Tough as nails: practical but beautiful manicures

Whether it is long and dramatic nail or covered with funky embellishments, nails are a fun way to express individuality and style.

Amy Camillo-Poland, owner of Finishing Touch Day Spa in Mount Vernon, shared some of the season’s trends as well as practical options for people with a hands-on lifestyle.

As cooler temperatures usher in fall, purple and brown hues are particularly popular, Camillo-Poland noted. And while it has waned a little, the accent nail, where one nail is painted a different color, is still holding strong. Nail art involving Halloween imagery like spiders and pumpkins is also a fun way to participate in the season. At the moment, her favorite nail shape is a squared-off tip with rounded edges.

“As far as acrylics, what’s popular right now is a lot of the stiletto and coffin-shaped nails— so a little bit longer, which is not quite as practical,” she told the Mount Vernon News.

For someone looking for a durable, shorter option, she suggested a gel nail.

“The gel holds up for two to three weeks, sometimes longer depending on the customer,” Camillo-Poland said. “You can do any length with that because that’s all your natural nail, but it’s a better alternative to regular nail polish— it holds up quite a bit better.”

She also recommends that type of nail for people who are new to manicures because it offers a little added strength without the same level of commitment as acrylics.

“If somebody’s not sure what they want to do, I always think if they have somewhat of a decent nail; I think it’s a good starting point to do gel, and then if they’re not getting the results they want from gel then to move into acrylic, because it’s really hard to go from acrylic back to gel, because you’re used to with the acrylic the strength of the nail,” Camillo-Poland said. “It just makes them so much stronger. You get so used to that, it’s hard to go back.”

A lot of Camillo-Poland’s customers get gel pedicures as well. She said they can go a whole month without having to touch up their toes.

Another newer option similar to gel is the dip nail. Using the natural nail as its base, the dip process— which involves a base coat, colored powder and a topcoat— results in a slightly stronger finish over gel nails.

Camillo-Poland loves using Vinylux topcoat over all colors for its ability to extend the length of the polish.