Outdated and Tasteless: 10 Nail Designs You Should Avoid

A manicure can either be the highlight of a beauty look or irreversibly ruin it. We've compiled an anti-rating of nail designs you should steer clear of in our feature.

A well-groomed and aesthetic appearance consists of many details. Manicure is one of its essential components. However, in the realm of nail art, alongside trends, there are anti-trends that can cheapen even the most refined look. Which nail designs should you forget about if you want your nails to complement any outfit without spoiling the look? We've compiled a list of anti-trends with stylist and makeup artist Marina Gutorova.

Untidy Nails

The most obvious anti-trend that never changes is untidy hands with broken or excessively grown-out nails covered in gel polish applied more than 3 weeks ago. Nails need regular care, and if that's not possible, it's better to temporarily refrain from using gel polish.

Stilettos

A couple of years ago, long, sharply pointed nails fell out of fashion. This shape, often called cat claws or stilettos (a piercing cold weapon of Italian origin with a straight crosspiece and a thin, narrow blade), can easily replace tableware during barbecue season but is highly impractical and unsafe for everyday life, not to mention it looks tasteless.

Complex Decor

Glittering rhinestones, bulky appliqués, spikes, and nail piercing that were so beloved by beauties about 5 years ago are hopelessly outdated today. There's no need to spend time on complex designs. Even if you get a manicure at an expensive salon, such decorations will still look cheap.

Cartoon Characters

If you're over 14, getting a manicure with Winnie the Pooh or Cheburashka isn't recommended. Such characters on nails give the impression of immaturity and visually cheapen your look unless, of course, it's for a themed party. And this type of manicure is more expensive because depicting a recognizable character on each finger is truly an art and mastery.

Trapezoidal Shape

Nails with widened free edges look unaesthetic and even coarse, which doesn't fit with the naturalness and neatness that everyone strives for today. On the plus side, this nail shape resembles flippers and might only speed up your swim in the swimming or sea season (also read: "Square or Oval: How to Choose the Right Nail Shape").

"Ballerina" Shape

Long nails visually resembling ballet pointe shoes with horizontally cut tips are also a nail faux pas. Try to avoid this shape if you want to look impeccable.

Rubbing

Popular today, so completely dismissing it isn't worth it. However, applying iridescent or mirrored coating to all 10 nails in one color isn't recommended either. This is a 100% anti-trend. Find a middle ground. Try combining rubbing with a monochrome color, matte design, and add glitter to nail art if necessary, but without fanaticism.

Lace

About 10 years ago, intricate lace nail art was at the height of its popularity. Fashionistas adorned their long and short nails, trying to emphasize their refinement and femininity. Many brides complemented their look with lace nail art, and often it was truly successful.

However, today, this design trend has passed. Lace now seems dull, intrusive, and morally outdated. Replace these anti-trends in 2022 with concise dots, horizontal and vertical stripes. Such a manicure will definitely meet the current nail agenda.

Classic French Manicure

French is an eternal classic, just like red manicure (also read: "5 Nail Designs That Will Never Go Out of Style"). But it seems that fashionistas are gradually getting tired of it. The white smile line of the nail and the base closest to the natural shade attract less attention. More often, nail artists recommend opting for a French manicure with colored shades, which is also generally not bad. Also in trend today is creatively designed smile lines and French, done in gradient technique.

"Furry" Coating

This design didn't become widespread but has already fallen into the category of anti-trends. The furry coating looks unaesthetic and lacks practicality. So, even if you feel like experimenting and creating an unusual design, choose a different option.

P.S.:

The key to beautiful manicure is well-groomed hands. Therefore, regardless of the season, do not neglect cleansing and moisturizing the skin. Use scrubs, oils, masks, and creams to keep it silky smooth and youthful-looking for a long time.

Try to use gloves when washing dishes by hand, as cleaning agents not only remove grease from dishes but also excessively dry out the skin on your hands. And always remember—simplicity is elegance. The optimal nail length is medium or short, with a non-sharp shape. Moreover, universal design fits best into everyday style.

If you don't want to go with a simple clear coat, choose classic colors. Trendy shades include burgundy, gray, peach, all nude tones, red, black, and even white.