Gorgeous and unexpected examples to celebrate the traditional holiday with the tip of your hands

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With just a few days left in the year of the Goat, everyone is getting into a mood for transformation. It’s prime time for changing up your hairstyle, getting a revitalising spa treatment or deciding what to wear to welcome the new year. With all the festivities and makeovers going on, it’s easy to forget one part of your body: Your nails.

While sporting red nails is de rigueur for this traditional holiday, there is a myriad of designs that brings creativity as well as good fortune. We spoke to experts at The Nail Library in Hong Kong and and Paintbox in New York City to find out the trending manicures for the year of the Fire Monkey. Click on for a dose for serious nail art inspiration.


Sheer and Stylish

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More and more customers are requesting a combination of transparent polish with solids, according to Eleanor Langston, founder of Paintbox Nails. Unexpected negative space designs are a playful way to make any single-color manicure look more modern, and they tend grow out inconspicuously.


Foil Game Strong

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Layered metallic sheets is an emerging nail art trend to pay attention to. The results are edgy yet not overly flashy. It’s a subtle way to play with Chinese New Year colours like gold and red without being predictable, as seen in this Firecracker manicure from Paintbox.


Go Gradient

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To nobody’s surprise, customers generally favour a sparkly look for the festive season — but they are tweaking the amount of glitter used. Belle Ng, manager at The Nail Library, cites the gradation look as a big hit this year. Those feeling less adventurous can opt for ombre nails in classic red colours similar to this Dark & Stormy style from Paintbox Nails.


 Lunar Eclipse

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There’s hardly a more opportune time to get a half-moon manicure than Chinese New Year — we’re counting down on the Lunar calendar, after all. The reverse half-moon manicure gives an unexpected and whimsical twist on the look. Contrasting colours and textures — like a metallic with a solid — pack an extra punch.


Have Fun

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“The New Year is a perfect time to ‘monkey around’ with your nails,” says Ng. “That's the great thing about getting a manicure now — there are no boundaries and you can let your creative juices flow.” Whether it’s adhesive gold studs or a monkey motif, don’t be afraid to experiment. The world is at your fingertips — literally.