One thing I often notice when I’m spending time with other burlesque performers backstage at shows, is how lovely their nails are. Some wear nail extensions, but just as many have beautiful, well-maintained natural nails.
Many ladies involved in the burlesque and vintage/retro scenes wear their nails with the “Half Moon Manicure” – a la Dita Von Teese. This manicure involves painting the nails whilst leaving the half moon at the base of the nail free of polish. In the nineteen 20s and 30s, leaving the half moon and tip of the nail unpainted was popular, and even though by the late 30s and 40s ladies were starting to paint the whole nail, leaving the tips unpainted increases the lifespan of the manicure – a definite advantage in wartime with supplies of cosmetics very low. The traditional way to achieve this would have been freehand, but nowadays, if you’re not confident of a steady hand, you can use French tip stickers.
Most of the ladies I meet seem to favour red nail polish, but even back in the 30s and 40s, other colours were available – it’s 2011, go wild! Having said that, my favourite vintage inspired way to wear my nails is red, with white tips.
In all the years I worked as a Beauty Therapist, I wasn’t once asked to give a client a vintage style manicure! – but here are the steps I use myself, for a simple, natural nail manicure:
1) File nails into the desired shape. Always file slowly, in one direction only, rather than using a “see-saw” motion, which generates heat and can cause nail layers to separate. Many modern ladies like to wear their nails squared off, but for a 40s/50s look, opt for oval or almond-shaped, or even pointed;
2) Soak the tips of your fingers in a small bowl of warm soapy water for a few minutes;
4) Wipe over nails with a cotton wool ball soaked in nail varnish remover;
5) Paint on a strengthening base coat and allow to dry;
6) If you’d like your tips and half moons to contrast to your main colour, apply a coat of contrasting colour at this point and allow to dry completely. I used
e.l.f Nail Polish in White. If you’d like natural tips and half moons, skip this step. Gently roll your nail polish bottles in your hands (never shake – it adds bubbles!);
7) Apply French tip guide stickers to the tips of your nails for polish-free-tips, and/or the base of the nail for a half moon manicure;
9) Before the colour is completely dry, carefully remove the stickers;
10) Apply a clear top coat and allow your manicure to completely dry.
… And voila! A lovely, vintage inspired manicure!
Anna x
e.l.f. products used in this photograph:
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