A fresh spin on colour blocking—which is a huge nail-art trend for spring—is combining pastels and primary shades. “Pairing bold colour with more subtle shades feels really fresh,” says Leeanne Colley, celebrity nail artist and owner of Tips Nail Bar + Beauty in Toronto. “Think dots, stripes, triangles and swipes of colour—as long as it’s super-clean and graphic, you can’t go wrong.” There’s also little math required when selecting coordinating hues, she adds. Look for shades that enhance each other, but don’t get caught up in university-level colour theory. “This trend is flattering on all skin tones and nail shapes,” says Colley. “How far you end up taking it totally depends on your personality.”

 

 

GIVE PINK A CHANCE

This popular hue has shed its saccharine roots and feels edgy now, says Rita Remark, global lead educator for Essie. Here’s why: “Wearing a bright pastel pink with a high-fashion outfit takes guts,” she says. “In terms of runway nail trends, pink never trended; it seemed too obvious. No one wanted to do something that looked that outrageously feminine. But wearing a colour so stereotypically girlie is ballsy. Wearing pink like this [Essie Nail Polish in Muchi Muchi] is punk.”

This article originally appeared in the May 2017 issue of ELLE Canada.