Black is the New Pink?

You might not want to go there for your wedding, but I’m feeling a little daring with my nail choices these days. This week it was a childhood-reminiscent bold blue, and I’m excited to pick something funky for my Sunday DIY manicure tomorrow, too. But what about for the events leading up to your wedding? I always notice people’s nails in photographs, especially when they’re holding up a glass of champagne or showing off a rock. Don’t you? Make sure you look extra polished (literally!) with a surprising manicure at your engagement party, bridal shower, or bachelorette.

Ditch those sweet pinks and reach for a heart of darkness with an unexpected, extra-shiny black plus one sweet accent:

Or, embrace the summer sun and try an oh-so-bright Aztec-inspired print with gold glitter for extra shine. That’ll wow ’em:

Make a splash with coral, a great alternative to pink. I love the gold striped accent nail on this one. Perfect for all your celebrations to come:

 

Self-Made Mani

Oh, dear. The nail situation has gotten out of control. I’m getting gel manicures every three weeks and I love that they make my nails grow and of course that they look so good. But this girl is constantly getting sick of her color choices and starting to itch for a new hue a mere week in, which is a waste of time, money and a perfectly good mani. So, this week I’m going back to my roots and doing it myself. I’ll be back on the gel train soon I’m sure, but it’s good to give the nails (and the wallet!) a few weeks to breathe, right?

A great choice for the newly engaged, this subtle bubblegum pink, Fruit Machine, from butter London is sure to please. $15, butterlondon.com

I was flipping through a bridal mag the other day and came across the suggestion of picking an elegant and girly color (like pale bubble gum pink) for the first manicure of your engagement. It’s a great way to show off your ring while keeping nails fun and fresh despite the season. I definitely did this in the beginning with lavenders, whites and silvers, but there are so many fun colors I want to try and I don’t think my ring minds a change every now and then.

New Fave: Penny Talk.

Josh is majorly into red nails, so I might go for a bold cherry this week. Then again, we’re still coming off the Christmas season and I don’t want to look like I have a Beauty Hangover. I recently picked up Essie’s new Penny Talk, a bold and pretty copper that works with all outfits and creates a subtle, neutral sheen. I’m pretty curious how Butler Please is going to look on the nails–maybe best to wait till summer, but if they have it at my local drugstore, I might pick it up.

Next Up: Butler Please.

The best thing about experimenting with all the new Essie’s on the market? At $8 a pop, they’re less than a third the cost of one manicure–for an entire bottle. The worst thing? The fact that I don’t just acquire Essie. I’m a Chanel-Butter-OPI-Estee-and-beyond girl with a cabinet full and colors and only ten nails to paint. Sigh. Stay tuned! And let me know what your favorite hue is for showing off that sparkler!