Bold and Beautiful: Brush Up on Nail Trends for 2014

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2014 is right around the corner, and that means new inspirations and trends, including in the nail category. Nail trends and care expert Katie Saxton, president of Custom Nail Solutions, has the scoop on some of the hottest nail styles of the new year. According to Saxton, 2014 is all about being artistic and showing off fashionable ingenuity. This likely means out with dark and neutral polishes and in with stripes and colorful designs. The following list of top nail trends for 2014 highlight flair, fun and distinct flourishes.

White With Flair: Solid white nails featuring small adornments, such as thin colored stripes, polka-dotted bases, or small gems, will be all the rage in 2014. White nail polishes exude elegance and class, and the small ornamentation adds a pop of pizzazz.

Distinctive Metallic Polishes: Shiny gold, copper and silver polishes were huge in the 2013, and this trend will continue in a new way in 2014. In the New Year, metallic polishes in unique hues like champagne and rose gold will pop up on hands everywhere.

Stylish Stripes: 2014 will be all about stripes. Whether they are wide or thin, glittery or matte, or vertical, horizontal or diagonal, striped nail art will be one of the top nail trends of 2014. The look can be achieved with a nail polish pen or tape to make stripes are sleek, straight and stylish.

Petite Pastels: Pretty and feminine pastel polishes like lilac, lavender, light blue, pastel pink and pale yellow will be a major nail trend in 2014. These polishes show off the sweet, fashionable side and add stylish color to an everyday outfit.

Suspended Half Moon Mani: One of the biggest nail trends of 2013 was the half moon mani featuring a colored half moon base set against a contrasting background, and this one-of-a-kind nail trend has a new look for 2014. In the New Year, nails will feature nude color with a white semi circle half moon base on each nail, with a clear topcoat to complete the look. The white moon looks like it is floating against the neutral background

Canvas For Creativity: In 2014, a major trend will be using nails as a canvas for artistic imagination. Jazz up nails by drawing intricate nail polish designs (like cartoon characters or colorful tribal patterns), glue on sequins and nail gems, add lace embellishments, and change the nail texture with matte polish. Small, fun adornments like rhinestones, feathers and tiny buttons also can be added, and this is a chance to show off imaginative and ingenuity.

New Age French Tip: One of 2014’s biggest nail trends will be the modern French manicure, where the nail tips feature a thin stripe of color set against a contrasting-colored background. For the contemporary French manicure, nails also can be kept nude with a thin stripe of any color along each nail tip. This is a sophisticated and elegant manicure that will go great with all attire.

Barely There Ombré: A popular nail style in 2014 will be an ombré manicure featuring an understated, barely there transition from light to dark.

Sparkly Splotches: Glitter it up in the New Year! In 2014, a huge trend will be painting the nails a solid color then adding a patch of sparky polish in the same spot on every nail. Glitter splotches can be added wherever you choose, but make sure it is in the exact same spot for every nail. This will create a chic, fun, fashionable effect.

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