Nailed it!

The Wave beauty team puts the latest nail varnish colours and trends to the test

1 Revlon nail polish, Sweet Tart £6.49 from www.boots.com
“The application brush was thin but so easy to use. Two coats later my new-look nails were sealed and stayed put for a long time, making this fantastic value for money. The colours in this range are fantastic – check out Perfect Coral or Fuchsia Fever to go one shade bolder!”

2 Nails in Easy Breezy, £6, Make up at Topshop, www.topshop.co.uk
“This nail varnish comes in a fun bottle, with polka dots adorning the top. The colour is bright and funky, perfect for summer. The fairly thick brush applicator gave great coverage and this shade only needed one coat. There was also minimal chipping which I was surprised at – as a self confessed nail varnish addict, I’m used to my polish chipping very quickly.”

3 Estee Lauder pure color nail lacquer, Chaos, £14.50, www.esteelauder.co.uk
“This is a gorgeous metallic gold, which needed several coats. As it’s quite thin it could well be used to glitz up an old colour by combining coats of the two. It brushed on easily with no gloop and lasted for ages, combining well with a summer tan.”

4 Estee Lauder pure color nail lacquer, Fiery Hot, £14.50, www.esteelauder.co.uk
“The brush looked really thin and I thought it would take quite a few strokes to paint each nail, and the varnish itself seemed quite watery. However, I was surprised as in only a few strokes my nail was coated evenly. One coat gave quite a pale, almost sheer look, but after the second coat the colour was more intense. It dried a lot quicker than other brands I’ve used, and the smell wasn’t as strong either.”

5 MAC Nail Lacquer Collection, £10, www.maccosmetics.co.uk
“Just released in August, this new range should be on every girl’s beauty wish list. I love MAC’s first permanent Nail Lacquer collection – it certainly delivers with its choice of 31 colours and three finishes. Our pick is the frosted finish of Soirée – a sparkly light bronze gold shade – perfect for the summer to autumn transition.”

6 Nars Nail Polish, Trouville, £14, www.narscosmetics.co.uk
“I love the shade, which is a bright and fun seashell pink. It does need a good two coats but it’s easy to brush on and leaves a manicure-perfect glossy finish without having to use a top coat. However, without said top coat, it only lasts a few days before chipping.”