Trend to try: Blanking

Spotted on stars and models everywhere! This negativespace mani is the nail look of the season. And it’s easy!

In art, negative space is integral to a balanced composition. And on this season’s runway manicures, it was key to a sophisticated yet stylish effect. “People are over full-on nail art,” explains manicurist Alicia Torello. “This is a cleaner, chicer approach.” Designer Misha Nonoo agrees: “Leaving part of the nail blank gives it a three-dimensional quality.” From dots and stripes to graphic shapes, we bring you the expert tips on how to do blanking, here.

1 GATHER YOUR TOOLS 2 DO A BASE COAT

You’ll need a base coat, top coat, sticky tape and opaque nail colours.

Use a clear base coat, as ridge fillers and tone correctors can turn yellow. Wait for it to dry fully (about five minutes), then apply one piece of tape to each nail, where you want to create a divide or a pattern.

3 PAINT YOUR SHADES

Paint the open area. Your polish should be opaque enough that you only need one coat. Repeat on the rest of your nails on that hand.

4 TAKE OFF THE TAPE

Remove the tiny pieces of tape before the polish is fully dry. “If nail polish dries on the tape, you’ll pull up the design when you remove it,” explains Alicia. “Finish one hand, peel off the tape and let the polish dry, then do your other hand.”

5 ADD YOUR TOP COAT

Once all 10 fingers are painted, give them another five minutes to dry. Finish with a layer of top coat to seal the design in place. “I like to use a glossy finish, but you could apply a matte top coat for more of a Pop Art effect,” suggests Alicia.