NYFW Tip Alert: Mix Your Own Nail Polish

Tips for mixing up a custom nail polish shade from New York Fashion Week. Each day of New York Fashion Week the Yahoo Beauty editors will be sharing one life-changing beauty tip from the makeup artists, hair stylists, nail artists, and models we meet backstage.

Backstage at the Theroy presentation, Rica Romain, a manicurist for Red Carpet Manicure mixed up a custom shade for models tips. Using the shades White Hot (a true opaque white), Almost Famous (a milky grey), and Nervous with Anticipation (a sheer pink), she created a sheer, bright taupe that coordinated with the earthy color palette of the spring/summer collection. When it comes to mixing up a custom shade of your own, you don’t need a chemistry degree, just some clear top coat.

The custom shade mixed up for the Theory presentation. (Photo: RCM)

“Start with a base of a clear coat,” says Romain. “The clear coat helps with stretching the color. If you wanted to create a grey for example, it’s going to be best to add white and black to a clear coat.” She recommends using a clear top coat instead of a base coat for mixing polish, since base coats tend to be a bit stickier and a top coat will leave you with extra shine.

Of course, no manicure is complete without cuticle oil. Not only does it help keep your nails hydrated, but it also adheres to the polish and acts as a protective layer — perfect for a quick, on-the-go manicure. “It will help your manicure dry quicker, but it will also act as a barrier for nicks and bumps,” she says. “If you’re at your desk doing a quick manicure during a break, by the time that break is over, you’ll be able to hit the keys.”

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