Journal

Guides, colour and technique from the studio.

A man's hand laid flat on dark grey paper in hard light, with short, clean, bare natural nails, no polish, visible skin texture and hair on the knuckles

Nails for Men: The Men's Manicure, Step by Step

Short, even nails and neat cuticles in fifteen minutes every two weeks. The men's manicure step by step, with nothing painted on the nails.

Two bare feet side by side on ivory paper, short toenails with a sheer pink base and a fine white French tip on all ten nails

French Tip Toes: How to Do a French Pedicure with Gel, Plus 10 Ideas

How to draw a fine, even French tip on small toenails with gel, how thick the line should be, and 10 French pedicure ideas from micro to gold.

A hand with almond nails in a silver holographic glitter gel flashing rainbow colours, with scattered pink, yellow, blue and gold paper confetti on warm ivory paper

Carnival Nails: 14 Bright Ideas with Glitter, Colour and Shine

Glitter, neon, jewel cat eyes and Mardi Gras gold: 14 carnival nail ideas with exact gel steps, and how to make them last through every party.

Short almond nails in glossy, saturated neon pink on a hand laid flat on white paper in hard sunlight with a sharp shadow

Neon Nails: 12 Bright Ideas and How to Make Neon Colours Pop

Why neon glows, the white layer that makes it brighter, and twelve neon nail ideas in gel, from full neon pink to tiny dots and micro French tips.

A hand holding a fan of twelve glossy gel swatch tips on clear sticks over warm ivory paper, running from milky white and silver through pinks, lavender, butter yellow, turquoise and royal blue to terracotta brown, forest green, gold and bronze

Nails by Month: The Nail Colours and Designs to Wear from January t…

Which nail colour to wear in January, May or November: gel shades, a quick design and the occasion for every month of the year.

A hand with five long almond nails in clear gel with fine gold glitter sealed inside, dense at the free edge and fading towards the cuticle, on warm ivory paper

Encapsulated Nails: How to Seal Glitter, Dried Flowers and Foil in …

Glitter, dried flowers and foil sealed inside builder gel under a smooth, glossy surface: the method, the mistakes to avoid and ten designs to recreate.

One hand laid flat on warm ivory paper, with medium almond nails in a glossy fade from sheer pink at the cuticle to milky white at the tip and no visible line

Baby Boomer Nails: What They Are, How to Do Them with Gel, and 12 I…

The pink to milky white fade with no line: how it differs from a French, three gel methods for a smooth blend, and 12 ideas for short, long, autumn and winter nails.

Almond nails in a smooth, warm gold gel on a hand in hard side light, with a long shadow on dark grey paper

Gold Nails: 15 Ideas, from Gold French Tips to Black and Gold

Which gold suits your skin, how to paint an even metallic finish and a fine gold line, and 15 gold nail ideas from French tips to black and gold.

A hand lying flat on warm grey paper in hard light, with five medium almond nails in a deep bordeaux with a velvety matte finish and no shine

Matte Nails: How to Get a Matte Finish with Gel, Plus 14 Matte Nail…

Any gel colour can be made matte with one top coat. Learn how to apply it, keep it from going shiny, and try 14 matte nail ideas, from bordeaux to velvet cat eye.

Two hands flat on warm ivory paper in hard light, one with short round nails and one with slightly longer, more tapered oval nails, all in a glossy sheer nude

Oval and Round Nails: How to File Them, Who They Suit, and 12 Desig…

Round stays short and practical, while oval lengthens the fingers. How to choose between them, file them evenly and keep them strong, with 12 gel designs.

Back of a hand laid flat on warm ivory paper in hard sunlight, five short rounded nails in sheer milky pink, each with one tiny red heart near the cuticle

Heart Nails: 14 Heart Nail Designs and How to Paint a Heart with Gel

Three ways to paint a heart with gel, how to fix and seal it, and 14 heart nail designs, from one hidden heart to a raised heart in builder gel.

A hand with short natural nails in a glossy sheer nude gel, resting on ivory paper beside the soft shadow of a leaf

Non-Toxic Gel Polish: What the Label Really Means and What to Check

"Non-toxic" has no legal definition for nail products. Learn what each label word is worth, what to check on a bottle and why application matters as much as the formula.

A hand with long coffin-shaped nails (tapered sides, flat squared tip) in a glossy milky nude, in hard light on warm ivory paper

Coffin Nails: 14 Ballerina Nail Designs and How to Shape Them

Tapered sides, a flat tip and room for nail art: how to file coffin nails at home, who they suit and 14 gel designs, from milky nude and French tips to bordeaux and cat eye.

A woman's hands with short, neat nails in a sheer milky pink resting on a closed laptop on a pale desk, white shirt cuffs visible

Office Nails: 12 Professional Nail Ideas for Work, from Nude to Mic…

Twelve office nail ideas that stay neat for weeks, from a clear rubber base to a micro French, with the gel shade and how to apply it for each.

A hand with long stiletto nails filed to a sharp point, in a glossy deep bordeaux, in hard light on cool grey paper

Stiletto Nails: 12 Designs, How to Shape Them and Who They Suit

Twelve stiletto nail designs with the gels and steps for each, plus who the shape suits, how to file the point and how to live with it day to day.

A hand with short natural nails strengthened by a glossy sheer milky pink builder gel overlay, a soft even curve on each nail, on ivory paper

BIAB Nails: What Builder in a Bottle Is, How It Works and What to B…

What BIAB nails are, who they suit, how the overlay is applied and removed, and which builder gel, prep and top coat to buy for a set that lasts to the infill.

Two bare, clean natural hands with short unpainted nails resting on pale linen, in soft daylight

White Spots on Nails, Ridges and Dark Lines: What They Mean and Wha…

White spots usually grow out and fine ridges are common, but a new dark line needs a dermatologist. What each nail mark means, and when gel can go over it.

A hand with short almond nails painted glossy red, white and navy blue in alternation, one navy nail with a small white star, on a white linen cloth

4th of July Nails: 14 Red, White and Blue Ideas to Do with Gel

Fourteen red, white and blue ideas in gel, from a tricolour French tip to stars, stripes and fireworks, with the exact steps and how to make them last through the pool and the beach.