Dusseldorf - Leopard-skin, flowers, polka dots and even bows are just a few of the pattern designs for fingernails that are proving popular as the worldwide nail-art craze grows.
While stars of Chinese TV like the Japanese nude actress Sola Aoi have promoted decoration on all five nails of a hand with rhinestones and plastic inlays, nail decorators in more conservative Germany counsel clients to restrain the urge to splurge.
If you do decide to get an eye-catching design on your nails, be careful not to overdo things, they say. Plenty of stickers have been commercially available since the global fad took off a couple of years ago.
“Less is more,” argues Annika Wiesner, a nail designer and winner of Germany's National Nail Championship. Patterned nails are very flashy, and they don't suit every type anyway. “They're not for grey people,” says Wiesner.
She recommends wearing patterned fingernails to parties only, rather than during work or everyday life.
Women should only wear one or two per hand, according to nail designer Sabrina Siebert, who is also a winner of the National Nail Championship. “It looks really good if just the ring finger or thumb has a design,” she says.
Before applying a design to a nail you will have to do some groundwork first. Wiesner recommends polishing the nail's surface before cleaning it and filing it into shape.
Use a soft buffer block to polish the nail's surface. After pushing back the cuticle, brush on nail foundation before applying the design. The nail design has its own adhesive but will be more secure if you use nail foundation as well.
You can get a special look by using coloured nail polish beneath the design.
It's also very important to disinfect your hands first to prevent bacteria from growing beneath the design.
Sapa-dpa