This year Pantone announced not one, but two colours of the year – Serenity (above left) and Rose Quartz. Here’s how to nail these trending hues.

Pick your shade:

While blue may not be your usual choice in nail colour, there is a shade to suit everyone, says Amber McIver, owner of Verdo Nails in Auckland. “Deep blues pop against light skintones, whereas pastel hues look great on medium to dark skin.” If you want to stick with pink, McIver recommends peachy tones for medium skins and bright, bold shades for darker skintones. Light skintones can pull off all shade variations.

Make it last:

The ultimate goal is polish that goes the distance. “Preparation is key to reducing lifting and chipping and to ensure a beautiful, smooth finish,” says Auckland-based nail expert Heather Vette. First, shape your nails with a file. Next, “Simply push back and carefully scrape away the cuticle, followed by lightly removing the shine from the nail with a buffer,” says Vette. Finally, remove excess oil and dirt by wiping nails with polish remover before you start to paint.