Managing to create SALON-QUALITY MANICURES at home is an almost lifelong quest of ours. We caught up with Rimmel Global Nail Expert ADAM SLEE to talk his best nail hacks, the powers of cuticle oil and CELEBRITY INFLUENCE in the nail world …
Although he’s tended to the talons of Kate Moss and Georgia May Jagger, Adam Slee wasn’t always keen to work in the beauty industry: “Initially my mum had a nail salon and she wanted some help but I refused because if my friends were to see me I would have been in big trouble. But she pushed and pushed and I did it one day and actually really enjoyed it.”
1. Having worked through 23 years of nail trends, Adam’s prediction for this this season might surprise you: “I’d actually say dark nail colours for the spring/summer, which is obviously the complete opposite of what people think. There is a lot of dark blues, navy blues, greys, alongside traditional brights and pinks.”
2. If those shades seem a little too young for you, Adam suggests: “Go for something warmer and softer, nothing too hard. A warm beige with pinky undertones, not too much blue or even a red, instead go for something with a bit of a shimmer in it.”
3. Adam’s biggest nail tip doesn’t concern how you apply colour, but the health of your nails before they ever get coated in polish: “Best to keep your nails short that way they will be prone to less damage and always moisturise the cuticles with nail or cuticle oil. Cuticle oil should be used every day as it really helps your nails and skin stay strong and healthy. It’s good to always keep a clear coat on as well to help strengthen them a little bit.”
4. When it comes to celebrities, each of Adam’s clients definitely have their own distinct style: “On a fashion shoot it is usually what the photographer or stylist wants as opposed to what they (the celebrity) want. It also depends on who it is, Rita Ora is always up for having loads of different colours so is Georgia Jagger. Whereas someone like Kate Moss would be much more conservative and slightly cooler.”
5. Having worked on shoots for Vogue, Theory and Chanel, Adam insists that the perfect natural nail is actually harder to achieve than a louder pattern: “It may sound strange but what I like is often the most natural looking nails. Clean, fresh, always very chic, they always look like they are effortless when they are in the picture but actually that takes more work sometimes to get them to look like that than it does painting a coloured nail.”
6. What, in his 25 years as a manicurist has Adam noticed has changed for clients? “People are a lot more open now to different colours. People are much more adventurous than they were five years ago because they see so much more on social media and television.”
Image via The Beauty Vine
The Rimmel Super Gel range, which is activated by natural rather than UV light, hits counters in March, priced at €6.95 for Super Gel Nail Polish, €6.95 for Super Gel Top Coat, or €9.95 for the Super Gel Duo Pack.
Hannah Popham
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