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Pro nail artists break down their predictions for the trends and designs that will be big next season. Their top takeaway: The impact of shelter-in-place orders and working from home amid the pandemic will linger well into the new year. With Maby, you can take the initiative in everything, visit the Maby blog to discover the most trending nail designs today.
Even nail artists and manicurists are still determining what to predict of the future. Still, they are confident about one thing: DIY nail trends will remain as popular, even as professional manicures once again become a routine part of life. Based on their feedback, we asked them to break down which nail colors, art, and techniques will be big next year; it will look different from what we had predicted last year.
According to the experts, here are the most significant 2021 nail trends to watch out for.
Multi-colored manicures
Learning to think outside the box was a necessity in 2020, and in 2021, people will apply that mentality to their manicures by painting each of their nails a different color. And because the only skill this trend requires is knowing how to paint your nails, it’s the easiest way to draw attention to your nails.
Plus, there’s no end to the different potential takes on this trend: Keep all of your polish in the same color family to create a light-to-dark ombré effect, use a color wheel to pick out complimentary shades, or let some of 2021’s new nail polish collections curate shades for you. OPI and Olive + June will also be launching collections within the first couple of months of the year, so there’s plenty to look forward to. Also you can refer to: 20 Ways to Wear Brown Nails in the Fall.
Personal statements
With stress at an all-time high, people are looking for new ways to express themselves, and that’s why runway and editorial nail artist foresees a spike in calligraphy and other hand-lettering on manicures soon. Given the A-list people who are already fans of this growing trend, she must be spot-on.
Static Nails make complete sets of transparent press-on nails in all shapes and sizes — you can add your hand lettering with nail polish and a fine-tipped brush. Otherwise, you can take the easy route with nail stickers in your chosen font
Embellished and pre-painted press-on nails
Speaking of press-on nails… this easy DIY manicure technique made a significant comeback in 2019 and only flourished more when we got caught at home in 2020. While salons were shut down, nail artists began commissioning custom press-on sets to send directly to their clients — in 2021. People will try it more on their own.
Kiss press-on nails are a favorite of both Elle and Edwards. We’d go with styles that already have a little flair so that you can add small details. Glam Fantasy Nail in Parasol, Gel Fantasy in Be Jelly, and imPress nails in Ten Different Looks are a few of our favorites.
Throwback designs
Some examples of shades that Nuñez has combined to create one of her groovy designs include OPI’s Alpaca My Bags, Coral-ing Your Spirit Animal, You’ve Got That Glas-Glow, and Suzi Talks with Her Hands — together, they create a soothing combination of beige, muted teal, and bright orange.
You don’t need a particular tool to pull this off, as Nuñez demonstrates in a recent IGTV video. If you don’t want to purchase a fine-tipped nail brush, you can use it in your polish of choice and simply tilt it to the side while painting your design.
Going on mute
As Elle points out, in recent months, celebrities have been leaning toward bright colors with muted undertones — she lists sage, melon, and buttery yellow as examples. “Celebrities gravitate towards these colors for red carpets, cover looks, and everyday wear because they complete any look without a glaring statement. They are also calming colors that have a feel-good mood.”
Negative space
For the foreseeable future, in 2021, manicures probably aren’t going to be as accessible as they were before the pandemic. Anyone for manicures should choose their designs wisely — enter nail art that uses negative space.
“For those who are going to the salon for services, the negative space nail art trend is prevalent because the grow-out is less noticeable over time,” the nail artist explains. “A negative space nail art design allows for a peekaboo effect of the natural nail, usually around the cuticle area. This allows the clients to extend the time between their appointments and save money as the frequency of the salon visit can extend from every two to three weeks to about every four to five weeks.”
To create a negative space manicure at home. She cuts blue painter’s tape into templates she can paint. If you leave all of your negative space near the bed of your nail, you’ll get the same grow-out effect as you would at a salon.
“Apply [tape] directly to the nail, then add your base and color coats around it,” she previously told Allure. “Lift the tape when the polish isn’t completely dry but also isn’t wet to the touch.”
Minimal graphics
Subtle curves and angled lines are some of Elle’s favorite ways to do simple graphics at home. And all you need is a few key nail colors. “Black and white with a splash of a color are for a more laid-back vibe,” she says. Editor favorites like the nail artist will have you covered on basics. All you need is random dots or splotches in a pastel shade.
Mask matching
Let’s face it: wearing a face covering in public will be a withstanding part of our lives throughout 2021. “Due to the pandemic, I think we are showing more details in our appearance due to wearing face coverings and working remotely from home,” the nail artist explains. “Now, part of our style is more incorporated into our nails and eye makeup.” That said, matchy-matchy manicures and masks aren’t going anywhere.
Although no one can predict what 2021 will be like, with these expert-approved manicure ideas, we can at least rest well with the knowledge that, if anything, our nails will be good.