Top five new ways to nail this season's manicure art trend

The verdict is in: five new trends in nail art have emerged, and with inventive manicures ranging from $30 to $300, there's something for everyone.
'Nails are an accessory now in the same way as jewelry, but a more affordable one,' said Kahlna Barfield, beauty director for InStyle magazine. 'People are being super, super creative with nail art... They're really having fun. Nails are a talking point.'
Rhinestones, 3D designs, textured topcoats and new offerings from fashion royalty have upped the ante on fingertips, and for the DIY-inclined, a simple trip to the drug store and a few rhinestones are all that's required.

Modern art: Five new trends in nail art have emerged, with inventive manicures ranging from $30 to $300. (Pictured: A sculptural fingernail design by Nails By Mei's Miho 'Mei' Kawajiri)

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Musical inspiration: A Nails By Mei fingernail design theme for a Jay Z and Beyonce concert

According to Ms Barfield, $30 to $35 dollars should get you a decent lacquer design from a nail salon; with embellishments, treatments and extensions costing upwards of $250.

'We're seeing so many nail artists emerging and nail art salons that are launching,' she said. 'They're showing up across the country.'
Five trends for nails:
NEW DESIGNERS
Got a thing for those red-soled Christian Louboutins? Lucky for you, the luxury shoe designer has just launched a rich, glossy, nail lacquer in his signature ruby hue.
Priced at a hefty $50, Rouge Louboutin is loaded with pigment that goes on easily, and comes in an eight-inch spiky bottle. Its fierce design is based on the tallest heel he ever came up with, the Ballerina Ultima. Thirty more colors are on the way.
'Obviously the Chanels and the Diors have been doing nail polish forever,' said Ms Barfield. 'But what's great about Louboutin is there are so many women who love his shoes, but might not be able to afford them.

High fashion influence: Christian Louboutin has released Rouge Louboutin, a $50 nail lacquer modeled after the designer's highest stiletto heels

Golden girl: Phillip Lim and his 3.1 Phillip Lim brand have a new nail polish collaboration with Nars

'It's a way of getting a piece of the brand. The bottle is like a piece of art. He wanted it to be something that looked beautiful on a woman's vanity and on her fingers.'
Nails have become a growth market for designers: Phillip Lim and his 3.1 Phillip Lim brand have a new collaboration with Nars. Burberry opened its first beauty store, including polishes, in London's Covent Garden last year. Anna Sui, Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs and Tom Ford are all recent entrants.
Prabal Gurung works with Sally Hansen, and Brit 'it' girl Alexa Chung came up with fabric-inspired finishes for London-based Nails Inc. Her bottles include a cashmere look and heavy glitter options.
FLIP-SIDE MANIS
Pop stars Ciara, Beyonce and Adele have all blinged out the underside of their nails.
'It's kind of like a peekaboo. It's unexpected,' Ms Barfield said. 'The long, almond-shaped nails are really big right now, so they allow enough real estate for you to embellish underneath your nail.
'This is a new twist on nail art, which is such a big trend right now. You don't have to get this done. You can do it yourself at home.'

Peekaboo embellishments: There's also a growing trend for having the underside of your nails blinged out. (Pictured: A glittery 'flip-side mani' design by nail artist Naja Rickette)

Wedding bells: Nails By Mei's elaborate wedding-themed fingernail design makes for the perfect picture

Ms Barfield recommends attaching a small jewel or stud with spray glue, or going for bright colors that complement the front side.
Naja Rickette, a Los Angeles nail artist and consultant whose clients include Miranda Lambert, said flip-sides offer a lot of freedom for texture.
'Glitters and confetti and all kind of stuff are happening on the underside. You can wear a plain color then have fun on the back,' she said.
STILETTO NAILS
Extensions, gels or natural — sharpened tips are in.
'Rihanna's done them. Adele, Fergie. We're seeing it more and more,' reports Ms Barfiled. 'They're buffed at the tips so that's how you keep from hurting yourself. There's no danger.'

This product image released by Naja Rickette shows a western fingernail design by nail artist Naja Rickette. Move over, studded bracelets and chandelier earrings. Right now, it¿s all about nails. Rhinestones, 3-D designs, textured topcoats and new offerings from fashion royalty have upped the ante on fingertips. (AP Photo/Naja Rickette)

Optical illusion: This Nails By Mei manicure combines monochrome simplicity with vibrant rainbows

The look began popping up on red carpets about a year ago and is still going strong,' she added.
Ms Rickette said the stiletto has morphed into a coffin.
'It's like a tapered square that actually looks like the shape of a coffin. It's a really beautiful shape. It elongates most people's fingers,' she remarked
GELS
Ms Barfield considers gels a great option for people who don't want to be in the nail shop once a week, but the removal process, which involves soaking nails in polish remover, can damage nails.
Now, nail companies are making gel-effect topcoats and lacquers in a range of prices that offer a week or more of shine without the hassle. No UV light is needed and they come off easily with regular polish remover.
Sally Hansen's Miracle Gel in Bare Dare and the company's Miracle Gel Top Coat are available at drugstores for $10 each.
NAIL-TO-WALL

Bigger picture: In June, OPI and Ace Hardware teamed up for an exclusive line of Clark and Kensington interior paint colors paired with iconic corresponding OPI nail shades

Color palette: The OPI nail lacquer called Find My Czechbook (pictured) is part of the collaboration

In June, OPI and Ace Hardware teamed up for an exclusive line of Clark and Kensington interior paint colors paired with iconic corresponding OPI nail shades.
Broken into three distinctive color palettes for the dreamer, the romantic and the wild at heart, the nail shades include a whimsical blue called Can't Find My Czechbook and Gargantuan Green Grape.
More colors will be rolled out in 2015 to go with 18 for nails and more than 15 in paint introduced this year.
'To get the full the bang out of it will be next year. It takes time,' said Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, co-founder and artistic director for OPI.

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