When I started getting into nail art, I REALLY got into nail art. Like stayed up until 3am poring over Tumblrs and blogs, eventually landing on archives from the Tokyo Nail Exposition--an annual event in Japan where nail techs turn out mural-like talons and glue anything from pearls and rhinestones to mini plastic Hello Kittys on nails. I decided I, too, needed to have bizarre shapes glued on my fingertips. Flat was not enough. It was time to go 3D. Envisioning bedazzled, Harajuku-type bows artfully dotted across my nails, I ordered a sets of rhinestones and various colored pearls, flowers and bows, that came with their own bottles of nail glue (which would soon prove my demise). However, my ambitions were greater than my abilities and the first attempt was a disaster.

• By Mickie Meinhardt
  Nov 14, 2011

It's officially chilly out, so that means it's time to start thinking about your holiday nail wardrobe (yes, you need a holiday nail wardrobe). While red is obviously a classic (and look how amazing it is on Karlie Kloss in Dior's beauty holiday campaign), and we've been wearing a lot of it this fall, there are tons of other offerings out there. From pearly neutrals to metallics to the highest concentration of glitter you've ever seen, you are a complete Grinch if you can't find something suitable. Click through to see all the little bottles we hope to find in our stockings this year.

• By Cheryl Wischhover
  Nov 11, 2011

Nail art has officially become a religion. Well, sort of. A 25-year-old rabbi in suburban New York, Yael Buechler, is using a really sneaky and clever way to teach her students about the Torah--she's doing it via nail art. (Back when I was in Catholic grammar school, we learned teachings like the catechism by rote memorization and fear-mongering. Perhaps if someone showed me the ten commandments or the stations of the cross via a manicure, I might not be the fallen Catholic I am today.) Rabbi Buechler, who was profiled in the New York Times recently, has been using nail art to help girls personalize and understand the teachings of the Torah.

• By Cheryl Wischhover
  Nov 1, 2011

It's not a secret that men are getting into fancy grooming products. Many companies which offer beauty products specifically designed for men have sprouted up, and established brands like Kiehl's have unisex packaging that makes it really popular among girls and boys alike. Guyliner has a long and glorious history among rock'n'roll gods thanks to the likes of Keith Richards and pretty much every band from the 80s. Are MANicures the final frontier in men's grooming?

• By Cheryl Wischhover
  Oct 31, 2011

Every morning while we're writing, searching for news, getting ready to go to the office, and generally screwing around, we have two very special ladies keeping us company in the background. Yes, we are out-and-proud fans of Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb of the Today show, those singing, wine-chugging, opinionated morning hostesses extraordinaire (except for that interview with Glenn Beck today). Today a gem of wisdom nonchalantly dropped from KLG's lips that sent us running to Google. Turns out that Kathie Lee is a fan of Chanel's super-limited-edition Khaki Rose nail lacquer, which was released in 2010 for that year's Fashion's Night Out (below). The Khaki Vert color launched a thousand knock-offs, but the whole trio pretty much defined the color palette of manicures that fall. The Chanel colors were discontinued after selling out instantly, but you never, ever tell KLG that she can't have something.

• By Cheryl Wischhover
  Oct 26, 2011

Slime, spiders and ghouls, oh my!

• By Mickie Meinhardt
  Oct 23, 2011

This collaboration makes a whole lotta sense. Nicki Minaj loves anything shiny and colorful and OPI loves collabs with shiny and colorful people (see Katy Perry, the Kardashians, the Muppets). According to word on the nail polish blogs, this collection should hit your nails in January 2012. Don't expect a collection full of tasteful neutrals, either. There are two full-on glitters, one metallic and one with confetti glitter. There's also a purple Shatter and a perfect neon green that we actually love. Click through to see the whole collection. Nicki better bring it with the nail art in the next few months.

• By Cheryl Wischhover
  Oct 21, 2011

The Tom Ford beauty collection launch is almost upon us. While we've been hearing that it will be available at the end of October (and we got to see a teaser peek at Fashion's Night Out at the Tom Ford store), we just found out that the collection will launch at Bergdorf Goodman on November 1 (and you can pre-order now); it's also available for pre-sale at Neiman Marcus. So you can drool over the whole glorious collection for the next few weeks. There's a skin care range, brushes, nail lacquer, eye shadow quads, Ford's stunning lipsticks (whose success encouraged the launch of this full beauty range) and everything in between. If you were hoping for some really sexy color names, you might be a bit disappointed. The raciest it gets is "Love Bruise" and "Ravish.

• By Cheryl Wischhover
  Oct 17, 2011

While everyone's still hyperventilating over the new Chanel spring 2012 nail colors, the nail polish industry does not rest. There are more new things out there to get excited about. Nail polish is getting more and more specialized, and we love it. NFL-themed nail polish? OK! Plus Footloose has obviously been generating a lot of buzz lately--and so does pretty much every color that Deborah Lippmann creates--so a Footloose-themed collection makes a whole lot of sense. And nail polish that changes color in the sun? With glitter? Sign us up! Click through to check out all three of these new nail polish collections.

• By Cheryl Wischhover
  Oct 13, 2011

OK, so maybe we were a bit too enthusiastic in our last post about the Chanel polishes you'll be wearing next spring. Turns out that the pearly whit

• By Cheryl Wischhover
  Oct 6, 2011

I've been a nail freak since childhood, so the nail-polish-is-the-new-lipstick trend sits well with me. Unfortunately, I lack the funds to try out the cool new stuff available (Chanel Peridot, gel manicures). However, I'm a sucker for anything borderline ridiculous or cheap (or both), so when I saw a brightly colored sign advertising $10 nail art in my less-than-cool Bronx neighborhood, I was intrigued. “$9.99 FULL NAIL MANICURE! FOUR COLOR DESIGN!” read the wooden stand, pointing up a narrow staircase to the second floor of a building housing a tattoo parlor and an electronics store. Never one to be afraid of a little sketchiness (I’d actually gotten my nose pierced at the aforementioned tattoo parlor as an idiotic, parent-free freshman during my 1st week of college), I commissioned my roommate as a wing woman and headed in.

• By Mickie Meinhardt
  Sep 29, 2011

What we actually want to wear on our nails and what we just like to look at on other people's nails are two very different things sometimes. The nail artistry at this week's New York fashion week actually veered both ways for us this season. While nudes are still a thing, and orangey poppy reds (see Jason Wu) had a strong showing, there were a few surprises, too. Manicurist Jin Soon Choi told us backstage at Alexander Wang to watch for super dark colors (not very spring-like) mixed with brights--for example a mixed mani/pedi. She also said that bright colors with a 70s feeling like purple and turquoise would be big come spring. The established designers went fairly minimal with makeup and nails this season, but we love that indie designers (and Betsey Johnson, of course!) are still taking nail risks.

• By Cheryl Wischhover
  Sep 13, 2011

It's Labor Day, and while there are no longer any fashion or beauty rules, we're sick of pastels and neons on our nails. Nail polish brands, from designers to the drugstore, are offering tons of darker and duskier options for fall that feel fresh and right for the upcoming season. From traditional lacquer to nail art, click through for the ten best nail options we've found for fall.

• By Cheryl Wischhover
  Sep 5, 2011

Nails were a popular category at Cosmoprof, and none more so than the classic brands. Essie's booth at the conference, not surprisingly, was a buzzing hive of activity. I managed to sneak in at a quiet point and got to have a peek at all the upcoming nail polish collections. The nail polish brand, which has stayed resolutely classic--with a refusal to veer into the land of crackle and nail art--is blinging it up a bit for the colder months. The rep acknowledged that the demand for fancy finishes and metallic polishes (Chanel fall collection, anyone?) forced them to re-imagine their classics for a more modern audience.

• By Cheryl Wischhover
  Aug 8, 2011

While I have to admit I have a little bit of nail art fatigue and am looking forward to some of the gorgeous nude polishes that are launching this fall, my interest was definitely peaked again at Cosmoprof. Nails are still a huge focal point for the industry, and there are new brands, new trends, and new innovations. While some struck me as gimmicky, some are definitely going to turn into modern classics. Click through to check out my trend report and learn a bit about some new things in the world of nails that are launching soon.

• By Cheryl Wischhover
  Aug 4, 2011

Are you an Anglophilic nail polish lover? If so, this is going to be a really good week for you. Nails Inc., the nail polish brand known for its trendy colors and fun crystallized caps, is finally launching full-on here in the US. In the past, small special edition sets and collections were available at Henri Bendel, but that’s about it. Thea Green, the founder of Nails Inc., is a former fashion editor at Tatler and started a nail salon chain after being inspired by the concept of the quickie manicure on her frequent trips to the US. At the time, manicures were a luxury item in her country, and UK salons didn’t offer quick versions. Her concept took off, with women flocking in for 15-minute manis. The nail polish line soon followed, then came the English designers looking for bespoke colors for their catwalks. Instant caché.

• By Cheryl Wischhover
  Aug 2, 2011

New York celebrated a milestone this past weekend. Gay marriage was just legalized in the state, and this past Sunday was the first day couples could take advantage of it. (Check out the great coverage in the NY Times Styles section. You will cry.) The wedding industry has jumped on the opportunity to market things to gay couples, and now the beauty industry is, too. We love this new collection of nail polish by Color Club, which features a rainbow of shades with cheeky names: P is for Pride; Polish for All; Dress for the Parade; Not Just for Kelly, Green; Boys Wear Blue; Express Yourself. We wish they had gone even further with the names, like "Drag Me to Stonewall" or "Queen of Christopher Street." (We have fantasies of being a nail polish namer. Sorry.)

• By Cheryl Wischhover
  Jul 27, 2011

While laying on the beach reading the August Allure this weekend, I came across a small paragraph that made me say, “Oooh, new nail polish gimmick!” A little digging revealed that a new polish trend is in the making. Sick of crackle finishes? Try magnets! The UK nail brand Nails Inc. is releasing a polish called Magnetic Attraction. The three metallic shades--gold, gray, and purple--contain iron powder and come with a magnet embedded in the cap. You apply a coat of the polish to each individual nail, then hold the magnet over your nail to get a rippled effect. These polishes will be available in October. Nails Inc. has been expanding its market in the US, so hopefully we’ll see it stateside. In the meantime, you can try to win it from Allure here. (Allure gives away some amazing swag. Definitely check out their “free stuff” link on a monthly basis.)

• By Cheryl Wischhover
  Jul 25, 2011

More and more designers are getting into the makeup game (hello, Gareth Pugh!) which makes sense since fashion and beauty go hand in well-manicured hand. Like designers before him--Jason Wu’s collab with CND and Prabal Gurung’s with Sally Hansen come to mind--Giles Deacon is launching a nail polish line. Grazia is hanging out with the designer this week and he let slip to them that he’s making a foray into the popular world of nail lacquer. He’s done a clothing and accessories collection, called “Gold” with UK high street retailer New Look for several seasons now. The nail polish will be a part of this collection, so we’re not sure if we’ll be able to get our hands on it here in the US.

• By Cheryl Wischhover
  Jul 21, 2011

We love Sophy Robson based on her work and her blog alone--hopefully someday we’ll be able to meet her in person and pick her brain for all her nail knowledge. But until then, we can just hang out on Sephora’s website. The UK-based Robson just did a series of how-to nail art videos, which coincide nicely with the retailer’s recent announcement that they’re going to start offering nail salon services in-store. We are also loving this new trend of actual experts--like Pat McGrath’s collab with Cover Girl--posting videos about how to get certain beauty looks. (Not that we don’t admire the enthusiasm of all those 15-year-olds with YouTube accounts out there.)

• By Cheryl Wischhover
  Jul 19, 2011

Sephora keeps on top of trends and innovation, which is why it's one of the most successful beauty retailers in the universe. Sephora's newest initiative further illustrates its savvy; the store is capitalizing on the current obsession with nails and offering in-store manicures starting at the end of July.

• By Cheryl Wischhover
  Jul 15, 2011

There are a full 14 kaptivating, non-krappy kolors in the new Nicole by OPI Kardashian Kolor Kollection. (I promise that is the last time I will inappropriately use K words in this post.) All kidding aside, the colors are pretty cute, with names to match. “Hard Kourt Fashionista,” “Follow Me on Glitter,” and “Listen to your Momager!” are some of the choices. You could be forgiven if when people ask you what color you’re wearing, you just say, “Teal.”

• By Cheryl Wischhover
  Jul 13, 2011

Remember that rumor a few months ago about the Kardashians collaborating on a nail polish line with OPI? It’s happening! It’s actually with OPI’s little sister brand, Nicole by OPI, but IT IS HAPPENING. The Kardashian girls, minus Kim, met with magazine editors yesterday to give everyone a peek at the new line. Both girls tweeted during the event, obviously. (And many thanks to Teen Vogue’s Eva Chen for tweeting like a maniac and putting up a blog post in record time about the press event.) Khloe tweeted, "Wow just had the most amazing lunch for our Nicole by OPI line with fabulous editors of so many glam magazines! #Dreaming"

• By Cheryl Wischhover
  Jul 12, 2011