Nail art is decoration of nails using motifs from clothes, jewels or crystals or even paint. It may be an in-thing right now, but interestingly, nail art has been in existence for more than 5000 years!

Decorating nails was a common fashion practice among the ancient Egyptian civilisation. The Chinese also followed it since ancient times.

Prints and Paints

Nowadays nail artists commonly use acrylic and clear paints to create designs on nails. Acrylic paints are colourful, while clear paints are colourless, like water. You can choose the print or design you want.

It will be painted on your nails with these paints. Blossom suggests, "the best brand to go for as far as acrylic or clear paints are concerned is the international brand OPI. This brand is not commonly available in India, so you have to pick a bottle on your shopping trip to Dubai or order it from abroad."

You can also buy acrylic paints and clear paints from brands such as Maybelline or Lakme from any cosmetic shop.

You can get a nail paint for as less as Rs 75 and can go up to as high as Rs 500.

The hottest nail accessories right now are rings and crystals - these are attached to the nails with a small machine, available at the nail artist's salon.