Is there a more versatile option for every day than a gray manicure?
Millions of girls choose this particular color - for its nobility, sophistication, and grace. Knowing about the nationwide love for it, craftsmen tirelessly offer more and more interesting designs.
There has never been such diversity before.
Perhaps the main fashion trend of this year is the emphasis on color. But you don’t need to be a Pantone laboratory specialist to note: gray comes in different colors.
Among the trendy items this season, every fashionista will surely find something she likes:
- The classic shade is universal, basic, and easily combined with all other palettes.
- Elegant mother-of-pearl with notes of light green is more demanding, but designs with it look more impressive. And meeting such a tone among friends is not an easy task.
- Dark steel is more suitable for strong, self-confident girls. Having such a manicure is just a godsend. After all, the shade can be easily combined with any others and allows you to wear a wide variety of clothes.
- Elegant slate fades into a light blue. Ideal for many ideas, including New Year's and summer nautical ones.
Some colorists and nail-art masters also include such interesting tones as the lead palette, such as the color of slightly wilted asparagus and blue-gray. So, if you wish, you can take any tone you like, add a drop of mouse or steel and get a fashionable design.
It is believed that monochromatic classics never go out of fashion. Most stylists will agree with this statement, but will offer several creative options for manicure, which are also in trend in 2021:
- iridescent cat's eye;
- geometry in all its manifestations;
- feminine floral motifs;
- a wide variety of shiny decor - from sand glitter to foil and Swarovski crystals.
We recommend watching the video:
cat's eye
Gray shades of magnetic varnishes are not as popular as other colors. However, when executed perfectly, such a manicure looks simply stunning. Gray cat's eye is very similar to hematite, a luxurious natural stone considered magical.
Undoubtedly, such a design will attract a lot of attention. This is a great way to add uniqueness and charm to your everyday manicure.
French elegant
Modest, elegant, graceful and pretty - these are the epithets that usually accompany the French style. A small white smile on the edge of the nail plate has become a symbol of a discreet office dress code.
It would seem, how can the simplest (only in appearance) manicure and the most elegant color be combined?
It is only at first glance that it seems that painting a slight smile with a thin brush and paint is an easy task. In fact, this requires a person with certain skills and experience. So you need to choose a master who is not afraid to entrust your hands to carefully.
Another advantage of the French design is obvious - it looks great at any length.
So all the ideas presented below can be implemented by owners of any marigolds:
- Transparent coating and thin pearl stripe.
- White "smiling" edge and steel body. If desired, you can decorate with beads, rhinestones, and shimmering glitter sand.
- Gradient or ombre in the center of the plate.
- Double French - two stripes at once. If they are located side by side, then the adjacent shades in the palette will look beautiful. But if a transparent gap is planned between them, then there is no point in overloading the laconic design with an abundance of colors.
When there is no strict dress code or other restrictions, many girls allow themselves to show their imagination.
As a result, after going to the salon, their hands are decorated with a complex, multi-stage manicure. It includes different decorations on different fingers. At the same time, the hand can have a French “smile”, rhinestones, and ornaments made with sequins.
French with gray gradient
To create a business style, many manicurists suggest using a nail design with a gradient. This type of manicure can be performed even at home. For this design you only need a regular sponge. You can buy it in a store or make it yourself from a dish sponge by cutting off a small piece. Then apply a layer of gray varnish to the made device (sponge). After which the resulting shade must be printed on the tip of the nail. The entire base of the nail plate can be covered before this with some other shade (beige, white, or transparent).
Unusual gradient
An interesting, beautiful effect is most often chosen by creative people who just can’t decide what they like best. This style in nail art is not new, but even within one direction, something unusual appears every year.
At the very beginning of 2021, gradient stripes gained popularity among lovers of nail designs. Moreover, they were placed not only vertically, but also horizontally.
For those who have not yet decided on such creative work, the masters suggested something simpler, but more beautiful:
- You can stretch any gel you like as the main layer, and apply a pattern on top of the gradient using stamping.
- You can complement the ombre with geometry or crystals, but then it is important to follow the palette. After all, if you get carried away and make the design too bright, then some interesting details will simply be lost.
- You can put any other decorative elements on top of the stretch - broths, shimmering sand, foil or rubbing.
A wonderful photo idea from one of the foreign masters: who said that drawings can only be applied to a plain base?
The gray color is quite restrained; it cannot distract attention from the top layer with the image. So you can safely draw your favorite cartoon characters and thematic images on it (for example, with the onset of autumn, an umbrella, clouds, and contrasting orange leaves will be relevant).
This shade is especially valued and revered in Japanese culture and mythology. This means that nail designs will look organic. What can you draw if you want to touch the East a little?
An experienced master will certainly be able to schematically depict a geisha, dragon, carp or nunchaku.
Mirror color manicure
Mirror metallic manicure (photo examples are presented below) is performed not only in classic shades (gold, silver and bronze), but also in other bright colors. In addition, they often combine several shades on one nail or on different nails. Such a decision looks very unusual. According to the spectrum, contrasting shades go well together.
Video selection of manicure with mirror effect:
Mirror manicure always looks bright and formal, so stylists recommend doing it for special occasions.
Forward to antiquity
What is the most expensive, noble and beautiful stone known to mankind?
Of course, antique marble. In nature, it attracts the eye with the help of white, black, gray and slightly pinkish tints.
Is it surprising that the same effect could be achieved using gel polishes on nails?
With desire and a little persistence, you can even create marblestone (as this style is correctly called) at home, without having experience working with varnishes. Initially, marble was painted on a white base, but today gray “stones,” gray-blue, gray-green, and purple are no less popular.
Most designs look great on plates of any length. However, marble is capricious: it only emphasizes the beauty of sharp, rounded nails.
Combined metal manicure
Metal manicure (example photo below) is performed in different styles. Masters combine several techniques and create a combined manicure. A manicure looks interesting, in which only one nail is coated with a metallic effect varnish, and the rest of the nails are covered with a neutral-colored varnish.
A great solution would be to combine a metallic varnish with a mirror effect with a varnish with a foil or sand effect. This combination looks stylish. Metallic manicure often combines metallic varnish with glossy or matte. Metallic varnish is used to create patterns or decorative lines on top of another varnish.
Stylists consider this manicure acceptable for every day.
Naturalness is in fashion
In 2021, naturalness and naturalness are returning to fashion. Therefore, long, pointed nails are increasingly becoming a thing of the past. And they are being replaced by short designs in subdued colors.
If you want to always be in trend and keep up with fashion, then the next time you go to the salon you can order one of these patterns:
- A combination of a solid gray finish on four fingers and a shiny silver foil on the fifth finger (usually the ring finger).
- Pearl designs on top of any other pastel background. You can depict anything - from buds and leaves to caricature portraits of famous personalities.
- Make a pearl shade rub and add one modest crystal to each nail.
- Decorate the surface of the plate with sequins and glitter. Leave a few fingers under the usual coating in any contrasting color.
Some examples:
Despite the fact that stickers are gradually becoming a thing of the past, it is on short gray nails that they can look most successful. If you choose a design in a suitable shade and style, you will get a very feminine and elegant style.
Experienced nail artists recommend geometric stickers, soft, discreet floral patterns, or ethnic designs that are fashionable this year.
Although almost any design looks good on a small nail plate, both the girl and the artist need to place the decorative elements correctly. Ideally, either next to the hole or in the upper 2/3 of the nail.
Manicure in a combination of glitter and gray
You can dilute the most boring manicure with the help of small glitter. The gray color of the varnish coating can serve as an excellent option for applying the main background. Many fashionistas have long been familiar with this design. After all, this is the well-known moon manicure. The design in which one nail plate is decorated with large glitter in the form of stars also looks quite interesting.
Let's shine with all our might
Just a few years ago, no one would have thought that a manicure with glitter would become one of the most delicate and everyday options. The thing is that this decor has many varieties that are suitable for performing various techniques.
This year, both dry and liquid glitter are actively used in salons.
In general, there are several options that have become real hits this season:
- Creating one accent nail. This is achieved by decorating one finger with silver glitter, and the other four with any varnish. Even if you use simple gels, without design, it will turn out beautiful. But sometimes you want to add some zest to your hands. In this case, the plain varnish is additionally decorated with voluminous acrylic, rubbing, and thin metal strips.
- A variation on the theme of French manicure suggests that the nails will be completely painted over with graphite, steel varnish. And only the hole will have a small amount of crumbly glitter.
- Large details, like sequins, can create an interesting pattern on the surface - laid out in the form of rhombuses and triangles.
The scales sparkling in the light are in themselves an unusual and attention-grabbing accent. You shouldn’t “interrupt” it with a large number of additional shades.
Combination with pink
Excellent combination of two colors and rhinestones
Select two fingers
Drawing roses
Like a magpie, drawn to the shiny
Good news for all lovers of beautiful and shiny things!
Rhinestone inlay is back in fashion and Swarovski is experiencing a rebirth. And if previously girls used translucent crystals only as an addition to the main pattern, now they can even decorate an entire nail with them.
After all, the base - a gray tint - will prevent the stones from looking too vulgar. The global community of nail design lovers has already identified its favorites:
- Outlining the entire plate with Swarovski glued on and then applying your favorite gel inside it.
- Laying out an unusual ornament or even a monogram.
- Gluing the smallest and most inconspicuous stones to the edge on top of the dried varnish.
- Laying stones in a checkerboard pattern.
When working with such bright decor, you need to be careful with color and shape.
On long, pointed and rounded nails, rhinestones look controversial.
Gray manicure options for different lengths
Another advantage of gray shades is the freedom of choice in the length and shape of nails. It is completely universal, and looks good on both very short nails and long almonds.
Gray manicure for short nails
Classic gray and dark gray polishes look best on short nails. Apply it to any shape with a minimum length, casting aside all doubts. This is a great choice for short nails, see for yourself:
Gray manicure for long nails
Owners of long nails are often plagued by the problem of excessive extravagance. A gray manicure will help create a soft, delicate look on long nails.
Sometimes you want something calm but stylish. This manicure is well suited for such purposes.
How to add a little brightness
Any colorist knows that gray is universal and easy to combine. Therefore, when you want to change your appearance a little, but at the same time remain true to your style, you can simply get some new manicure.
The most delicate combination
Many people prefer to create a delicate and girlish design in these shades. For example, draw Teddy bears, kittens or funny mice.
However, gray-pink will confidently fit into any design, even into geometry, stucco or ombre.
Let's add a little sun
The combination is suitable for brave people who are looking for something non-trivial. With the onset of autumn, thematic motifs become especially popular.
Goes great with yellow
On a monochromatic background, masters paint the Sun, a composition of leaves, umbrellas and even rubber boots. And then the colors smoothly transition into winter designs: this is a great shade for painting a Christmas ball.
50 shades of black
If there is a strict dress code at work or school, then a manicure with black lines, dashes or dots is an ideal option.
What if you have the opportunity to show your imagination a little?
It is allowed to glue Pixie, Shinju, charms or cones on top of the ornaments.
Sea-sea, bottomless world
This interesting but calm combination of gray and blue experiences its peak of popularity twice a year:
- In summer, the combination is relevant due to associations with the sea and travel. To maintain a good holiday mood, it makes sense to use a brighter shade of azure.
- In winter, New Year themed patterns are drawn based on these tones.
Combination for every day
Such a classic palette requires a design that is just as simple and clear. A universal option is a French jacket that suits everyone.
Eternal Vacation
If you want to feel the mood of relaxation, vacation, then steel and blue are what you need.
The combination itself is calm and dim, but it can be complemented with a third varnish, for example, green and yellow.
Elegance and becoming
The sophisticated gray-beige palette, due to its restraint, opens up space for creativity.
Ideal for stripes, ethnic patterns or charm decorations.
Not for the modest
It looks especially natural closer to a romantic holiday - Valentine's Day.
The combination is controversial and non-standard. It is best to combine not pure colors, but less saturated varieties of red.
