The 12 new nail trends you need to try now

With a New Year comes new responsibilities, and if this season’s nail trends are anything to go by, it’s time to up your manicure game, big time. Whether it’s accenting your mani with rose gold wire (yes, you read that right), blooming botanicals or even a piercing or two a la Kim K, your fingertip forecast is looking anything but drab. And whether you go down the minimalist route or prefer something a little more OTT, one thing’s for sure; achieving an A-list manicure is best left in the hands of the experts. Not sure which one to nail first? Read our guide and pick a favourite…

By Rebecca Hoffnung

• 1 Colour blocking

  As seen at: Jeremy Scott, Tanya Taylor, Opening Ceremony

  Bold pops of bubblegum shades were a serious hit on many a runway this season, most notably at the Jeremy Scott and Tanya Taylor shows. Featuring clashing combinations and psychedelic patterns, these head turning nails have festival season written all over them. But can you wait that long?
• 2 Chain nails

  As seen on: Kim Kardashian

  Fancy a spot of metal work with your regular mani? This season’s chain nail trend is not for the faint of heart. Seen most recently on Kim Kardashian’s long black talons, if you’re daring enough to try this look, reinforced acrylics are a must. Not sure if you can handle all that hardware? If you want to rock a slightly lower key version of the #chaingang trend, skip the heavy metal and just add a dainty piercing on your ring fingernail instead.
• 3 Black accents

  As seen at: Vera Wang

  Licks of leathery black varnish adorned the fingers of Vera Wang’s SS/17 runway models this season, but the modern brushstroke style was anything but gothic. Designed to look like a freehand paint stripe applied down the centre of the nail leaving the sides untouched, then finished with a matte top coat, we predict this cool, block colour style will be 2017’s take on last year’s negative space mani obsession.
• 4 Muted neutrals

  As seen at: Marc Jacobs

  Never underestimate the power of a clean, neutral nail shade. Classic and universally flattering, beiges, nudes and mushroom shades will be at the top of our colour list this season. Perfect if you prefer your mani on the muted side and aren't ready to embrace this season’s mega nail bling just yet.
• 5 Wire nails

  As seen on: Eun Kyung Park, founder of the famed Unistella salon in Seoul, South Korea

  Another take on this season’s hardware trend, wire nails are a decidedly toned down version of chain nails. An eye catching yet surprisingly subtle style, this look sees nails delicately decorated with thin gold wire, accompanied with a simple clear or black polish to make the wire pop. Dubbed in the industry as ‘wirework’ nails, gel polish is used to keep the wire in place, so it should stay chip free and secure for at least a couple of weeks. Low maintenance ladies, this one's for you.
• 6 Blooming botanicals

  As seen at: Alice & Olivia

  Think more tropical, less floral this season. Perfected on the Alice & Olivia runway, these new season nails feature palm leaves and luscious green plants, contrasted against a stark white painted nail. It’s cool and contemporary and will look great with any summer party dress.
• 7 Chrome 2.0

  As seen on: Unistella Instagram

  Move over chrome nails, this season it’s all about chrome contouring. Mixing and matching shades, experimenting with colours and combining patterns, today we’re seeing many a beauty blogger and nail technician mixing prism with chrome powder and negative space designs, resulting in an out of this world, insta-ready set of talons.
• 8 French with a twist

  As seen at: Creature of Comfort

  The multicoloured french manicures at the Creature of Comfort NYFW runway show caused quite the stir this season, and for all the right reasons. Turning the classic french mani on its head, the whites of the model’s nails were replaced with a bold rainbow of colours, and then accented with a gold triangle on the cuticle. So next time you’re thinking of topping up your tips, why not ask your technician to get a little creative? The more colour, the better.
• 9 Modern metallics

  As seen at: Phillip Lim

  Whether it’s a subtle hit of platinum, a textured gold leaf tip or frosted silver talons as seen on Phillip Lim’s SS/17 runway show, this season modern metallic hues are taking the lead, perfect for adding a low key yet refined hit of colour to any polished hand.
• 10 Finger/nail hybrid

  As seen at: Area NYC

  Why stop at the cuticle when you’ve got a whole finger to accessorize? Already an insta-hit and spotted on the freshly manicured fingers of the models at this season’s Area NYC show, this trend is a nail/finger fusion, created by adding an intricate design (often silver tape or diamante jewels) beyond the cuticle and down the finger. Usually applied to just one finger to accent the manicure, this style won’t last as long as a regular mani, but it’ll pack a serious punch at your next cocktail party.
• 11 Free forming

  As seen at: Proenza Schouler

  Decorated with freehand dashes of glossy black paint, the nails at Proenza Schouler’s SS/17 show looked like something from a modernist painting. Abstract in style, with no two fingers painted the same, each nail was left partially nude, and finished with a wiggly line or off kilter stripe. With this style, get as creative as you want. Switch up the colours or keep it simple in black.