The Six 2016 Nails Trends You Need to Know About

The key colours, shades and shapes to suit your manis this year

21 March, 2018

6 Key Nails Trends You Need to Know About This Year

1. Fine lines

This chic nail art trend is minimalist with a twist. Stick to a singular base colour and draw graphic lines horizontally across the nails, or all around the outer edges, as seen on many a catwalk for both upcoming seasons. The look is unfussy, fresh, cool and clean. Consider us quietly obsessed.

[instagram ]https://instagram.com/p/BAX64FDPG9m/" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >

2. Metallics and pastels

Colours fall into two camps this season, moody metallics or pretty pastels. We're loving reflective charcoal greys, shimmering silvers and burnished bronze on the nails as an extension of your jewellery. For a fun feel try pastels in the hues of seafoam green, chalk grey and baby pink.

[instagram ]https://instagram.com/p/BCAyXItyYt_/" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >

3. Coffin shaped nails

Yet another beauty trend we can thank Kylie Jenner for. Coffin nails are long, angular-shaped nails (like actual coffins). Morbidly beautiful? Perhaps. Although they've been around for a while (and Kylie's moved on to short 'n' chic already), Pinterest forecast coffin nails as THE nail shape for 2016. As they're squarer than the formerly popular 'stiletto' they're easier to maintain, but - given the length - coffins are most practical on nails overlaid with hard gel or acrylic (also known as L&P or liquid and powder).

[instagram ]https://instagram.com/p/7ZueAJnGsn/" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >

4. Natural lengths

The counter trend to coffin nails is to wear them short for minimum maintenance. Even Kylie Jenner is doing it (and with a new nail polish collection under her belt she knows the talon trends), so it won't be long before we all follow suit. Speaking to our sister site, Cosmopolitan.com, Kylie said, "I feel like natural nails are the way to go, I'm really into short nails — mine are short right now".

[instagram ]https://instagram.com/p/BB3gZPJvUhv/" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >

5. Pom-pom nails

With those adorably fuzzy blobs accessorising our handbags and hair it was on a matter of time before we started placing pom-poms on our nails. The embellishment trend hails from Korea, where girls are applying them to their manis in majorly creative ways. We're in.

[instagram ]https://www.instagram.com/p/BBKj9GxvLED/" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >

6. Off the nail accessories

In line with pom-pom manis, accessories that go off the nail (using the free edge and nail bed as starting points) is the new way to nail (see what we did there?) nail art. Yep, nails as accessories in their own right - with dangling jewels, chains and serious 3D texture - were seen on the catwalks as the ultimate antidote to nude talons. Practical? No. Hards as nails? Yes.

[instagram ]https://instagram.com/p/78fVDtiGQ2/" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >