Gorgeous mattes
Confession: I am a true sucker for matte nails. There’s something so understated and effortlessly chic about them.
#1
I love how much these nails remind me of the Cadbury Easter Candy-coated Mini Eggs. Not quite a gradient, but I love the cool tones.
#2
This orange pastel is gorgeous and bright, but wonderfully warm at the same time. The shade will be incredibly flattering on medium-to-deep skin tones.
#3
Purple was my favourite colour at a young age, and I think I’ve never really stopped loving the shade. Doesn’t hurt that it’s a colour that’s incredibly flattering on most Asian skin tones! This gorgeous ombre effect is simple enough to execute and has a great impact.
Almost too-cute
Admittedly not so much my thing, I know a fair few people who’d definitely see the appeal of a super cute set of nails.
#4
This manicure makes me think of confetti, or a baby shower. It’s amazing how well so many different colours work together when they’re all pastel.
#5
If you love Hayao Miyazaki movies, this Totoro manicure is going straight to the top of your must-have list. Princess’s Cottage is Singapore-based and highly raved about by socialite Jamie Chua.
#6
I love this half-moon manicure from Singapore-based salon Nails Fifth Avenue. The mix of shades and embellishments takes it right up to almost-too-cute, but you can always opt for fewer designs and embellishments if they’re not quite your thing.
Gradient pastels
I love a good gradient nail, though sadly have never been able to successfully manage one on my own (despite countless Youtube tutorials).
#7
Straying from the usual gradients done in the same colour range, this one is a lot more of a unique choice. The colours still work, tied together by the flower detailing on certain nails.
#8
Instead of the usual gradient manicure, I love that this one reminds me a little of playing with colour gradient filters in Microsoft Word.
Full-on nail art
Something best left to the experts, here are some gorgeous pieces of pastel nail art.
#9
Perhaps one of my favourites of the bunch, this manicure not only combines pastels with the “glass” nail art trend I love, it also incorporates the two pantone colours of the year, serenity and rose quartz.
#10
An absolutely perfect pastel take on a milky way galaxy-inspired manicure. These nails aren’t as difficult to achieve as you think with plenty of leeway for imperfection, but they still look stunning.
#11
I love the bright watercolour effect on these nails that are such a perfect representation of the hot weather.
#12
Of course, this set would not be complete without something from The Nail Artelier, and it just so happens to be inspired by K-drama Descendants of the Sun! The camouflage-obsessed child I used to be is in love.
