rainbows are delightful, but sometimes you just need to dial down the bright a bit. this pastel version is soft and delicate, but just as cheerful.

i noticed that these colours happened to be grouped together in my ever-overflowing nail polish box, and loved the sherbet-inspired combination. i scooped up the different pots of varnish and away i went.

a buttery lemon ice cream by barry m, gorgeous lilac called parma violet from topshop’s increasingly fabulous collection, a perfect mint green – one of my favourites – also from barry m, a sherbet orange called peach me soon by h&m (though that particular shade doesn’t seem to be available online, sorry) and finally the best blue mint by mavala.

see? manicures don’t have to break the bank. while i tend to invest a bit more in my staple polish colours (the nudes, pale pinks, fire engine reds and plums) with shades from opi, essie and leighton denny, for the more trendy brights i am happy to select from more wallet-friendly brands, and i find barry m and topshop’s ranges are particularly good quality.

a question i get asked a lot is how i manage such a clean, smooth finish with my nail polish. the key is painting on multiple thin layers, rather than one thick layer. a big fat gloopy layer of polish will not dry properly, even after hours, and will end up smudged.

allow plenty of excess polish to drip of your brush before apply to the nail and paint a fine covering onto the entire nail bed. leave to dry, which should be by the time you’ve gotten through all ten nails, before applying the next coat. far better to paint on three thin layers, than one fat messy one. this method also helps you to control the colour your shade comes out. do you want a subtle sheer blush, or a matte opaque pastel?

i love this soft and subtle take on a rainbow manicure, it reminds me of ice cream (and we all know how i love ice cream). i’m dying to try the rainbow look with neon shades, and will update you when i do. have you tried any of these styles? send us your pictures!

we’d love to hear from you – tweet us @peanut_buttered or @andreamagrath or you can follow us on facebook here