Beauty obsession: The glittery moon manicure

By Jennifer Campbell | December 9th, 2010 | 3:34 pm

Photography by Sabrina Rossi

Even by our own standards, nail frenzy at the FASHION offices has reached a new high with the sudden mania for the half-moon manicure. This polish option, where the curve at the bottom of the nail is painted a different colour, was popular in the 1940s and has seen a resurgence in recent years as a favourite of Dita Von Teese and as a runway staple at shows for Ruffian, Vena Cava, Thakoon and Christian Dior.

Last night, we gathered at Tips Nail Bar (844a Danforth Ave., 416-405-8477) for an office baby shower and were introduced to a take on the moon that incorporates another big nail trend: Glitter.

Once banished to beauty limbo, glitter nail polish has made a comeback. This is thanks in large part to the efforts of manicure maven Deborah Lippmann, whose glitter shades like “Bad Romance,” “Marquee Moon” and “Across the Universe,” which feature shiny sequin-like flakes, would be better described as spangled.

So glitter is acceptable for nails again, and the half-moon treatment is perfect if you’d like to try the trend without going full disco ball. (That being said, if you can’t go full disco ball during the holiday season, when can you?) It’s also fairly easy to play with at home, as glitter polish is somewhat moldable–the talented team at Tips used small paint brushes dipped in acetone to help shape the polish into the perfect moon. (Just don’t use a base coat.) After digging into the polishes, we found a few ways to mix up a glimmery holiday manicure.

Here are our recipes (from top right):

Jennifer Campbell, online editor: The moon is OPI’s “Bring on the Bling,” a gold glitter with multi-coloured flecks, and the nail is done in a Deborah Lippmann dark blue/green shimmer, “Don’t Tell Mama.”

Leah Rumack, features director: The nail is done in “Ski Teal We Drop” with a coat of “Simmer and Shimmer,” on top (both OPI) leaving a slice of the teal.

Rani Sheen, health editor: The nail is OPI’s “Black Cherry Chutney,” a burgundy shimmer, and the moon is done in “Bring on the Bling.” (Rani also did a half-moon on her toes in gold metallic with a gold glitter. It looks awesome.)

Lesa Hannah, beauty director: Lesa did a more subtle moon mani, mixing a silver moon, Deborah Lippmann’s “Stardust,” with Essie’s “Velvet Voyeur.”

Check out our favourite glitter nail polishes»

Join the discussion

http://www.mattifycosmetics.com Jennifer

Love this idea! Will be taking a stab at doing it myself, since my manicurist is booked for the next week. Like the contrast solid color polish with gold glittery moon. Different and fun for the holidays!
http://www.tipsnailbar.ca Leeanne

We had a blast with you all. We muct make this a regular occurance!

Love,
The Girls at TIPS xo
http://auntiefashion.wordpress.com Auntie Fashion

Nice lunulae!

http://auntiefashion.wordpress.com/2010/12/11/expand-your-fashion-vocabulary-54/
beatrice breaker

this is moorree,indeed we must make this a regular occurance’
fashion

bakwas
http://sp4rklingnails.blogspot.com/ Julie

Cool pictures!! I have a nail blog and just posted about my retro brown and gold half moon manicure, check it out here;

http://sp4rklingnails.blogspot.com/2011/04/retro-half-moon.html

I love half moon manicures <3

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