10 Princess Nail Ideas To Try This Season
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4 hours ago
A princess mani gives natural nails the royal treatment
ICYMI: natural nails are in. And the latest mani doing the rounds on TikTok is not only a hit with the internet, but royals too. Here’s how to get the princess nails look at home, plus some inspiration to see you through 2025.
What Are Princess Nails?
‘Princess nails are the latest take on minimal mani trend,’ explains Julita Fagan, a nail artist and educator at 14 Day Mani. ‘Think clean girl manicure, but with an emphasis on sophisticated shaping and natural hues. They’re delicate, dainty and often sheer enough to let some of the natural nail through. A wash of pink or milky pink sheer tones are exactly what you should opt for when jumping onboard this effortless trend.’
And while this look aligns closely with other pared back manicures, its main source of inspiration (you might have guessed by the name) sets it apart. ‘There is certainly no way to coin a term with the word “princess” without the British Royal Family coming to mind,’ confirms Julita. Think Princess Diana’s pearly French tips, Kate Middleton‘s neat polished nails or Meghan Markle‘s glossy, pinky-white manicure. ‘Women of royalty typically wear short, uniform, barely-there nails – and it’s once again becoming a go-to for the royal-at-heart everyday women of the world.’
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in episode 105 of With Love, Meghan. (Courtesy of Netflix © 2024)
But while the royals might be leading the trend, Julita lets us in on a little secret: ‘Princess nails have seemingly grown in popularity only recently, but the truth is they have always been a statement within the nail industry. For many moons, and for many more to come, a clean and polished manicure will hold its rightful spot in the hearts of many. When in doubt, keep it simple.’
How To Ask For Princess Nails In The Salon
The same mantra applies in the salon, says Julita. ‘When requesting princess nails from your nail tech, “my nails but better” is probably the easiest four words to give,’ she says. ‘Paired with a flawless nail preparation technique that leaves your cuticles clean and your skin polished, request the use of gel shades that are subtle and complimentary to your nail bed colour. The combination of the right nail prep and the right colour is all that you will need.’
How To Recreate The Look At Home
If you’re attempting the look at home, Julita recommends opting for a mixture of gel polish and builder gel. ‘After deciding on your colour(s) of choice, apply one layer of your builder gel and cure for the recommended time,’ she instructs. ‘Follow this step with a layer of two of your favourite sheer gel polish to provide an added wash of colour to your nails. Finish with your top coat and voilà – off to the ball you go!’
What Next?
Being a mani that thrives on minimalism, we can’t help but wonder how we might see it evolve over time. ‘A seamless, plain manicure is a potential canvas for whatever one’s heart desires,’ notes Julita. ‘And when it comes to the princess nails trend, I suspect that the evolution of the look will be fairly subtle – but not completely unnoticeable.
‘It will be your chosen top coat that will make all of the difference,’ she adds. ‘Want to elevate your princess manicure with ease? Swap your shiny top coat for a matte one instead. Want a slight bit of glimmer that won’t out-sparkle Cinderella’s glass slipper? Then try a chrome finish that will amplify your manicure with ease and class.’
Mani Inspiration: Princess Nails
1. Natural Princess Nails
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2. Short & Sweet
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3. Squared Off
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4. Cream Gloss
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5. Chrome Finish
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6. Almond Nails
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7. Mirror Glaze
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8. Micro French
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9. Sheer Cover
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10. Pink Tones
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