Live with us in a feeling for a sec, will you? It’s this: you make a nail appointment, spend an uncomfortable three minutes feeling rushed in front of the polish display (your fault for being indecisive, not anyone at the salon’s), pick your shade, and after paying, realize you hate your choice. It’s just as much of a bummer if no money is exchanged: you’ve invested time into an at-home manicure, and feel the impulse to take it off as quickly as it’s quick-dried. Know the one?
When you attempt a Skittles manicure (or, a manicure in which every finger is painted a different shade, and they all just work together) the risk for regret is even higher. Because you don’t just have to make one decision—you’ve got to make five. And if one’s off, the whole manicure’s off. Of course, with high risk comes high reward: these manicures look amazing! It’s an easy way to get the vibe of nail art without doing any fancy fingerwork. Skittles manicures trended all spring and summer, and now that it’s fall and we’re heading into winter, we’re taking them with us. They’re a great way to play with cold weather color palettes your wardrobe and makeup might not be reflecting. And to take the guesswork out of it, we enlisted the help of Miley Cyrus, Tessa Thompson, and Hailey Bieber’s favorite nail artist: Steph Stone. Steph is a big personal fan of the Skittles look and knows how to put together a color palette that’s just right. And when we asked her nicely, she helped us with three versions:
The Cashmere Nudes
“A nude multi mani is one of my favorites of all time,” says Steph, who notes that a lot of times when she’s swatching nudes on set and creates the look by accident, talent asks, “Can we just leave it like this?” It’s the perfect way to dip a toe into the trend, and experiment with an adventurous manicure without investing in nail art.
The palette: Gucci Annabel Rose, Gucci Ellen Blush, Essie Less is Aura, Essie Cold Brew Crew, Chanel Particuliere
The Central Park Reds
“My favorite trick for picking colors for a manicure is taking a cue from nature,” says Steph. This one was inspired by the changing leaves—even when they all fall off, this palette totally works. “Alternating between dark and light colors really helps your bright colors pop, and further enhances your deeper tones as well.”
The palette: Orosa Star, Chanel Fiction, Essie Cold Brew Crew, Et Tigre Fortune, and Paint Box Like Spice
The Icy Blues
You might think pastel blues are strictly springtime territory. Not the case! You can repurpose them in winter (mixed in with deeper hues) for a festive mani that’s not too obvious. “For this palette,” explains Steph, “I chose to arrange the colors in a gradient to give the look a more subtle effect. If you can’t experience a snowy holiday, wear it on your nails instead!”
The palette: Gucci Winterset Snow, Essie Dye Mentions, Orosa Sky, Essie Wink of Sleep, Chanel Bleu Trompeur
Photos via Steph Stone