In fashion today, what you put on your fingernails has become just as important as what you wear. Nail polish is becoming a new way to express yourself; it’s as if the shade on your fingertips signals your mood. What colors are the ones that are in this season? And isn’t there another shape you can request when your manicurist asks you “round or square?”

For answers to these questions and more, BettyConfidential turned to Jin Soon Choi, the queen of nails. As the owner of Jin Soon Natural Hand & Foot Spas in New York, Jin Soon has an extensive knowledge of nail care — from grooming, to painting, to maintenance — she turns the average mani-pedi into an artform. If you’ve seen a manicure you’ve liked on a model, it’s likely the work of Jin Soon. She’s been the manicurist of choice for print and television ads, Fashion Week runway shows, magazine editorials, and has countless celebrity clients.

And now she’s collaborated with M.A.C. Cosmetics to create her own nail polish collection. It’s a collection of six polishes that includes fall’s hottest colors: dark muted purple, brown, green and blue, plus new hues we can’t wait to try out. We asked Jin Soon about her new collection, and how the average woman can sport beautiful, trendy nails without weekly trips to the salon.

What color do you wear on your nails?
I can’t wear any color on my nails because I work on photo shoots constantly; which means that I use my hands a lot. I keep my nails short and instead of wearing a color, I groom my nails. I love choosing colors for my clients, so I try out some for them on my nails first, to see if they like my selections.

How did you choose the colors in your new nail polish collection?
I always wanted to create experimental editorial colors that ordinary people could easily adopt — colors that are not just for models. The colors are perfect for fall and winter because they express the essence of these seasons, but not in a predictable or traditional way. Each color in the collection has a subtle cream shine, which looks very finished and sophisticated.