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Although they may be in rough shape after scouring through racks and racks of dresses, don't neglect your nails when getting ready for prom. In fact, nails are one of the most important accessories to your prom ensemble. They can accentuate and complete your look.
"There are no rules for girls when it comes to their nails. They can get away with anything. While I wouldn't recommend that everyone try and match the colour of their dress, for prom it's great," says 2006 Nail Enhancement Artist of the Year Rheanne Thackeray of Kenneth Blair Salon & Spa in Alberta. "There are a lot of bright colours out there this season--a hot pink dress would be great with hot pink nails."
If you enjoy the classic look, but wouldn't mind trying something fun and trendy, Thackeray suggests the classic French manicure with today's modern twist. Instead of completing the manicure with a white tip, try using a colour that would match your dress. "This is not too crazy, just a little bit funky. In fact, it would be great to use the tip colour to match your toes as well."
In addition to colour options, today's great manicures include personalized rhinestones. Thackeray says she uses the different rhinestone shapes to create daisies and butterfly designs. "I usually like to use rhinestones on one nail on each hand, either the pinky, the ring finger or the thumb." She explains that the rhinestones come in all different shapes and colours, to individualize each look. Rhinestones can be used on hands or toes, depending on the design and size.
If you are using rhinestones on gel nails, they can be placed weeks before prom, says Thackeray. However, if you are placing the rhinestone yourself during a manicure at home, you will want to do this no sooner than the day before. "Artificial nails don't bend the way natural nails do, so the rhinestones are less likely to pop off. Also, when I use rhinestones during a gel nail application, I apply a coat of gel over the rhinestones that can keep them in place for 3-4 weeks."
When it comes to performing your own manicure, it is best to practice before prom day. Buff your nails to ensure you are starting with a clean and smooth surface. Then apply a base coat, followed by the polish and finished with a top coat.
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"The mistake a lot of people make is that they start the brush right at the cuticle. Instead, you should start a few millimetres in front of the cuticle and then push the polish back a bit." According to Thackeray this technique will offer more control and will avoid the polish from bleeding along the cuticle. This is especially true with darker shades.
"I usually apply polish in three swipes," says Thackeray. "One on each side of the nail bed and then one down the middle. You don't want to overdo it or else you'll get brush strokes on the finish."
If you happen to make a mistake or if the polish does begin to bleed along the cuticle, Thackeray suggests wrapping some tissue around a cuticle stick and dipping this stick in some nail polish remover. Then use this as an eraser around the nail bed, cleaning up any unwanted colour.
Cuticle sticks also come in handy while trying to apply rhinestones on a manicure or pedicure you are performing at home. "I like to use a cuticle stick to pick up the gems, because they are so small," she says. Thackeray says she dips the end of her cuticle stick in polish and then picks up the bottom of the gem with this end and places it onto the freshly painted nailbed. Otherwise, it would be extremely difficult to pick up the gem with your fingers and place them strategically onto the nails. Once the rhinestone is on the nail, Thackeray suggests applying two coats of top coat to seal down the gem.
While it is lots of fun painting your own nails, many girls choose to have gel nails put in for their prom. "For prom, girls usually want something, so it's nice to have a special set of nails," says Thackeray. She dismisses any concern that gel or acrylic nails damage the natural nailbed. "Nails don't ruin your nails, the wrong nail technician ruins nails." Thackeray says the actual products do not cause the damage but a nail technician overfilling your nails would. Also, improper removing of the artificial nails can damage the nail bed as well. According to Thackeray acrylics need to be removed by soaking them in acetone. Acrylic nails are bondage to the natural nail's keratin, so if one were to try and tear off the acrylic nail they would most likely tear off layers of keratin. Gel nails cannot be removed with acetone, they must be filed down and buffed as they grow out. The only way to remove them would be to file them off--and this should be done by a professional.
Whether you book yourself in for a manicure or set out to paint your own nails, try something new and different.