If you have to arrive at the nail salon 15 minutes before your appointment because you're the most indecisive person on the planet when it comes to picking your manicure color, then this nail art trend will speak to you.
Instead of choosing one shade from the salon's nail polish wall, whole-hand gradient nails lets you pick five. The manicure trend is a natural progression from the ring finger accent nail that you and your friends probably thought was the coolest way to switch up your regular paint job during the nail art explosion of the early 2000s. "Accent nails were the first step into nail art," says Sarah Gibson Tuttle, founder/CEO of LA's Olive & June Salon. "Now people are excited to go bigger, bolder, and painting your nails different colors is a really fun way to change up your nail look."
Whatever approach you take, selecting the right nail polish colors for your manicure is key. Tuttle suggests not worrying about what's trendy right now, but picking colors that you're comfortable with. If you usually paint your nails in neutral shades, try a gradient effect with nudes or pinks. For a bolder look, experiment with mixing and matching your favorite bright polishes.
Aside from the nail polish selection, this trend involves little skill aside from just knowing simply how to paint your nails. But, once you do master a whole-hand gradient manicure, you've still got options if you want to really get fancy.
Divide your nail bed in half by placing a piece of Scotch tape on one side, and paint the tape-free side of the nail with the first color. Once it's dry, remove the tape and paint the other half of the nail with the opposing shade.
Expect your barista to be impressed on your expertise at wearing multiple nail polish shades at once the next time you hand them your credit card to pay for your coffee.