Bridal Nails How-To

What colour should a bride wear?

A popular request is for sheer, glowing, natural nails. Essie’s Gel Couture Bridal collection is an edited collection of bridal colours and also a perfect option for bridesmaids to complement the bride. Essie’s Ballet Slippers is often a good place to start when looking at neutral, pinky polish shades which can be recreated with gel colours. You can play around with layering shades like CND Shellac’s Beau, Negligee or Romantique or look at Naked Naivete and Nude Knickers if you want a more solid but still subtle pink. Any nail technician should be able to create a colour for you by layering shades if you can’t find one you want. If your dress is white, look for a warmer pink and if it’s ivory, either cool or warm undertones can work.

Should I consider gel nails?

Yes! Not only is the glossy finish unbeatable, they’ll last for your honeymoon too. Gel nails are a highly risk-averse option. Why? You can rely on there being no smudges or chips - a big no-no for any bride-to-be - and you won’t have to bother with drying time in the salon because they instantly dry after curing in the lamp. Every minute counts in the days leading up to your wedding day so any time-saving treatments are valuable. Gel and gel-hybrid treatments like Shellac or Gelish are quick and applied to your natural nail so you won’t spend hours having carefully sculpted enhancements, unless you need or want them of course.

Is nail art a faux pas?

Approach your make-up and beauty as you would choosing your wedding dress. Will you still like it when you look back at pictures in 20 years? Minimal nail art design won’t look gaudy, just a fun but considered detail that you could opt for on a couple of nails. Just don’t leave someone free to do want they want. Have a look at examples on Instagram and Pinterest and show your nail tech.