Dasara to Diwali: planning festive nails

October and November are our busiest months. Between Dasara, Deepavali and the weddings that follow, every evening slot is full, so festive nails need a bit more planning than a regular set.

Book early. Our evening and weekend slots for the week before Deepavali usually fill by the first week of October. If you want extensions or detailed art, which take 90 minutes or more, book at least two weeks ahead. Weekday mornings stay quieter, even in festival week.

Time your set for three to five days before the main day. That gives the gel time to settle and any small lifting to show, and our free fix within five days covers you if something chips while you clean, cook or make rangoli. Doing nails the day before leaves no margin. If you have back-to-back functions, a gel set lasts about three weeks, so one appointment can cover Deepavali and a wedding the following week.

For colours, think about what you will wear. Deep reds, maroons and wine shades sit well with silk saris in gold zari. Soft gold chrome or a nude with a gold accent nail suits pastel lehengas and cream silks. Emerald and deep teal look striking with Kanchipuram silks in contrast colours. If you will be applying mehendi, tell your technician, so she avoids shades that clash with the orange-brown stain and finishes with an extra top coat. Lighting diyas and handling sparklers can heat the nail; a medium length is more practical than long extensions for a festival night.