I have been seeing the same nail technician since 2024 and she and I have some mutual understandings. I keep the chatter to a minimum, know that its hybrid almond-oval shape looks best on my hands, and tip cash on Venmo. But the most important and sacred bond we share is knowing that OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark is perfect. of The perfect nail polish shade. When I requested it during our first appointment two years ago, she said, “That’s my favorite.” We’ve been together ever since.
Unfortunately for my nail bed, she is not visiting family this month so I had to make an appointment with another technician last week. She almost fell off her chair when I sat down and asked her to sand off the bright red part of her gel manicure and replace it with a deep purple. “it is winter “Color,” she said, her eyes wide and mouth agape. Just like when I asked him to stab me with a file.
And I was convinced, dear reader. Lincoln Park After Dark, released in 2005, is one of OPI’s most iconic colors, and I don’t like to use that term lightly. It’s been a staple in my beauty drawer ever since my nails were bitten to pieces during after-school field hockey practice when I was a teenager. When the nail peeled off to reveal a bare nail, I applied a layer of dark purple without removing the area underneath completely. Now, was this a good idea? Probably not. But I’ll give my 15-year-old self a pass.
As an adult, I have regular bi-weekly appointments and no longer play organized sports, but my nails are in much better condition, and that shade has been a constant throughout my life, lasting longer than many friendships and relationships. I arrived on my first day of work. allure And I’m still wearing it right now as I type this (my nail technician actually honored my request) In mid-July, we experienced what can only be described as a truly grotesque heatwave.
magazines and other media, allure— It has long been reported that the shades of colors we wear should change with the seasons. For the warmer months, switch from dark denim to white linens, tap into pastel blush, and add strips of sparkling highlights in your hair. Usually, the color of the nails also follows this. Society rules dictate that we switch to bright, sparkly hues when temperatures rise above 65 degrees, so nails often switch from navy to sky blue, burgundy to cherry red, moss green to matcha.
Maybe it’s my Aquarius rising, but I don’t like rules. Rejecting the way things should be and putting my own spin on them is my preferred method of operation. So instead of abandoning my disgusting nail polish, I tend to double down on it. Deep shades tickle something in my spirit that pale neutrals never do. When my heart tells me to choose dark midnight options that are closer to goth, I don’t limit myself to status quo aesthetic choices.
However, it’s not just because I feel a slight personality complex. I have long been attached to the idea that dark nail polish looks best. The lighter shade seems to fade into my pale pinkish skin, making my fingers look corpse-like and dull. But deep, shadowy shades like Essie’s Caviar Bar and Olive & June’s It’s Actually Dark Green create high contrast in my hands and are deeply calming. Sure, I try milky whites and bright reds during the summer, but I still tend to go back and forth between new and tried-and-true.
Source: Allure – www.allure.com
