Choosing a suitable nail polish shouldn’t be something you have to get into blind, however. There are certain factors you can take into account, and based on those factors, you can easily find the perfect shade for your nails. Lucky for you, we’ve listed the necessary things you need to consider when choosing a suitable nail polish, so read on.
1.Choosing Female Nail Polish Based on Skin Tone
Everyone has a favorite color, and they would love to simply use that special shade to grace their fingernails. Unfortunately, however, your skin tone can prove to be a barrier in these situations. While a suitable nail polish will be enhanced by your skin color, others can easily be washed out or come out as really dull once applied. To help you out, here are the considerations you need to think about when choosing female nail polish based on your skin tone.
1.1 For Fair Skin
Fair skin can be tricky to choose a color for. It can easily get dulled out if you don’t have a suitable nail polish to compliment it. It’s also very easy to find a color that can compete with your fair complexion. For this reason, certain nude colors, though definitely at the top of the list, should be avoided. Nude palettes with a sheer pinkish hue are more suitable than beige, since beige can come out as yellow if you have fair skin.
For the best effect on pale skin, red nail polish with cool undertones, such as blue toned red, provides a clean sheen without overpowering your skin tone. Pink is also a great go-to color for pale skin tones, especially sheer pink and bright fuchsia colors with cool undertones.
If you feel particularly adventurous, and want to try purple or blue, then using pastel lavender as your purple should be a good choice. Just make sure you don’t get any brighter than lilac, as it wouldn’t look good on your skin. For a good blue color, head straight for navy, since it’s a great pairing if you have a warm undertone.
1.2 For Olive or Medium Toned Skin
Medium toned skin can vary significantly between each other and depending on whether you have an olive tone or more of a bronze, you’ll need to focus more on colors with yellow or warmer undertones. For nudes, beige is a way to go, since it has a warm undertone compared to those with a pinkish sheer. Unlike people with fair skin, people with medium tones can tolerate yellow-based colors much better.
Orange-red colors can also bring out your skin’s natural glow, and not just with lipsticks. Red colors with gold undertones work well for your olive skin as well. Pink should generally be avoided, though some peachy-pink colors do match up well with your medium skin tone.
Another color to avoid is most blue hues, though you can get away with using pastel blues or an intense sky-blue shade. Just make sure that your chosen nail polish has enough color to stand out to your warm skin tone. As for purple, you can go for shades with more pigment, such as a deep grape shade, as opposed to pastels with a white base, as these can easily be overpowered by warm skin tones.
1.3 For Dark Skin
A deeper skin tone can benefit a lot from high impact pigments. It’s especially important to stay away from lighter, baby pink colors. Dark skin looks better with bright fuchsias and neon pink. But the best color pallet for dark skin are rich purples and blues. For purples, go for either pastel or dark purple, anything along the lines of a dark berry tint.
As for blue, use intense colors like bright cobalt to let it stand out against your skin. If you plan on using baby blue, just make sure that there isn’t too much of a white undertone in it. If you’re in the mood to wear red, just make sure to go with deep red shades to help you stand out. Think of the same kind of reds you see in ruby, or in an intense red wine.
2.Choosing Suitable Nail Polish Based on Nail Conditions
2.1 For Short Nails
Having short nails might seem like you have less to work with, but there’s still hope for you yet. Dark or solid colors such as dark blue, rogue or even black can make your nails look more prominent, allowing you to showcase the shape of your nail, especially if it’s been cut properly. Nudes and pastels also give your nails a slimmer and thinner look, thanks to the seamless effect they have when applied.
2.2 For Wide Nails
Compared to short nails, wider nails are a lot more forgiving to work with and will do well with any color. The only think you need to avoid are ones that are too dark, especially black and dark blues, as they can make your nails look even wider. Choosing a metallic nail polish can help show the illusion of softer edges, making your nails look narrower.
2.3 For Rough Nails
For rough nails, the color of the nail polish is far less important than what you apply as a base coat. Before applying any female nail polish, it’s better to apply a ridge filler first, in order to strengthen your nail and smooth it out. Ridge filler work great as a base since smoother nails make it easier to apply nail polish on.
3.Types of Nail Polish Based on Substance
3.1 Water-based Nail Polish
Water-based nail polish are a type of nail polish that use water as a base instead of oil or other chemicals. They’re supposedly a lot safer and is highly recommended if you’re prone to allergic reactions. If you’re conscious about the environment, they’re also a great way to go, since they dissolve easily in water. You also wouldn’t need to invest on a nail polish remover, since they can practically be washed off with water or rubbing alcohol.
The major downside to water-based nail polish is that they tend to run thinner than other types of nail polish. This means you’ll need to apply more than one coat in order to get the desired effect, so you’re likely to run through one bottle really quickly. They also don’t last as long, and they take far longer to dry. If you’re not in a hurry though, they’re not too bad an option if you have sensitive skin.
3.2 Oil-based Nail Polish
Oil-based nail polish, as you might already have guessed, are nail polish that use oil as their base. Most traditional nail polish use oil as their base, and they work as the exact opposites of water-based nail polish. Their run thicker and will last longer than water-based nail polish. One of the major downsides to oil-based nail polish, however, is that they take a bit of effort to remove. You will need to invest on a nail polish remover.
Oil-based nail polish also tend to use chemicals that aren’t so good for your nails and skin, so using them too often may not be good for you. Unlike their odorless, water-based counterparts, oil-based nail polish also has a distinct chemical smell on them, which can make you sick after a while.
4.Nail Polish Finishes
Aside from the shade or color, nail polish can also be further divided into its finish, depending on its texture once it dries up. Here are 3 common finishes available, and when you should use them.
4.1 Matte Finish
Nail polish that have a matte finish tend to be non-reflective, giving them a slightly rougher look. They give your nails a more solid look, so they’re perfect for shorter or narrower nails. Matted nail polish are known to chip faster than creme nail polish, however, so they aren’t well-suited for nails with long tips, as they’re more likely to get dinged and get chipped.
4.2 Lacquer Nail Polish
Nail lacquer is more or less the traditional type of female nail polish. They are characterized by a glossy finish. A lot of people prefer this over matte, since a matte finish might look dull to some people. A glossy finish can be easy to overdo, however, and if you choose the wrong color, it can be very noticeable. These types of nail polish are great at hiding any imperfections or mistakes you’ve done to your nail, though, so if you’re not sure what you want to use, a glossy finish is a safe bet.
4.3 Pearl Finish
If you can’t decide between a matte finish or a glossy one, a pearl finish is a good midway point. Pearl finishes are a versatile option, and are characterized by their delicate sheen, without being too in-your-face about it. Although they can be used on their own, they can make wonderful effects when placed on top of creme polish or any colorful matte for a good pearlescent finish.
