Although this year has kicked off with an upswing of bolder, more in-your-face trends (mob wife and loud luxury, anyone?) for those of you who prefer a more laid back, minimalist approach we’ve got just the manicure to go with it.
Rochelle Humes ’ latest nail design is the perfect pick for anyone who likes to keep things simple when it comes to their manis, with the presenter’s cloudy mani giving a chic, understated update to the classic neutral nail.
A step up from a simple clear gloss and a more modern look than a classic French manicure, the pearly semi-sheer finish keeps your nails looking clean and natural whilst still having a little something extra about them.
In a reel shared to her Instagram over the weekend, Rochelle shows the entire manicure process from start to finish, including the prep needed to create the tidy, well-cared-for base that makes a more minimalist nail look so successful.
The design, which was done by Rochelle’s go-to manicurist Harriet Westmoreland, starts by shaping the presenter’s nails into her go-to rounded square shape before pushing back and trimming her cuticles.
Next, Harriet applies several coats of BIAB gel nail polish in a pink-toned nude shade that matches Rochelle’s natural nailbed colour. Although Harriet hasn’t shared exactly which shade she used, she’s known for frequently using the Baby BIAB Gel from The Gel Bottle, £16.99 here, on many of her manicures.
However, if you don’t have a UV lamp at home and prefer a regular nail varnish, you can find a similar shade with either Dior’s Vernis in shade Nude Look, £26 here, or essie’s Not Just a Pretty Face, £7.19 here (was £8.99).
To keep the semi-sheer look that makes Rochelle’s mani so elegant, you only need to apply one to two very thin coats – emphasis on the thin! – before finishing off with a clear glossy top coat to prevent chipping.
To complete Rochelle’s mani, Harriet gave her hands a gentle scrub and exfoliate to keep them soft and hydrated. If you want to give yourself the full salon treatment at home, this is the perfect extra step to keep your hands soft and smooth, and you can use a scrub like L’Occitane’s One Minute Hand Scrub, £9 here, which leaves your hands feeling silky soft and nourished in just 60 seconds.
Round it off with some extra moisture, particularly around your nails. Using an oil like Superdrug’s Nail & Cuticle Oil, £4.99 here, keeps your nails from drying out and becoming brittle, which in turn makes them prone to snapping or splitting, and after spending so much time on your mani, you’re going to want to keep it looking good as long as possible!