The Nail Trends To Try Before Hot Girl Summer Is Over
Are you 'Little Miss Never Knows What Design to Get'? It’s okay if you are because this is a safe space. We know that coming up with your next nail design can be as complicated as the Instagram algorithm these days. For me, getting my nails done and conjuring up a design has been a form of self-care and expression. With folks like Marsai Martin creating press-on nails that more than get the job done, the burden isn’t as heavy and there are some nail techs out here redefining what nail design means.
Take the talented and sought-after Tolani Rosa, a nail tech at The Laq Lab in Brooklyn. She uses her love for creation to curate the most beautiful nails you’ll ever see. Lucky for us, we got the chance to sit down with her to talk about nail design trends that we must try before summer slips away from us. "Mix [and] match nails would be number one on my list of trends right now," she tells xoNecole. "The girls are getting into having different designs on each finger which transcends all seasons depending on the colors used. Because the summer is the perfect season for fun nails, I’d encourage women to try it before fall.”
Courtesy of Tolani Rosa
When it comes to shapes, Tolani says the almond nail shape is by far the shape of the season, making it the top-tier shape for summer. “A few years ago I’d say it was a coffin [nail shape] but a lot of clients have been changing over. I feel like almond elongates the look of anyone’s fingers as well as its versatility in allowing you to choose a rounded almond or more pointy almond.”
And she’s spot on because during my visit to The Laq Lab she slayed a colorful, almond set for me. It’s one of those sets that have you looking at your hands every five seconds and using your fingers to point at unnecessary things non-stop.
Keep reading for more nail design trends Tolani recommends we try before the summer ends:
Colorful French Tip Manicures
Courtesy of Tolani Rosa
You deserve some creativity at your fingertips. And what better way to get creative than with the classic French tip style? The colorful French tip manicure is a favorite because of its nod to a never-fail manicure classic that offers a modern take that dares to be more daring and bold.
Bright Colors
Courtesy of Tolani Rosa
Speaking of color, the time is now for colors that are as bright as our futures. Tap into your inner child by playing with electric neons and soft pastels. Take your dip into the bright side of the nail color pool another step further by incorporating another summer nail trend. You can experiment with color while experimenting with mixing and matching, like the nails pictured above.
3D Nail Art
Courtesy of Tolani Rosa
It’s time to take your nails to another dimension by embracing more than vibrant colors. One of this summer's most beloved ways to rock an eclectic manicure is by adding a pop of dimension with 3D additions. From nipple rings to acrylic architecture, there is a slew of ways to make your nails elementally unique.
The Perfect Nude
Courtesy of Tolani Rosa
If despite all the colors, you're still in search of the perfect nude nails, there's a place for that in this summer's nail trends as well. A Black girl and her quest to find the right nude could be a best-selling mystery novel. But once you find it, you’re golden.
Which trend are you ready to copy and paste before September 22 when hot girl summer ends?
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Featured image courtesy of Tolani Rosa
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Joce Blake is a womanist who loves fashion, Beyonce and Hot Cheetos. The sophistiratchet enthusiast is based in Brooklyn, NY but has southern belle roots as she was born and raised in Memphis, TN. Keep up with her on Instagram @joce_blake and on Twitter @SaraJessicaBee.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
Courtesy
Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy