruit, possibly some floral with cool outline for more of a 3D effect.”
“Trends for summer 2021 are very abstract. I say go bold with your nail designs! Add some sparkle, foils and/or chrome so it reflects in the sunshine, and mix textures from a suede to gloss top coat, giving extra dimension to any nail art design.” — Hayley Woolley, nail artist and Bio Sculpture Canada ambassador, Barrie, Ont.
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