Not just nude, but the manicure of the supermodels of the 90s: why natural nails are back in fashion?

Chrome nails, surreal patterns, animal print, watercolor Korean manicure and 3D elements – new trends in nail art appear every season, but what is always popular is nude nails. Like the supermodels of the 90s, the “naked” manicure with a pale pink varnish or without a coating is now more and more recognized among the stars (in general, like all the trends of that time).

Alexa Demi, Barbie Ferreira and Dua Lipa continue to try new complex nail art even in everyday life, while other celebrities return to minimalism and conciseness, choosing nude manicures. These include Kim Kardashian, Gigi and Bella Hadid, Zendaya, Sofia Ricci, Margot Robbie and J. Lo.

Why have natural nails become so popular now, where did the trend of manicure in the style of supermodels of the 90s come from and how can nudes be diversified if the heart still requires paint?

How was the supermodel manicure?

An abundance of mother-of-pearl and sparkle – that’s how we remember zero manicure. “There was no manicure cult in the 90s. The nails were painted with what was on the windows, and this is mainly burgundy, red, beige and, of course, nude. At that time, soles and tops were rarely used: two layers of varnish – and you are done, ”says Naira Davtyan, master of manicure and pedicure at the KRYGINA studio.

In the golden age of supermodels, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer and Kate Moss wore this manicure.

Nude manicure has always been considered basic, but now it has become quite popular after the general popularity of the nineties and has gained a cult following. Tom Bachik “legitimized” the trend and brought it into everyday life – perhaps the most famous manicurist, whose star clients include Jay Lo, Selena Gomez, Margot Robbie and Madeleine Petsch. For the 93rd Academy Awards, she posted a photo of Margot Robbie’s minimalist manicure and signed off on “90s supermodel nude” (English – nude, like a ’90s supermodel). Thus, the natural nail trend got its name.

In post-COVID times, the boom in extension and coverage with gel polish has waned. Some noticed the beauty of home manicure and refused to go to the salon, while others simply could not leave their favorite master, but instead of flashy shades they began to choose nude and naturalness.

“The main desire of 2022 is well-groomed and healthy nails. The same goes for gel polishes: guests are increasingly choosing skin tones,” Naira Davtyan.

How to diversify nude?

There are more skin tones than meets the eye: from translucent pale pink to intense beige. The perfect manicure that literally says “I’ve never tried it but I still look good”.

But if straight nails seem boring to you, they can always be complemented with a design.

“Even in the classics there is room for experimentation. For example, the same jacket can be done differently: choose bright colors or metallic edges instead of a white stripe. Additionally, you can add small patterns in the form of hearts or dots to a monochrome nude,” Naira Davtyan says.