The red manicure is ubiquitous. So, why did Kate Middleton's nails turn heads? The reason can be traced to Queen Elizabeth II, who kept her nails au naturel with lashings of Essie's neutral Ballet Slippers (the softest shade of pink).
While Middleton has donned red toe polish on several occasions, she's never worn dark colors on her hands, choosing to go with a clear or nude manicure, or in many cases, no polish at all.
Fast forward nearly five years and Middleton was spotted in a bold red polish while attending the royals' annual Easter Sunday church service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor. So, cue the tabloid outrage, right?
Perhaps the royal's red nail choice was a subtle nod to her late mother-in-law Princess Diana, another royal who had a penchant for playful nails. Most notably, the People's Princess debuted a fiery red manicure as she stepped put in her iconic 'revenge dress' back in June 1994.
A Guide to Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle's Royal Nail Polish Looks. Contrary to popular belief, there aren't any official rules to styling a manicure. Let's dispel a royal protocol rumor right off the bat: Duchesses Kate and Meghan are free to wear any shade of nail polish.
Bright hues are not banned for the royals, but nude colors are a more practical choice for official engagements. Although Princess Kate has occasionally glammed up her toes with a bright pedicure, her bold manicure moment marked a fashion first in public.
Whilst the Princess didn't break any rules as such, the stand-out hue could be considered as poor etiquette, as William Hanson, an expert in royal etiquette, told The Sun that 'hot red and bright pink, for example, are not correct, especially for official occasions and particularly during mourning'.
Diana's love of a bright, bold red mani was well-documented, particularly in the latter phase of her time in the royal family.
The idea is simple: If you wear red nail polish, you're more likely to receive attention from potential suitors. In her video, Delmonte said that every time she has red nails, a guy comments on the color. She was confused at first — until it hit her.
Many are quick to presume that having a colourful manicure is against royal protocol, but it turns out Kate's natural nails are actually just down to her preferences. Get exclusive celebrity stories and fabulous photoshoots straight to your inbox with OK!'s daily newsletter.
Red nails are a classic look, they've been a classic look for decades. Not as classy as a basic French manicure, but they're still a classic. IF they're done right. How do you choose which nail polish to use?
Is Red Nail Polish a Professional Shade? If you are wondering if red nail polish is a professional shade, the answer is a resounding yes. There is often the question of whether red nail polish is classy, but it has proven time and time again to be an elegant choice.
Let's just assume, in that case, that being a busy working mum, Kate accidentally runs up minor injuries on a regular basis - just like anyone else. The only difference is, she can't leave her scratches and scabs out for the world to see, hence the large stock of Elastoplast products they evidently keep at the Palace.
Think bronzed limbs, a glossier take on make-up and perhaps even a colour change to revive tired hair. Just ask the Princess of Wales Kate Middleton, who's been quietly transitioning her signature rich cocoa lengths into something a touch lighter within the past few weeks with subtle highlights.
CND Shellac - Cashmere Wrap
According to London salon DryBy London via Vogue, Meghan wore this shade as toenail polish for her wedding.
Like the Queen, Kate's favourite hue is Royal blue, making up 21 per cent of her colour choices. Yes, she also likes a neutral look, wearing white and cream 16 per cent of the time and grey another 16 per cent of the time.
Red is associated with strong emotions, strength, power, courage, and danger. Red nails are a clear signal a woman is ready to attract a partner.”
One study found that men were more likely to rate a woman as attractive if she was wearing red nail polish. The study also found that men were more likely to approach a woman who was wearing red nail polish. Another study found that men were more likely to remember a woman's name if she was wearing red nail polish.
Nail design: These are the colours men like
A study by the University of Zurich has shown that when it comes to women's clothing, men prefer red and black above all. Red conveys direct attraction and is associated with sensuality and erotic interest.
Princess Kate reportedly loves Essie's Allure Nail Polish, and even wore the shade on her wedding day, according to Town & Country. The neutral hue is perfect for every day wear — and when you're a royal, you need a color that is as elegant as it is understated.
Of course, the Duchess herself is more partial to a neutral nail colour - like the Queen and Duchesses of Cambridge and Sussex, she tends to stick to a sheer nude polish. One of her favourites is thought to be Essie's Marshmallow, unlike Her Majesty and Kate, who reportedly prefer the slightly pinker Ballet Slippers.
Ballet Slippers was the queen's favorite nail polish
The nail polish sported by Queen Elizabeth on many grand occasions throughout three decades was Ballet Slippers, a pale pink nail polish that you can get from Essie for only $10.
Meghan wore CND Shellac nail polish on her wedding day
On her fingernails one layer of Unmasked – a pretty nude shade - was painted, with two coats of Negligee – a pale sheer polish - on top.
Besides, Harry is not the only redhead in his family. His cousin, Princess Beatrice, also has red hair. Her parents are Charles' brother, the Duke of York, and Sarah Ferguson. Other members of the royal family have also historically had red hair, including King George V, who was Queen Elizabeth II's grandfather.
Revlon Cherries-a-la-Mode Nail Polish.