If you try this “old fashioned” nail trend right now, you will be ahead of everyone else come up with 35 great ideas

My best friend consistently has the coolest nails. Every time she goes home to Toronto, she has a new set put on, and when she returns to New York, I spend 10 minutes ogling her nails. When she came back from her most recent trip, she was sporting a set of long, translucent tips that were see-through in the light and made her fingers look a mile long.

I’ve always been a bit of a manicure traditionalist (I stick to classic red nearly every time I do my nails), but once I saw my friend’s jelly manicure, I fell in love. I had to try this nail trend for myself. I had a bottle of Butter London’s Jelly Preserve Strengthening Treatment ($18) on hand, so I painted on a few coats. After I saw the results, I immediately beelined to Amazon to buy every shade because this trend will be on heavy rotation for a while.

Jelly Manicure

PHOTO:

@KTBEROHN

Jelly Manicure

PHOTO:

@KTBEROHN

Jelly nails aren’t a new idea—they’ve been popping up for years. Jelly polish looks like stained glass on your fingertips. It is slightly see-through and can come in any color. Since they’re glass-like, they make a great base for any and all nail designs, including jewels. You can have a set put on at the salon as my friend did, but they’re also incredibly easy to achieve at home. Below, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite jelly looks that I will be re-creating myself and the polishes to match—happy glazing!

#1: Grapfruit Jelly

Coral Jelly Nails

I set out to re-create this photo, and this is the polish I reached for. This jelly polish is bright and buildable and doubles as a strengthening treatment for your nails.

#2: Rhubarb Jelly

Pink Jelly Nails

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Favorite

For a more subtle take on pink, you can build this polish up.

#3: Green Apple Jelly

Green Jelly Nails

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Butter London’s Jelly Preserve also comes in a delectable shade of green.

#4: Raspberry Jelly

Red Jelly Nails

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This raspberry-colored jelly polish is so pretty.

#5: Lavender Flower Jelly

Purple Jelly Nails

Lavender jelly nails are subtle while still being unique.

#6: Orange Marmalade

Orange Jelly Nails

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For a more reserved take on jellied orange.

#7: Watermelon Jelly

Hot Pink Jelly Nails

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We think Harry Styles would approve of this sweet jelly shade.

#8: Cherry Jelly

Red Jelly Nails

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@IMARNINAILS

True-red jelly polishes are few and far between. (Trust me—I just spent two hours scouring the internet to find one for you.) Hear me out—I found a hack to create the dreamiest crystalline cherry red. Mix together two parts clear with one part red (see the mixing bowl below) and use a nail brush to paint it onto nails. It’s best to choose nail polishes from the same brand here since their formulas will be more compatible by design.