What’s new for Nails in spring/summer 2011?

COLORS:  Some may stay true to nudes (Deborah Lippman Naked is the hottest new nude, as well as Duchess Catherine’s custom wedding blend using Essie Allure).   Others prefer neutrals (Chanel Particuliere and Essie Chinchilly) and some cannot step back from blacks (Chanel Black Pearl is the must have).   But most of us break out the pinks or the brights for spring and summer.  This year is a happy one for nail color lovers everywhere.  Corals are huge, pinks are bright or pale, and pastels in blue, yellow, peach and lavendar are selling like crazy.

(UPDATE 5/17 – read 10 Things to Know from Deborah Lippman, here on fashionista.com.) (like, she’s selling on HSN starting on July 5th).

We polled the Modern Salon and Spa Nail Technicians all around town this week to find out what the Hottest Colors are by neighborhood.

Phillips Place SPARITUAL Thunder Road, a Fresh Violet
Hearst Tower Uptown SPARITUAL Last Tango, a Bright Red Orange
Metropolitan Midtown SPARITUAL Imaginarium, a Bright Pink
Birkdale Village (Lake Norman) SPARITUAL Idyllic, a Light Pink Sheer
Ballantyne Village SPARITUAL  Living in the Moment, a Gray/Violet

One of the best sources for color ideas and reviews are the Nail Bloggers. There are hundreds, but we have one right here in the area who does a fabulous job reviewing several colors each week. Check out the Test Drives of The Polish Pauper (who, by the way, has a great “swap” section on site, where you can swap your tinybit used color(s) with hers.

SHAPES:  As much as I dislike the claws on the horizon, I’d be remiss if I didn’t let you know that stiletto nails are on the rise.  And not just at the Grammy’s.  Just not at my house.

FINISHES: This is where it gets adventurous for the brave new nail:

Glitter and Shimmer Top Coats:  Brilliant.  Top Coats like Deborah Lippman’s Bring on the Bling will add sparkle to whatever color you want to sizzle up.  Or Chanel’s Pearl Drop for an elegant shimmer when used as a top coat.  You will find both Chanel and Deborah Lippman here in Charlotte at the Neiman’s South Park.  And CND (at Polished Salons as well as at Ulta and Sally’s) has three levels of shimmer effects to offer you in in a total of 15 shades, including a couple that are downright holographic.  You can see how these topcoats affect various base colors here on the popular national nail blog, All Laquered Up.

If you’re bored with the bling (so, so  2 months ago) how about the combo of bling and fade?  Check out the newest way to glitter-it-up here, shown below and on bella sugar.com.

Crackle / Shatter top coats:  OPI started it with Black Shatter and has since added Silver Shatter, Red Shatter, Blue Shatter.  I’m in Tatters.   You can find shatters in Sally Hansen and China Glaze as well.  See All Laquered Up’s tests of Black Shatter on various base colors here, and her tests of the new spring shatters here.

Ombre: This is being done in two ways.  The more difficult ombre’d finish on each nail, shown here using Sephora by OPI Caught with Your Khakis Down combined with Don’t Feed The Hand Models.  Here are some instructions on how to try to achieve this look.  The other Ombre manicure consists of a progression of shades in the same colorway, light to dark or vice versa.  One on each nail.  Here’s a post on that.

Color Blocking and Reverse French:  Pretty much what it sounds like.  Been around for a while.  Either the tip or the moon or both are painted a completely different, preferably contrasting color.

What’s Hot Here in the Queen City?

When I asked the folks at Neiman’s what their hottest selling nail polish was, I found it isn’t a polish at all.  It’s the miraculous speed drying topcoat from Deborah Lippman, Addicted to Speed.  Whoosh.  See, already dry and I barely spoke the words.

What’s even hotter?

Shellac.  Many of you have tried this latest polish technique, designed to extend the life of your manicure for up to two weeks.  Scoop was shellac’ed at the QC’s premier shellac salon, Polished. READ HERE for our take on this hot new application.