I have a bit of a thing for nail polish, with my dressing table resembling a shrine to nail bars – but messier. I’ll try any colour from elegant nudes to in-your-face turquoise (my go-to shade in the summer) and have amassed a multi-brand collection counting Nails Inc, Bourjois and Organic Glam as some of my favourites. Today though with Valentine’s day around the corner, I’m focusing exclusively on Ciaté London to explore 3 date-worthy manicures.

Pretty in pink: Ciaté Strawberry Milkshake

If you like to play it safe with your manicure, this is a good place to start. Don’t be put off by the sickly sweet shade name as this pale pink is very wearable and gives a little more punch than a nude. This works best for a day-time date, and I tend to go all out and team with lace detailing and pastel accessories. If you prefer to tone down the kawaii look, opt for a sleek palette of creams, beiges and taupes.

Take it up a notch: Ciaté Mistress

On the other end of the spectrum, no other shade unapologetically says ‘I rule my world’ like a true red. It feels like such a multi-functional colour, taking you from interview to post-work drinks to date night. Beware though, it’s a shade that doesn’t age well: once it starts chipping it’s too obvious to ignore and should be whipped off asap.

The WOW factor: Ciaté Flower Manicure Bada A Boom

OK so this kit can look a bit daunting if you’re not into nail art. The pressed flowers are quite fiddly to place on your wet nail and need to be held down for a few seconds to stick properly. You also need to buff away any excess bits of flower sticking out, but the results are so stunning you may be in danger of spending the date just staring at your nails. Unfortunately this kit is no longer part of Ciaté’s current collection BUT… I’ve managed to find some stock still going at Tesco!

What is your go-to nail colour for a date? Leave a comment below to let me know.