. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nails - Stiletto Style Get to thepoint Turn up the heat this Summer with on-trend Stilettos.
Whether extreme and sharp, or paired back to extended Almond shapes, longer nail lengths are now high fashion, in particular the super-pointed Stiletto.
“Stiletto nails are flattering and make hands appear even more feminine and elegant while elongating the fingers,” says Audrey Heffernan, OPI Trainer for Hennessy Hair & Beauty Supplies.
The trend for Stilettos follows the nail shapes seen on the likes of Jessie J, Beyoncé and Nicole Scherzinger.
“The technical shape of a Stiletto requires the length of the extension to be two and a half times the length of the nail bed or it is classed as an almond nail,” stresses Kerry Moores, Educator for Crystal Nails. “The balance point (stress area) is in the centre back of the nail plate area with a strong C-curve to the extended free edge. The smile lines can be rounded or V- shape but should be a minimum length of a third of the overall extension length for balance.”
Over recent years, the Stiletto has evolved to a more manageable length where style meets practicality, sometimes referred to as a Soft or Mini Stiletto, which has more point than a traditional Almond shape.
Super sculptors
As when creating any enhancement, each tech will have their preferred technique. “Stiletto nails can be hard to master depending on how you choose to do them. You can build them on a form or you can use a tip,” Audrey explains. “When building on a form you must make the shape yourself. Be sure you make it to a point and not to have it too rounded at the stop. The Stiletto is all about the point at the free edge of the nail.”
She continues: “You also need to have a lot of length in the nail to create stiletto. This look doesn’t work well on a short nail.
Stiletto nails by Dorota Palicka. 61
When building a long nail, make sure you build a lot of strength in the stress area of the nail (just under the smile line). This is the part of the nail that takes most of the pressure of the nail and if you catch them or bang them, it’s this part of the nail that suffers the most.”
TransForm by OPI Self-Adhesive Nail Forms are ideal for sculpting Stiletto nails, and enable you to create a proper C-curve (
hennessyhb.ie)
Crystal Nails’ Stiletto Nail Forms (
crystalnailsireland.com) are an Xtreme length, specially developed for creating Stiletto nails. The wings can be easily matched to create the perfect straight shape, making Stiletto sculpting even faster.
Hand & Nail Harmony Perfetto Nail Forms (
creativeacademy.ie) provide consistent C- curves and have imprinted guidelines for consistent length and shapes. The locking tabs provide a controlled fit on all finger sizes.
Astonishing Nails (
asunailandbeauty.ie) has developed new nail forms suitable for sculpting Stilettos. “These forms are produced with a special glue; the nail form will not loosen during application,” explains Asu Nail & Beauty Supplies’ Suzanne Alcock Thompson. “And with the adding
of special Stiletto lines, Stiletto nails are very easily created. They are suitable for most nail types and can be used with both acrylics and gel.”
Top tips
If you choose to work with tips, use those that are created specifically for extended lengths. “Using a tip is a little easier because the shape is already there for you,” says Audrey.
With a bit of clever shaping and a good pinching technique, the OPI structure tip is versatile enough to hold the Stiletto shape, and as they come in three colours (natural, white and clear), are great for design work (
hennessyhb.ie). Alternatively, The Edge offer Stiletto Clear and French White Tips with extreme points (
hennessyhb.ie).
Nail Perfect tips are developed from the best virgin plastics, as a result of which they will not split. These tips have no well – which means you have control over where the tip is placed – and a natural smile line (
asunailandbeauty.ie).
Take a look at our selection of stunning Stilettos created by super-talented IB readers…
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