It's been a busy beauty week for Meghan Markle. Firstly, the Duchess of Sussex hotfooted it to London tomeet with her longtime hairdresser George Northwood (the man behind her messy wedding updo), and then on Thursday, she rebelled against the royal beauty rules she was once subject to.
Eagle-eyed royal watchers (and beauty fans alike) spotted that the Duchess had painted her nails a pretty baby pink colour – a departure from the nude nails that royal ladies are reportedly required to wear.
Meghan Markle's interesting move
This is an interesting move from a royal perspective; since Meghan and Harry are now considered private citizens, they're not subject to royal rules anymore. Theirouting on Thursday did feel remarkably like a royal engagement, however, with the couple greeting the crowds who were gathered to see them in Nottingham.
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With this in mind, Meghan's decision to (rightfully) throw royal protocol out of the window, painting her nails in a non-royally approved colour, is a fun way to make a statement that the Sussexes are doing things on their own terms.
And royal musings aside, baby pink is a statement in itself in the beauty world. This time of year tends to call for burgundy and brown nails (you'd think Meghan would be all over a deep wine-coloured nail, given it's one of her favourite colours to wear) so her decision to go baby pink was likely a considered one…
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The power of pink
No longer regarded as soft and delicate, part of pink’s power lies in its range, according to HELLO!'s Head of Beauty Cassie Steer, who wrote about the shade earlier this year.
From barely-there blush to electric fuchsia, the nuances of pink speak volumes. "Pink has long been coded as soft, sweet and feminine, but that’s precisely what makes it powerful," says Anita Bhagwandas, journalist and author of ‘Ugly: Why the world became beauty-obsessed and how to break free’.
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"When reclaimed on your own terms, it stops being decorative and starts becoming disruptive – a colour that can signal defiance, visibility and control rather than compliance."
Colour Psychology Expert and author of ‘The Little Book Of Colour: How To Use The Psychology Of Colour To Transform Your Life’ £14.99, Karen Haller, agrees: "For a long time, many women avoided pale pinks because they didn’t want to be seen as ‘girlie’ or unserious,
"We're seeing a renewed appreciation for softer pinks,” explains Karen. “They’re no longer seen as weak, but as a confident expression of compassion, nurturing, and self-care. I’ve often said, if hugs were a colour, they’d be a soft pink.”
You can rely on us to keep an eye on Meghan's nails at upcoming events.