Professional Beauty gets the lowdown on the latest nail trends from leading manicurist and makeup artist Mandi Levanah.
PB: How do you create the perfect photo-finish fingernails?
ML: Choosing the perfect brush is essential. Check how the bristles move when using them on the nail. A smooth application plays a huge part in the finished product. When it comes to the brush you need one where the bristles are relatively pliant.
PB: What are the upcoming nail trends?
ML: Pastels remain a huge trend but they can be difficult to paint as they’re so pigmented and any mistakes really stand out.
Skittle manicure (I call it a crooked manicure) – using several completely different colours where nothing matches, bright clashing colours, up to ten colours (one per nail). You could do all different shades of red or a whole rainbow of shades. Day to day clients get a bit scared of it, so the graduated colour scheme is a great way to introduce them to it.
Bright colours such as orange and red plus fluoro colours are going to have their place and make an appearance throughout 2012. Colour blocking with nails is also going to be huge. For example if you’re wearing a purple smoky eye you might wear a bright orange lip and blue nail polish.
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PB: What’s been a recent career highlight?
ML: I recently did the Myer show – it was full-on but great fun, Illamasqua was the sponsor. Their nail polishes are amazing and so thick and pigmented. They have rubber finish, matte finish and many more. I simply adore the pastel hues, Blow and Wink and are easy to paint for pastel colours.
Contact: www.mandilevanah.com