The Internet nearly broke when Hailey Bieber launched ‘glazed donut’ nails. Now TikTok's latest obsession is inspired by another favourite snack to beat the 3pm slump: ‘Diet Coke nails’.
Foodie references are big news in beauty these days, from gourmand scents that conjure up cake and sweets, to multiple iterations of coffee-inspired makeup shades. So what exactly are ‘Diet Coke nails’?
There isn't a single right answer – and that's kind of the fun of it. ‘Diet Coke nails’ have been bubbling away for a while now with some content creators going all out with intricate nail art that literally mimics a can of Diet Coke – think a metallic chrome silver base, swirls of red and the brand logo. Other looks are more subtle, featuring either cola-brown, carbonated cat-eye finishes or flashes of silver, red accents and what looks like beads of sweat on an ice cold can.
Either way, ‘Diet Coke nails’ are guaranteed to give you the same rush as the caffeinated drink they're named after.
How to create ‘Diet Coke nails’ at home
Your essential nail kit, depending on the desired ‘Diet Coke nail’ effect:
Shimmery ‘Diet Coke nails’
The simplest way to recreate the carbonated effect of ‘Diet Coke nails’ is to layer a clear glitter polish over a high-shine jelly black or brown polish.
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Cat-eye ‘Diet Coke nails’
Apply a dark brown or black polish over the nail bed. If you cure your nails at home, you could try using a magnetic polish alongside a nail magnet to manipulate the metal particles and create a fizzy cat-eye effect.
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Aura Diet Coke nails
Aura nails feature a burst of diffused colour starting from the centre of your nail. To create a similar effect without an airbrush machine, apply two coats of dark polish. Then take a dotting tool and fluffy makeup brush and blend a lighter shade of brown from the centre of your nail outwards. Finish with a shimmery top coat for that signature ‘Diet Coke nails’ look.
Diet Coke nail art
Paint on a silver polish for the base and then dip a pin-thin brush into a red nail polish to draw the logo and a dotting tool to create the bubbles.
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