On Instagram she's known as @ManiMelissa, a prolific poster of colourful manicures. In real life, Melissa Forrest is Sally Hansen's nail expert, a role that allows her to stay up to date on breaking trends. On a recent phone call, she chatted with us about spring's most popular nail colours and the trend that isn't slowing down: nail art.

Andrea Karr: What are the hot nail colours for spring?

Melissa Forrest: "Definitely pastels. Spring is all about femininity this year. You can wear pastel during the day and add a black tip [or polka dots or a single black line] at night, and you've got an edgy manicure to wear out."

AK: How do you help your clients select colours?

MF: "As soon as they enter the salon, I take a look at them. I see how they're dressed, how they carry themselves. Do they appear confident? Are they shy and conservative? The first question I ask is, ‘What's your favourite colour?' When a client tells me her favourite colour, it says a lot about her personality."

AK: What makes great nail art?

MF: "Ninety-five percent of nail art is colour combination. It's not really the art that draws people in, it's the colour first. Then they think, ‘Wow, that's a really cool design.'"

AK: How can a beginner nail artist get started?

MF: "Paint the nails a base colour. From there, play with other colours and start using tools [such as dotters or striping brushes]. Just drop polish onto Scotch Tape [that you've laid down to protect your table] and start playing with it." 

Check out our interview with Blake Lively on why she likes to do her own hair and makeup.
                                             

This story was originally titled "Five Minutes With Melissa Forrest, Nail Expert" in the April 2014 issue.             Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue!