The new nude nails are not your grandmother’s polish. Like the “no-makeup” makeup look, the latest nail trend is anything but boring. Here’s how to pull off the look.

Today’s nude nail is modern, clean, and sophisticated. The bare look only better. Rather than dowdy, pasty hues that sap life from your digits, these nudes are spicy, turned up, and in no way hum drum.

If you are over tips and trinkets, the “no-mani” mani is for you. The look is not only chic and super versatile, it can actually make short fingers appear longer and is easy to maintain.

As with nude lipstick, the key to fending off a less than vibrant look when donning nude polish lies in choosing the right color for your skin tone. Or in this case, your nail bed. This is essential, no skimping. Luckily, we have an assortment to choose from with tips on how to pick. Of course, all are free from the most toxic nail polish ingredients.

Choosing the Perfect Polish for Your Nude Nails

When selecting the perfect nude shade for your nails, start by taking a look at your nail bed. If yours is pink, go with cooler grey nudes. If yours are more on the beige side, stick with warmer tan tones.

Start with clean, filed nails. Trim cuticles and treat to a massage using Vapour Organic Beauty Replenish Organic Nail and Cuticle Oil. Apply a base coat, like Priti 5-free Nail 2 in 1 Base and Top Coat, and get to polishing.

Cool Tones

Kure Bazaar Nail Lacquer Essenziale is a cool nude on the blush side.

Kure Bazaar Nail Lacquer Corso 22 is beige with a hint of pink.

Treat Collection Delicious is a cool greige with lavender tones.

Warm Tones

Kure Bazaar Nail Lacquer Cappuccino is a creamy warm tone.

Treat Collection Touch of Glamour is a glossy mink.

Tenoverten Spruce is a woodsy khaki.

Apply top coat and there you have your new nude nails. Perfect for fall.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

Related on EcoSalon

Dude Polish? The Manicure for Men is Trending

9 Nail Polish Colors That Go With Every Outfit

Retro Chic Fashion for Fall

Image of woman painting nude nails via Shutterstock

The post Nude Nails: Create the Perfect ‘Bare’ Mani appeared first on EcoSalon.

Getting truly natural nails is a chore. Between the ingredients in nail polish and remover, we’re putting some serious chemicals on our cuticles. (Sure, we could just leave them alone, but what’s the fun in that?) And don’t even get us started on the dangers of manicure drying lamps and more. Suddenly, bare, short nails don’t seem so terrible.

But the green beauty market seems to have us covered with safer products. First, check out this list of nail polishes– aka ones that won’t mess with your progeny. These are lines of polish that do not contain the evil triumvirate of chemicals – toluene, formaldehyde and BDPs. (And yes, they still do contain some chemicals – this is a matter of “less toxic” versus “toxic”.)

However, does that mean that our cuticles get left out of the green parade? Strictly speaking, cuticles are the strips of dead skin cells that at the base and sides of our fingernails. And they still need our natural love. Recently, I checked out the Hand & Cuticle Salve from J.R. Watkins ($8.49). It is free of parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, petrolatum, and sodium laurel sulfates.

Further, it is certified natural by the Natural Products Association. Formulated with natural beeswax, the base contains olive fruit oil, safflower oil, and in my sample, mango fruit. However, I did notice that it does contain fragrance and tocopheryl acetate, to which Skin Deep gives high hazard ratings.

And how does it work? It has a fantastic, fruity smell that puts the “oh man!” in mango. (Yes, that was bad. Sorry.) It did give my hands and nails a good moisturizing treatment. Does the salve absorb as easily as some of the hand oils I’ve used? No, it doesn’t. I found myself walking around as if I’d just painted my nails – afraid to really touch anything. But it’s much less messy and a nice alternative to throw into your handbag. And the next day my unpolished nails had a nice, shiny look to them.

Ultimately, strong nails are part hereditary, part healthy diet. Some urge that we eat dark, leafy greens and yogurt to strengthen our nails. And if you want a recipe for homemade cuticle care, check out this one courtesy of Narine Nikogosian’s “Return to Beauty.”

Bitter Butter Nail Soak:

Butter is the best hydrator, and apple cider vinegar builds nails!

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Melt butter in the microwave or stove top. Making sure it is not too hot (very important!), mix in the vinegar. Soak your fingers in this warm (not hot) mixture for ten minutes.

FTC Compliant

Image: scragz

The post Crazy for Cuticles? Get a Mango Home Manicure from JR Watkins appeared first on EcoSalon.