Let's nail this!

ALL ABOUT THAT POLISH 
The first step is to pick the right shade and the right type of nail polish.  A base coat is fundamental as it protects the nail from polish stains and becoming brittle. After applying a base coat, two coats of the desired polish should be applied for an even texture.

If you are bored with the typical glossy nail polishes, choose a matte one. For those of you looking for something cooler, try a sandy nail polish which leaves a sandy texture, or the "jeans" collection at Konads, which is available in black and all shades of blue and leaves a texture similar to that of denim. Both cost around Tk 475. 

Magnetic nail polishes are also an easy shortcut to gorgeous nails. For a bolder look, apply graffiti nail polish on top of your regular one. The graffiti nail polish gradually forms cracks, revealing the base colour underneath. This looks best when a darker shade is paired up with bright neon colours. They can be found in Khazana, Almas, Nandan and a few other beauty shops. Finally, finish off with a top coat for a longer lasting manicure.  

WHAT YOU NEED
Stamp sets are the beginner nail enthusiast's ultimate best friend. Starting from Tk1500, the design plates have intricate patterns that you can directly print on your nails.  For the advanced nail artists, striping brushes and nail art pens give you the freedom to paint or draw anything you want. 

However, a size-zero paint brush or an old eyeliner brush works just as well. Rhinestones, caviar beads and striping tapes are just some of the few must-haves that can transform simple patterns into sophisticated designs. 

Another essential is the sponge. Simply apply two different colours on two different sides and then mix them up with the sponge to create beautiful consistent gradients. You can buy the sponges starting at Tk150, or you can just as easily use some old sponges in your house for the same effect.

One pattern you cannot go wrong with is dots!  Whether you prefer chic polka dots, or strategically placed dots to form flowers, they will always look cute and stylish. Dotting pens costing around Tk375 can be found at Konads, and they come in various sizes. However, you could always use the end of a bobby pin to make the large dots. To make smaller dots, sharpened pencils, dried out ballpoint pens or even toothpicks are amazingly effective! 

THE LATEST BUZZ 
One current trend is the newspaper nail art. A newspaper is pressed gently against the half-dried nail polish for a while which will allow the words to be printed onto the nail, giving it a very edgy look. 

Butterflies and flower stickers are quite popular for their ability to look elegant and sophisticated at the same time. For the outgoing ones, there are plenty of stamp plates with witty writing and these are perfect to show off your individuality. 

WHERE TO FIND THEM
You can get your nails done at Hairobics, Farzana Shakil's and Quebella. Nail art using only glitter will cost around Tk 500 and for more delicate designs, the cost is Tk 700. Konads have a wide range of nail art materials and they are available at Bashundhara City, Level 1. They are also developing an online shop so pretty soon you will be able to order everything online. 

By Adiba Mahbub Proma
Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed
Model: Mausum and Sraboni
Make-up: Farzana Shakil
Nail Art: Sraboni
Wardrobe: Personal
Shoot Coordinator: Isha Yeasmin