From the famous nails of Michelle Obama at the Democratic National Convention to the perfectly manicured models at New York Fashion Week, gray has been the trending color for this fall for all of these fabulous fingers.
This seemingly singular color comes in various shades and textures, and some even have a hint of sparkle.
Gel/Shellac. The no-fuss and no-chip manicure offers a convenient solution to obtaining this sleek look of smoky, gray nails. It does require a two-to-three week commitment to the color. In order to ensure that gray is an option at your salon, request the color ahead of time since gel and shellac colors are typically only sold to professionals.
• Michelle Obama's choice was Colour Gloss Vogue, Grey Lilac (artisticnaildesign.com), which is a soak off gel colour and has been the envy of many. Unfortunately it has since sold out, but similar colors remain.
• OPI makes a gorgeous gray called, Nein! Nein! OK Fine! (opi.com) in the gel color as well as regular polish. The color is a darker shade of gray with an almost green tint to it.
• Also, CND (cnd.com) is a shellac, which makes multiple shades of gray that are long lasting and with rich color pigmentation.
Polish. For less of a commitment and more variety, nail polishes from an array of brands offer striking grays from lighter glosses to more dramatic pops of color.
• The sheer quality of Butter London Nail Lacquer's Dodgy Barnett (butterlondon.com, $14) allows for the color to be a topcoat or a light layer of lacquer for a subtler look.
• Essie, Chinchilly (essie.com, $8), is a granite gray that also has a creamy look to it, which makes it a popular choice for nails that want a more neutral shade.
• For a darker look, NARS, Space Odyssey (narscosmetics.com, $18), is full of crisp silvers and has a clean sparkle as it is brushed on as well, which provides an edgier look.
Tips. If the darker shades seem overwhelming, try the color on your toes first to visualize what this trend looks like without committing to it with a manicure.
Also, begin with a lighter shade in the smoky color palette and build up as confidence grows or when the right color has been found. The darkest hue is not always the best choice for each unique skin tone, and finding the perfect match can take a few tries.
While it is important to pick out shades of gray unique to each skin tone and person, do not forget to add the crucial layer of topcoat to seal the color and add an extra shine for a complete look.
Whether seen as a light sheen or a fashion-forward look, the shades are endless with no gray area that this trend complements each individual.
