If there's one hue you'll want to try this spring, it's Pantone color of the year ultra violet, also known as "provocative purple," thanks to its boldness and brilliance. The shade has a strong association with the galaxy and cosmos and has also been tied to two empowering movements: women's suffrage and LGBTQ rights. There's even a women's rights advocacy group named after it (check it out at ultraviolet.org).
Celebrity manicurist Arlene Hinckson, who works with Celine Dion and Sam Smith, reaches for this vibrant color as soon as the spring season arrives. It's bright, airy and reminiscent of longer days and warmer nights. We spotted yellow in all variations at New York Fashion Week, from marigold to mustard to lemon. Hinckson's favorite is a soft yellow, which she says reminds her of Coney Island in the '80s. "It's so fresh with the just the right level of bright, so you can pull it off with denim on date night and khakis for work."
Will this basic-yet-elegant shade ever go out of style? "Nudes really never go off-trend, as they mix well with others and look great alone," says Sunshine. The key, she explains, is to find the perfect nude for your particular skin tone. If your skin tone is porcelain, follow up with nudes that complement pink or blue undertones, as these can be seen beneath very pale skin. If your skin tone is more olive, opt for something peachy to illuminate your natural glow. Those who have deeper skin tones are the luckiest, as they can really have their pick when it comes to a nude nail polish.
"The vibrancy of these colors have come back to the nail world by storm," says Sunshine. "There was once a time where these colors were waiting in line, but now they have reached the top of the list." Why the rage all of a sudden? According to the celeb manicurist, it's because they work well together in a myriad of shades, from more orange to more red, and look great on pretty much all nail lengths. This is an especially good color if you have tan, medium or olive skin, but might appear too loud and contrasting on those with paler skin.
Most of us only think to reach for green nail polish around the holidays (along with some sparkle, of course) but if you're particularly fond of the hue or feeling especially ethereal this spring, consider a lighter shade of green. Seafoam or mint shades are becoming increasingly in-demand among Hinckson's celebrity clients and she couldn't be more into it. She remembers when there were only around five shades of green available on the market and now there are over 500. "Green is lovely on warmer skin tones because you can't see the blue and red veins on your hand," she says. She recommends sticking to the paler hues for work and then upping the ante for vacations and weekend getaways.
