Express the artist in you with your nail vanish!
- Beauty
- 20 January 2012
- by Alex Zagalsky
Last week at the
Golden Globes, quirky actress
Zooey Deschanel stood out from her fellow celebrities thanks to one tiny detail: her nails. She didn't opt for the usual paint perfect manicure either - hers was 'homemade' with her own nail art kit. She painted them white and then dressed each one in a little 'tuxedo' with buttons and bow ties, proudly posting a picture on Twitter before heading to the ceremony (main picture). It was a small ritual but it spoke volumes about the actress: that she is fun-loving, doesn't take life too seriously and is impossibly girlie. It also takes guts to break the conservative mould of an award ceremony that is broadcast around the world. Plus it was subtle enough not to seem attention seeking (see our gallery for the
Golden Globes Worst Dressed and you'll undertand).
While nail brands are continually trying to outdo each other with 'stay put' colours (OPI is due to launch a new varnish in the next few months which promises to remain intact for a fortnight), and most salons now offer gel manicures that last up to six weeks, there has been a beauty rebellion, of sorts. Nail art has gone full circle with kits that now encourage you to DIY decorate any way you like, and mistakes and tale-tell trembles are all part of the fun, or artistry!
Here are just some great works of brilliance that we found online, our favourite is Packman and his four monsters!
If you want to try your hand at some designs, experiment with Andrea Fulerton's Nail Boutique varnishes (available from Superdrug).They have precision brushes so you can add all the details you like (or you can enter our competition to win her French manicure set).
Alternatively, embrace your inner teenager and go for the Stargazer Nail Art Set (£22 from Amazon): a whole palette of fun colours for those who want their digits decorated with everything from pandas to multi-coloured polka dots (there's an inspiring design guide included) Go on, forgo your usual shape and polish and be zany like Zooey!
