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.
PHOTO:
@KTBEROHN
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
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
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For a more subtle take on pink, you can build this polish up.
#3: Green Apple Jelly
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Butter London’s Jelly Preserve also comes in a delectable shade of green.
#4: Raspberry Jelly
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This raspberry-colored jelly polish is so pretty.
#5: Lavender Flower Jelly
Lavender jelly nails are subtle while still being unique.
#6: Orange Marmalade
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For a more reserved take on jellied orange.
#7: Watermelon Jelly
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We think Harry Styles would approve of this sweet jelly shade.
#8: Cherry Jelly
PHOTO:
@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.