Lipstick Masala

The 80s are back. Actually, they’ve been creeping up on us for a while. For over a year now, designers have been incorporating revamped versions of the funky fashions and colors from two decades ago into their runway shows. And now, the designs and accessories have finally filtered down into your local Forever 21 – this time, hopefully, without the awful linebacker shoulder pads (remember Melanie Griffith in Working Girl? *shudder*). Yes, the 80’s are back. But, don’t reach for your Jane Fonda leg warmers just yet. Today’s interpretation of yesterday’s trends is much more subtle, i.e. a wisely chosen clothing piece, accessory or accent rather than an explosion of net, fluorescent prints, and hair spray. If you’re unsure of how to incorporate the look into your daily attire, there is always the option to start small – with your nails.

Neon colors have been popping up in makeup collections, from lipstick to eye shadow, but the most popular beauty trend now and through Summer 09 is bright, flashy nails.

Now, keep in mind, this look is not particularly new. Chanel released a neon nail polish collection the summer of 2008, and Rihanna was seen sporting bold orange nails at the Grammys in 2008. This year, though, more and more celebrities are jumping on the bandwagon. Stars from Kate Beckinsale and Christina Milian to Natalie Portman and the Hills cast are displaying fluorescent shades in bright pink, blue, yellow, orange, green and purple. Even singer M.I.A. reached for the yellow polish at this year’s Grammys – although, you may have been too busy gawking at her stomach bouncing up and down and praying she wouldn’t go into labor on stage as she performed to notice.

If you’re worried that you won’t find the right shade of neon to work for your skin tone – don’t be. This isn’t like finding the perfect red or the perfect pink to complement your coloring. Neon doesn’t really “go” with ANY skin tone. That’s really just the point. It’s a fun look that is meant to be disgusting and hot at the same time. Just remember, if you’re confident enough while wearing it – you will rock the look no matter what your skin tone. And, before you ask, no – your boyfriend/husband is not going to like what you’re wearing. In fact, he will probably hate it. Simply ignore him and have fun with it; this one is all about you.

Because this trend was introduced a while before it became popular, neon nail polishes are everywhere and you won’t have a problem finding one you love or at a price that’s agreeable to you.

Where to buy:

Essie: Along with the other great shades by this brand (they have some fabulous reds if you’re looking), Essie carries the Neon Collection, which is somewhat similar to the Chanel Robertson (further below). Check out Flirty Fuchsia, Funky Limelight, Perky Purple and Punchy Pink for $8, or $17 for a mini pack of all four. (Pictured above).

OPI: Because OPI is readily available at most nail salons around the world, including India and Pakistan, we Desis tend to lean towards this brand more than any other. Good news, OPI has you covered. Check out their Brights Collection at opi.com. For yellow, we recommend the shade “Need Sunglasses?”, for blue, “No Room for the Blues,” and for orange, “In My Back Pocket.” Each retails for between $7-9 depending on the salon you frequent.

Chanel: Much like “Vamp” of the mid 90s and “Black Satin” of more recent years, Chanel’s neon nail polishes were one of the first to hit the market last summer. If you are a fan of Chanel products and have the $$$ to spend, check out the Limited Edition Robertson Collection which consists of four colors in LA Sunrise (yellow), Melrose (pink), Rodeo Drive (purple), and LA Sunset (orange) at $25 a piece. If you cannot find it in stores, the collection is still listed on the Chanel website. The pink and purple shades are sold out, but the yellow and orange are currently in stock. You may also be able to find the unavailable shades on amazon.com and ebay.com.

For those who cannot find any of the recommendations, have no fear – you are bound to find something at your neighborhood drugstore. The brand Milani has a great assortment of neons and lines by Wet’n’Wild, Maybelline and Cover Girl have at least one or two colors in their collections that can pass for neon. Remember, you don’t have to go for a color that was specifically created for this trend – there are plenty of older pinks and oranges available that you can choose to pass for neon-ish.

Many of you reading this probably think you will never adopt this trend because you’re too conservative or too old or just don’t want to take a chance. First of all, who says you’re too old? I know I will be rocking black nail polish even when I’m 60. Second, if you’re conservative then that’s all the more reason to buy a neon nail polish. It’s spring – time for fun and adventure! Finally, if you want to try out these colors but are scared of disapproving looks from your boss, then just apply the color to your toes where he won’t (hopefully) be looking. There’s always a solution!

However, if you are absolutely adamant about staying away from the more glaring shades, you can still be a part of this trend by sticking to subtler versions of these colors. Find an orange with a red tinge or a fuchsia with a little more purple. A personal favorite of mine from the OPI collection is “Charged Up Cherry,” (pictured left) a hot pink color with traces of fluorescent faint enough that you can wear it out in public without attracting too much attention and at the same time bright enough that it will bring a smile to your face.

If you’re planning on going for the neon look or are already sporting it, you must make sure your nails look neat and not chipped and that the fluorescent has not faded– remember, we’re going for disgustingly hot, not nasty. So, remember to use a base and top coat. Also, many Desis have the inclination to keep their finger and toe nails extremely long. I’m not sure what the reason for this is, it’s very unhygienic, but I’ll get into it in another post. A few lines just aren’t enough to do this topic justice. I digress. The best way to carry off neon shades is to keep your nails short and trimmed, I don’t care how hot you think Rihanna’s acrylics look. Neon nails are scary enough – neon claws will just frighten the bejeebus out of your coworkers.