Tis the season to start thinking about festive style! Social commitments abound and Instagram posts are at an all-time high. With a few expert tips, prepare your festive look to feel confident and polished and avoid looking like a Christmas ornament as we head into the silly season.

Celebrity nail artist Oli Antunes shares her advice on making your nails pop this season. 

What is the best way to apply glitter nail polishes?

As usual, start with clean nails, gently push back cuticles, shape and buff, wipe nail plate with alcohol and ALWAYS apply base coat - especially important with glitter.  Otherwise, removal is difficult.  The traditional way of applying polish is the quickest but if you have extra time and are feeling creative and bold, you can use a makeup sponge to gently dab the glitter polish sparingly onto the nails. Glitter is relentless for mess, so if you are a messy polisher use student pva glue to cover your cuticles, let dry and then go for your life with the glitter.  Peel off once your polish is dry.

Do you have any favourite festive shades this season?

My all time Christmas favourite is still the classic Mavala red in Los Angeles. As our Christmas is in summer, I can never go past a great emerald green. I am loving the glitters from Mavala this season especially in Gold Cosmic and Black Cosmic.  You can really play with these, add light coats on top of other colours or wear them on their own for a festive mood.

More of us are wanting longer nails at the moment. What are your best tips for caring for longer nails?

A good quality cuticle oil, every day, every night - live and breathe it.  It gives the nails flexibility and nourishment, therefore less chance of breaking.  Also shaping them lightly and regularly to prevent minor snags and cracks. Reapply your top coat every second day to protect longer nails and prevent chipping. 

If we want standout festive nails but hold the glitter, what would you suggest?

There are so many other ways to go with your nails during the festive season – red is always a classic and there of plenty of shades of green to play with, as well as rich royal blues and purples. Chrome nails offer another alternative and gold always shines on nails, either a subtle golden sheen or more muted bronze. Crystals, gems and rhinestones are another way to decorate your nails for the festive season and they really in vogue now. It’s an easy trend to adopt, simply stick to your favourite shade and carefully glue a stone or sparkle onto each nail for added glitz and glamour.

Pic credit: Janice Jade