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Actress Zooey Deschanel arrives at the 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on September 22, 2013 in Los Angeles.Jeffrey Mayer

In any informed discussion about red-carpet nails, it's hard to avoid encountering the name Tom Bachik. The L.A.-based manicurist is the man responsible for styling the talons of a host of celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez, Anne Hathaway, Beyoncé, Gwen Stefani and, recently, Zooey Deschanel, whose mod-inspired black-andwhite manicure was widely tweeted about following this year's Emmys.

A former SoCal skateboarder and graphic artist, Bachik started doing nails when the recession hit in the mid-1990s, hoping to capitalize on the notion that the beauty industry flourishes in times of economic restraint. (As he puts it, "the whole starving artist thing wasn't working anymore.") Sure enough, he landed artist representation and the famous clients followed, thanks to assignments with American fashion magazines and design houses such as Gucci, Versace and Chanel. Bachik recently chatted with Globe Style about the most fetching nail colours for fall and winter, his top at-home manicure tips and the most famous nail biter in music. (You won't be surprised when you hear who it is.)

What nail colours stand out this season?

Right now, we're seeing a lot of full-coverage nudes. They're modern and elegant and they elongate the fingers. Deep, rich tones such as navy blue, greige and purple are also popular and we're seeing more matte finishes on nails. When it comes to texture, the look is upscale and 3-D, with chunky diamond sparkles, rhinestone embellishments and glitter for the holidays.

Is nail art susceptible to trends?

Yes and no. It's a very personal statement, but the combinations of colours do tend to be seasonal and [nail art] does follow what's happening in fashion.

Is there ever an occasion when sporting nail art just isn't appropriate?

No – it all depends on personality and what a person feels they can get away with. I could definitely see someone on the red carpet sporting a Valentino gown and a happy face on her thumb. I think that would be amazing.

Can women of any age experiment with nail art?

Yes. The crazy-loud stuff is what all the young girls are rocking, but more refined and elegant [looks work] as a woman gets older.

Of all the celebrities you've worked with, who has the best nails?

I'd have to say Jennifer Lopez, because they're long and narrow, which makes them easy to fit tips to, and they look longer even when they're short.

Who has the worst nails?

Oddly enough, models. They show up on set and they haven't had a manicure in weeks, and they admit to picking at them. When we're doing a foot shot or an open-toe shoe, you go to take off the polish [they arrived wearing] and there are four layers of colour piled on the nail. And they're like, "Yeah, I just put another coat overtop" instead of changing the colour. Britney Spears bites her nails – I don't think they're a priority for her. When I worked with her, I had to apply nail enhancements.

What's the worst nail art you've ever seen?

I cringe over the "duckbill" nail, where the cuticle is the thinnest part and it fans out at the tip. It's basically the opposite of what a beautiful nail should be. The nail should compliment the hand and make the fingers look longer, [but the duckbill] makes your hand look big and thick.

Is nail art a legitimate fashion accessory?

Definitely – so if you're going crazy-wild with your nails, you should tone down your jewellery. If a celebrity is wearing a diamond ring on one finger, for instance, I'll do just one accent nail [on the same finger] to bring it all together.

What are your top tips for an impeccable at-home manicure?

Wipe nails clean with nail polish remover before applying colour, and always use a dedicated base coat and top coat. The base is a soft formula meant to adhere to the polish, while the top coat is a hard one that seals and protects the nail; an all-in-one won't be soft or hard enough. And let polish dry between coats, especially before applying the top coat.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

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