Cloud nails are trending and it’s all about the dreamy details

If ever a manicure trend was designed with daydreamers in mind, it has to be cloud nails. While it's not exactly new, the cloud nails trend is taking over TikTok, where it’s picked up over 39.8 million views and is igniting a new craze for this manicure. Not to mention, Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2026: Cloud Dancer.

Now Jennifer Lopez’s favourite celebrity manicurist, Tom Bachik, has added a video to his Instagram of cloudy sky nails, which look like miniature works of art. And just like that, he has crystallised it as spring’s must-try manicure.

Tom is renowned for his intricate nail art designs. Selena Gomez’s recent ‘70s wallpaper’ flower nails is just one example, where hand-drawn yellow, purple and blue petals graced her black nails and looked so realistic they could have been pressed flowers. He's also a master at different iterations of lipgloss nails.

But in his most recent post, Tom shows how he uses a pin-thin brush to draw tiny clouds onto milky nude, oval-shaped nails. He reserves the intricate details for the middle two fingers only, while the other nails bear a lilac and pink metallic marbled finish reminiscent of an early morning sunrise.

As you can see from Tom’s work, cloud nails look exactly as they sound. Inspired by the skies above at different times of day, whimsical puffs of cotton candy clouds sit atop nude and blue bases, while others skew less literal and look not unlike a Monet watercolour at dusk.

It’s also probably not escaped your attention that cloud nails are an offspring of cloud skin, which is having a moment right now and involves using fluffy and airy makeup textures. The vibe is the same for many of the cloud manicures: soft-focus, ethereal and a little hazy.

Not to mention, the timing is ideal, too. Not only are we on a promise of sunny skies ahead, but the cloud nails trend also fits neatly into the current zeitgeist for dreamy escapism and our fixation with manifesting, sleep journaling and meditation.

If you did want to try a DIY cloud nail manicure, it thankfully doesn't require precise lines. However, depending on the level of detail and your nail art skills, these sky-scapes are probably best left to your favourite technician to recreate.

Keep scrolling for the best ways to wear cloud nails and the mood board to take to your next nail appointment…

Classic cloud nails

Cute clouds on a baby blue sky backdrop, so peaceful.

Minimal cloud nails

Not quite ready for a full cloud manicure? This spring-ready sky blue set is accessorised with a minimal cloud nail on each hand.

Artistic cloud nails

It’s hard to believe that this detailed, illustrative manicure hasn’t come straight out of a painting. Hang it in the Louvre!

Serene cloud nails

This serene scape is brought to life with perfect pastel shades, exactly what you want for a spring manicure.

Dreamy cloud nails

More on the cartoony side, the additional crashing waves as an alternative to French tips really help bring this set to life.

Foggy cloud nails

You’ll recognise these coconut milk nails from last summer, but they work just as well as cloud nails. Imagine a misty morning, the horizon obscured by hazy white clouds.

Cat-eye cloud nails

The glassy cat-eye finish works as a mesmerising backdrop for this cloud manicure. The sparkling, eye-catching backdrop is the perfect way to elevate the design.

Dark cloudy nails

While this colourway is not the first you’d think of for cloud nails, this dark and stormy manicure in midnight blue is just as eye-catching.

Sparkly cloud nails

Bling up your cloud nails with glitter and rhinestones in lieu of sunshine.

‘Cloudy-French’ nails

Nail artist Betina Goldstein reimagines the cloud manicure as delicate French tips – a creative twist on the cloudy French nail trend.

Rainbow cloud nails

We love the ingenious use of chrome to give these cloud nails a rainbow effect.

Marble cloud nails

Almost like a puff of fluffy candy floss, the pastel shades of this cloud manicure melt together to give a marble effect.

Pastel cloud nails

The perfect pastel shades to evoke a beautiful horizon as the sun sets.

Nude cloud nails

A twist on the classic cloud nail design, reimagined in nude for minimal mani lovers.

Glitter cloud nails

Maximalist nail lovers, this one is for you. Alongside rhinestone charms, these cloud nails are complimented by shiny silver glitter.

Constellation cloud nails

Paired with elegant ombre rainbow French tips, this cloud manicure is complete with cute constellations for an out-of-this-world vibe.

For more from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR’s Acting Associate Beauty Director, follow her on @fiembleton.