Is a trend really a trend if there’s only one way to wear it? Judging by the french manicures we’ve seen lately, the answer is no. The classic style has seen a resurgence, and the momentum has only strengthened into the new year. Whether it’s a baby french manicure, an invisible french manicure, or a twist on the style with chrome tips, there are plenty of different iterations for you to obsess over. However, there’s one specific style that will make you take a closer look: the glass french manicure.
The nail art has been worn by countless celebrities on red carpets, and now, it’s all over TikTok. It’s essentially a combination of the popular jelly manicure and floating french: long, transparent nails with emphasized tips.
Ahead, experts break down everything to know about the trending glass manicure, like what nail shape it works best on and how to DIY the look at home.
– Additional reporting by Carrie Carrollo
What Is a Glass French Manicure?
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Put simply, the look is a french manicure with a translucent tip. The style is achieved using clear tips like Gel-X or builder gel on top of a natural nail. The base color of the nail can vary, but the tip needs to be clear in order to give the illusion of glass.
The trend is most often seen on long nails with either an almond shape or squared-off tip. “The extended length of the nails provides a generous base to showcase the clear glass tips, allowing the transparent effect to be more prominent,” Rianna Basurto, director of marketing at Bellacures, tells POPSUGAR.
How to Get a Glass French Manicure
“This look can be difficult to DIY at home since it requires extending the natural nail with a clear sculpting gel,” Mazz Hanna, CEO of Nailing Hollywood, says. Because of this, it’s recommended you try out the trend with the help of a professional. When visiting a salon, it’s best to arrive with inspiration photos in hand, and you’ll also want to call and make sure the salon you’re visiting is familiar with either gel-X or builder gel.
If you’re familiar with Gel-X or builder gel and you want to try it out for yourself, you’ll want to start by cutting down your natural nails as short as possible in order to prevent your natural nail tips from showing under the transparent tips. “Having your natural nails showing at all underneath the clear tips will interfere with the glass look,” Hanna says.
From there, you can add a base color or any nail art to your natural nail. Next, either extend your nails with a clear sculpting gel like the ORLY Builder in a Bottle or add a tiny bit of gel to the back of a Gel-X tip and cure it onto your natural nail. You’ll want to seal everything with a glossy topcoat or a clear gel polish to really give the nail a glass feel.
Glass Manicure Inspiration
If you’re ready to take the glass manicure trend for a spin, keep scrolling for some inspiration you can bring with you to your next nail appointment.
