If, like us, you're guilty of always sticking to your fail-safe nude nail polish, it's time to break out of your style rut and break open the reds. From pillarbox, to deep crimson, we have scoured Instagram to find the most drool-worthy designs which will make you want to reach for the bottle immediately. Plus we've tracked down some shades you can shop for an exact match.
Whether you're looking for acrylics or gels, cream or glitter, full design inspo or just colour recommendation, we've got every style and finish covered, to prove once and for all that red isn't just for December.
Some of these designs are so simple you could easily recreate them at home, some might be a little more challenging, and others will definitely require a salon appointment (unless you've got the kind of steady hand a surgeon would be proud of and the painting skills of Van Gogh).
Which seems unlikely...
You'll find inspiration in here from your favourite artists including Aja Walton and Chaun Legend. Not to mention some of the most talented studios around the world, including Paint Box Nails, which should be at the top of your NYC to-do list.
So go grab your nail polish remover and quick drying top coat and get painting your nails red. Just make sure you leave enough time for them to dry so you don't end up with the dreaded pillow creases.
We all know there's truly nothing worse than smudges on a freshly painted manicure...
Unless it's a flooded cuticle.
1
Red wine dipped
We love this twist on the classic French manicure, using two different shades of red.
2
Red fog
Switch up your classic monochrome marble design with some crimson smoke.
3
Shimmering Scarlet
This OPI Nature Strong polish in shade 'Raisin Your Voice' is an elevated take on a red glitter, opting for a deeper cool toned red and a fine milled shimmer over a classic glitter.
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4
Barely there
The perfect style for those who are a bit apprehensive, but still want to dip their toe in red waters.
5
Cubism
For fingers that look like they should be hanging in the Tate Modern.
6
California dreamin'
The only thing these '70s inspired nails need is a Big Sur roadtrip. They were created using Nails Inc's 'Just Kinda Bliss' collection.
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7
Wrap it up
This intricate design may be impossible to recreate at home, but definitely worth booking an appointment for.
8
Movie Star Red
'Wildfire' by CND so perfectly captures that ultimate movie star red, it's bold without being bright, deep without being dark, and classic without ever risking bring dated. The universally flattering shade cannot fail to make you feel 100% that b*tch.
9
Colour blocking
We love the touch of neon green in this truly unique design.
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10
Primary Red
While at first glimpse it may look similar to movie star 'Wildfire' above, 'Iconic' by the Gel Bottle Inc is a delicious take on a pure unfiltered primary red. Though there's nothing childish about it.
11
Traffic lights
Sheer acrylics are a great way of upgrading your classic bright red.
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13
She's French, Burgundy to be specific
This sophisticated take on a coloured French manicure is far from the brights you might expect from the playful design, and uses the Essie shade 'Wrapped in Luxury'. It's the title shade from the Winter 22 collection.
14
Lost in the maze
Not quite sure if we have the skills to recreate this at home, but you can guarantee we'll try.
15
Subtle tips
If you're looking for just a flash of red, this metallic design will make you feel like a superhero.
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16
Going dotty
Use a nail dotting tool to plant the perfect circle over a nude base.
17
Share the love
Give yourself the love you deserve with this simple heart design.
18
Irregular shapes
This is a whole optical illusion. Bored of coffin and tired of oval? We'll be filing our nails diagonally from now on.
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19
Flamin' hot
If you like your nails how you like your Doritos, this flame art manicure is the one for you.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or expertise in specific topics. However, I have been trained on a wide range of information and can provide insights and information on various subjects.
Understanding the Concepts in the Article:
This article discusses different nail polish designs and styles using various shades of red. Here are some concepts related to nails and nail polish that are mentioned in the article:
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Nude Nail Polish: Nude nail polish refers to a neutral shade that closely matches the natural color of the nails. It is often used as a fail-safe option for a subtle and understated look.
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Reds: Reds refer to a range of colors that fall under the category of red, including pillarbox red, deep crimson, and other shades. In the context of the article, it refers to using different shades of red nail polish.
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Instagram: Instagram is a popular social media platform where users can share photos and videos. In the article, it is mentioned that the author scoured Instagram to find nail polish designs for inspiration.
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Acrylics and Gels: Acrylics and gels are two different types of artificial nail enhancements. Acrylics are made from a liquid monomer and a powder polymer that hardens when exposed to air. Gels are a type of nail polish that requires curing under a UV or LED lamp to harden.
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Cream and Glitter: Cream and glitter are different finishes of nail polish. Cream refers to a solid, opaque color, while glitter adds sparkle and shimmer to the nails.
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Design Inspo: Design inspo is short for design inspiration, which refers to ideas or concepts that inspire the creation of nail designs.
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Salon Appointment: A salon appointment refers to booking an appointment at a nail salon to get professional nail services.
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Nail Polish Remover: Nail polish remover is a product used to remove nail polish from the nails.
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Quick Drying Top Coat: A quick-drying top coat is a clear polish applied over the nail polish to speed up the drying process and provide a glossy finish.
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French Manicure: A French manicure is a classic nail design that features a pale or nude base color with a white tip.
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Marble Design: Marble design refers to a nail art technique that creates a marbled effect on the nails using different colors.
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Shimmer: Shimmer refers to a type of finish in nail polish that contains fine particles that reflect light and create a subtle sparkle.
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Colour Blocking: Color blocking is a design technique that involves using contrasting colors in distinct blocks or sections.
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Ombre Nails: Ombre nails are a nail art technique that creates a gradient effect, where the color gradually fades from one shade to another.
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Sheer Acrylics: Sheer acrylics refer to a type of artificial nail enhancement that provides a translucent or see-through appearance.
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French Manicure: A French manicure is a classic nail design that features a pale or nude base color with a white tip.
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Optical Illusion: An optical illusion refers to a visual phenomenon that tricks the eye and creates a perception that differs from reality.
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Nail Dotting Tool: A nail dotting tool is a small tool with a pointed tip used to create dot patterns or designs on the nails.
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Heart Design: A heart design refers to a nail art design that incorporates heart shapes or motifs.
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Nail Shape: Nail shape refers to the overall shape of the nails, such as oval, square, coffin, or diagonal.
These are the main concepts related to nails and nail polish that are mentioned in the article. If you have any specific questions or need further information, feel free to ask!
