The Moon Manicure

Forget about that hot designer purse -- it's now all about the “it” nail polish effect. The moon manicure has been spotted everywhere from Rihanna's “Rude Boy” video to Christian Dior fashion ads to numerous fashion shows, including Ruffian and Chanel. The latest digit design does require practice, but it's nothing a committed beauty gal can't handle. Here’s how to do your own at home.

Step 1: Apply a base coat.

Step 2: Use the nail tape from a French manicure kit, but place the tape further down the nail bed, closer to the cuticle.

Step 3: Take a small brush out of a mini polish, soak the brush in remover to get rid of the color (it’s even easier if you use a mini top-coat brush) and then use it instead of the brush that comes with the color you intend to use. Paint below the tape to the cuticle. Allow it to dry for a few minutes, and then follow with a second coat. You can do a moon mani with any two colors, but traditionally, it works best with the lighter one closer to your cuticles. Two classic nail-color combinations: Red and gold, or black and gold.

Step 4: Clean your small brush again in remover, get rid of the tape and paint with your darker shade from the edge of the light color to the free edge of the nail. Do a second coat of that shade as well.

Step 5: Finish with a glossy top coat and allow it to dry.