Nail art in Toronto, much like any other recycled fashion trend, has had its ups and downs, and ups once again. We've come a long way since the henna-stained nails of ancient India, and have seen everything from press-on fake nails in the '80s, to gel acrylics hardened by ultra-violet light. Only recently have the many different methods to spruce up your nails become widely and readily available, making the recurring trend bigger and better than ever before.

Perhaps it's the much-anticipated seasonal releases of Chanel nail polish collections that shot nail art into the mainstream. It might be thanks to flashy celebrities rocking impractically long, decorated talons, influencing fans to do the same. It could also be the millions of Tumblr and Instagram users posting and re-posting images of elaborately decked-out fingers. Whatever the case, nail art seems to be here to stay - whether we're talking Shellac manicures, 3D Japanese motifs or do-it-yourself bacon polish.

Here in Toronto, the trend seems to be flourishing, with several new "nail bars" opening up all over the city, and an increase in complementary mini-manis offered at local events. If you're down to join in on the fun of nail art, here are a few salons worth checking out:

Wow Wow Nails
More like a retail space for anything and everything to do with Konad stamping, Wow Wow Nails' two locations (4675 Steeles Ave E Unit 1E11, and 802B Dundas St W) are perfect for a low-key design with intricate wow-factor (or should I say wow-wow-factor?) details. The clerks will be happy to give a demo on how to apply the product, but if you lack a steady hand (as I do), the nail technicians are available by appointment only.

Pinky's Nails
Pinky's Nails (688 Richmond St) is the new kid on the block, having only been open for about a month. They're the first studio to ever focus solely on funky nail art, and they seem to already be taking the city by storm - quickly becoming the go-to place for sparkly gradients, tiny cat portraits, 3D flower appliques, and whatever else you can think of.

Zen Nails & Spa
Zen Nails & Spa (1969 Avenue Rd) doesn't fall short of its name. Every customer appreciates the zen ambiance of the salon and its affordable price points. They offer everything from flawless Shellac nails ($35) to airbrushed designs ($10) to sculptural 3D embellishment (from $10), and they aim for perfection every single time.

Jolie Beauty Bar
Jolie Beauty Bar is located just down the street from Zen Nails. With an award-winning and magazine-cover-landing team of technicians, it's no doubt Jolie Beauty Bar (1896 Avenue Rd) is endorsing the art of funky nails in addition to their other beauty services. Plus, they charge $3 for art per nail, so if you only want one nail dazzled in wild patterns (for whatever reason), they're down to do that for you!

BONUS

Celebrate the hockey strike by creating your very own Toronto Maple Leaf nail art. Watch the video below for a tutorial how to do it.

Lead photo from Wah Nails