The nail polishes of this year’s Fall lines are focusing on the exact opposite of what the Summer brought. Gone are the glossy neon nails ladies everywhere have been sporting since the weather turned warm. This new season is all about being dull – dull colors, dull nails, and perhaps dull moods?

Remember when Vicky Beckham (yes, I like to call her Vicky because we’re tight like that) was photographed wearing slate gray nail polish and we all cringed? Well, we better all get used to it, because gray is back in a big way this Fall, along with navy blues, blacks, and deep plums. And with an emphasis on color rather than on shine, most of these shades are being released with a matte finish. Even light shades such as winter white are lackluster. And for those of you who love turning to reds as the air becomes more crisp, some lines like Zoya have even created a polish just for you.

So, if you’re a fan of the matte look, or you want to try it on just for laughs, there are a couple of ways you can get in on the fun.

1)    Several companies are releasing purely matte lines for the Fall. Here are some of the most popular:

-       OPI is revamping some of its older shades to be resold without their shiny finish, including Alpine Snow, Russian Navy, and You Don’t Know Jacques, complete list on OPI.com (these shades will also still be available in their glossy versions). Range from $7-9.

-       The company, Zoya, is marketing their MatteVelvet Collection of shades of gray and red. Best of all – Zoya’s polishes are formaldehyde free. Zoya.com $6.

-       Knockout Cosmetics (koknockout.com) has a nice range of matte polishes. The price is a little steep at $19, but they have a wondrous turquoise that I’m dying to get my hands on.

-       The original matte nail polish – ManGlaze. Yes, you heard me – ManGlaze, like men really need to start wearing polish now? $6.66 online and $13 in stores. Manglaze.com

2)    If you don’t want to waste $$$ on multiple polishes and want to use the ones you already own, just spring for a mattifying topcoat. Many companies like Knockout are making mattifiers, but the most popular one currently on the market is “Matte About You” by Essie $10, check it out at Essie.com.

-       The website has an interactive demo that allows you to see what certain colors look like matte and gives ideas on how to get creative with the matte top coat.

-       This topcoat can be used with any polish to create a matte finish.

3)    Some people have suggested nail polish remover mattifies your nails. Either quickly dip your nails into a cupful of polish remover or lightly stroke on a little remover with a paintbrush (try to avoid using a makeup brush, you don’t want acetone remnants on your face). I haven’t personally tried this method; it will take some patience, and definitely several tries to apply it without removing the color. It may just be easier to go for the Essie.

So, what do you think, ladies? Is this matte fad worth a try, or will you be sticking to your trusty shine and color? Personally, I think I’ll be giving it a go with the Vicky Beckham gray.

Sound off with your thoughts in the Comments section below.

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.

I love painting my nails blue. And black. And red – oh what I wouldn’t do for the perfect red. What I don’t love are the stains left behind when I remove the polish from my fingers and toes, and from the messages received this week from Lipstick Masala readers, this appears to be a universal issue. There was a time I almost even considered giving up my beloved reds. It seemed no matter how much remover I used I was still left with a tint on my nail, or even worse, a faint yellow color from keeping my nail polish on for too long. In order to hide the damage, I would apply even more polish, only making matters worse – it was a vicious cycle. I decided to research some remedies for this issue, and I am happy to report that I am once again able to wear whatever deeply pigmented nail polish I wish.

So why, after scrubbing your nails with acetone, does polish refuse to completely come off? And, why do your nails turn yellow?

There are a few reasons:

- If you’ve noticed, some of your nail polishes cause worse staining than others. This is because certain formulas contain chemicals like formaldehyde that react with the protein in your nails.

- The higher quality your nail polish, the harder it will be to remove – this is because richer pigments and elements are used that make the polish stay on longer.

- Your nails are porous, which allows the pigment to seep through and stain the nail.

- Lack of oxygen to your nails causes discoloration. The more polish you use, the more your nails will grab color and turn yellow.

(Note: If you notice you have chronic yellow nails with or without extended nail polish use, you may want to get consult a doctor, as it could be a fungal infection, nutritional deficiency, or other medical problem).

Here is a quick breakdown of methods to combat the problem of staining that have worked for most ladies:

- The most common prevention method: be sure to apply a clear base coat – this forms a barrier between your nail and the colored nail polish. OPI makes a great formaldehyde free one. If you can’t find one where you live, use any clear polish – it will prevent your nails from turning red, pink, black etc.

- Cut a lemon and squeeze into a bowl. Rub the pulpy inside of the skin around your fingertips and place them into the bowl for a few minutes. Lemon is a bleaching agent, and is natural! Apply olive oil to your cuticles after, as lemon can be drying.

- Soak nails in hydrogen peroxide and scrub with a toothbrush. You can also scrub with a whitening toothpaste if this is not enough.

- Some women use comet, ajax or oxy clean powder with a little water and a toothbrush – I feel this is too harsh so prefer not to go this route, but if you’re desperate it’s another option

- Sally Hansen also makes a couple of clear polishes aimed at fighting yellow nails and restoring natural color.

-  For ladies in the U.S. your local Sally’s beauty supply carries a product called Bubble White that reportedly does the trick the first time. Check out the link HERE.

One method I do NOT support – some ladies have the inclination to remove nail stains by using a nail buffer, or even worse, an emery board! Although they use this method in many salons, I highly recommend not getting into the habit, as it will greatly weaken your nails. Once in a while is okay, but it would be better to try the other remedies first. The more you buff your nails, the more prone they will be to breaking – and they will not just break from the top, you will find splits in the middle of your nail. Trust me, not fun.

If you have tried these methods with no results and/or have found other remedies that work even better please share them with us!