Is it just us who dictate our nail designs based on the weather? Winters are filled with blues, spring calls for florals shades and summer is reserved for citrus nails exclusively of course, to really get us in the spirit.
Although this summer hasn't given us much in terms of weather, this week seems to have perked up. The perfect window of opportunity to add a burst of freshness to our manis. Going for oranges, yellow and green hues shades is a sure way of complimenting your newly tanned skin beautiful.
“The citrus nail trend has brought a new zest of life to the nail world. A refreshing spritzer for your nails, this fresh and lemon chic design is perfect in the late summer sun. When life gives you lemons, put them on your nails! We’ve also seen the likes of Hailey Bieber opt for the pastel shade this summer.” says Julita Fagan, 14 Day Mani nail expert and manicurist.
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We've summoned Julita to gives us the 411 on all things citrus nails…
What colours do you need to achieve citrus themed nails from home?
Citrus nails will consist of playing around with shapes and designs in yellow, lime greens, and bold pops orange hues. Anything that screams zesty goodness will fit right in. “Depending on the citrus fruit you have chosen, this cute design can be placed atop a complimentary shade of full colour gel polish, a natural shade of gel polish or builder gel, and even pairs beautifully with a trendy, french tip.”
What tools do you need to achieve citrus themed nails from home?
“When doing your nails at home, one of the most useful tools to add to your at-home nail kit is the 7 Way Nail File Buffer from 14 Day Mani. This ‘one stop’ nail prep tool is a staple and makes the process of nail preparation that much easier. Once you have thoroughly prepped your nails, you are all ready to begin with your application and design.” says Julita.
Julita also adds: “Along with your gel colours, you will also need a fine liner brush and dotting tools in various sizes to assist you in creating your citrus design. These will allow you to achieve perfect circles for the base of your fruit which you can then reshape as needed by lightly shifting the dotting tool out of its original placement to move the gel around. If preferred, this can also be achieved using your fine liner brush for more precision.”
A simple step-by-step guide to achieve citrus nails at home:
- A base coat and a top coat
- Nail polish in citrus shades (e.g. orange, lime green, lemon yellow)
- Nail art brushes or toothpicks
- Nail stencils or stickers (for beginners)
- Acrylic paints (for intricate designs)
- Small nail gems or rhinestones (for 3D effects)
- Nail glue
Start with clean, dry nails. Trim and shape them to your preferred length and style. Apply a clear base coat to protect your natural nails and help the polish adhere better.
- Citrus hues: If you prefer a subtle look, paint each nail a different citrus shade, do a citrus french tip gradient or even consider creating an ombre effect by blending the colours together.
- Stamped designs: Not a nail art maestro? Cheat your way into nail designs by using nail stamps featuring citrus fruit patterns. Apply your chosen citrus colour as a base and then stamp your citrus designs over it.
- Hand-painted citrus: For a more personalised touch, use nail art brushes or toothpicks to hand-paint citrus slices and segments on your nails. Acrylic paints work well for intricate details.
- 3D citrus: Julita says: “When creating 3D nails at home, you will need to use a gel with a thicker viscosity such as Clear Builder Gel from 14 Day Mani. Using a liner brush, the builder gel can be applied on top of the fine details of your citrus nail design to create a raised effect. Tiny, raised clear dots are easy and also very complimentary for the citrus nail design.” To take it up a notch, you can also add in small nail gems or rhinestones to mimic the texture of citrus fruits. Secure them with nail glue.
Once your citrus nail art is complete and dry, apply a clear top coat to protect your design and add shine. This step also ensures your manicure lasts longer. As Julita's top tip for this: “My suggested method is encapsulating your design by applying a layer of the Clear Builder Gel from 14 Day Mani prior to Top Coat. This is a sure way of prolonging the length of wear on your manicure.”
With your citrus nails looking fresh and vibrant, it's time to show them off. Pair your trendy nails with summer outfits, and maybe, just maybe it'll encourage this British sun to stay a little longer.
Fruit loops burst
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Glittery pastels
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Zesty tiling
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3D lemonade
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Tangerine tips
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Orange accents
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For more from Glamour UK Beauty Writer Shei Mamona, follow her on Instagram @sheimamona.
