The French manicure may still be popular among women at work. But for society ladies, and celebrities who are always ready to experiment, the growing fad is nail art. When it comes to international celebrities, we have Fergie, Gwen Stefani, Lindsay Lohan and even Paris Hilton flashing patterned nails galore.
So great is its popularity that salons concentrating only on beautifying your nails have sprung up almost on every street. Professionals are even experimenting with mediums other than nail varnish, such as acrylic, glitter acrylic and the likes.

Then there's Japanese nail art that involves the application of 3D flowers, stars, moons and other intricate designs.

So when you do get into the mood of beautifying your nails, just pop in at one of these nail salons, select a design from their collection and in less than 30 minutes, your nails will get a total makeover.

It doesn't matter if you have bitten your nails right down to the point of non-existence. Much of nail art involves painting on fake nails and then fitting them on to your fingers. Nail art looks best on long box nails, which just aren't feasible and very inconvenient for daily chores.
Of course if you do not want to spend time or money at a salon, then fake nails in a variety of designs are readily available in the market, costing about Rs 100 to Rs 500.

And if you do prefer your own nails, opt for box nails or round nails grown really long.

For a casual look, red, pink, yellow, orange and blue are fovourites -- the brighter the better.
Don't worry about the bottle colour looking tacky. When you adorn your nails with a design that complements your skin shade, the overall look will be quite appropriate for a casual funky attitude.

If you desire a formal boardroom look, you could select a base colour that matches your skin tone. A French manicure with floral designs is in vogue now. Instead of the usual white tip, though, you could opt for different colours, and if you keep the nail art designs delicate, they'll add a chic look to your formal outfit.

Just remember to coordinate the colour of your outfit with your nails.

The nail art trend has matured to allow each to wear their own personality. The latest invention is faces of Bollywood stars on your nails.
If you are not a van of movie stars, you could opt for checks, spots, most intricately painted floral designs, or even 3D stars, diamond studs, crystal studs or your own initials.

You may even pierce your nails and wear nail rings. Keep your nails looking as real as you can, the current trend demands it.

If you are creating the art work on your own, do not forget to seal the design with a top coat of transparent nail varnish.