Bright nails are a classic hot-weather theme and we're seeing shiny transparent stains everywhere right now. Call them popsicle nails, they're the missing link between a sheer swipe of polish and a full-on bolt of neon, making them just wild enough for every day.
So what exactly are popsicle nails? Summer’s spin on lipgloss nails, popsicle nails have the same ultra-glossy finish and, much like popsicle lip stains, the juicy finish is the perfect complement to tanned, summer skin.
For further proof, just look at Selena Gomez’s blood orange shade, shown off on an almond-shaped nail and set against a dreamy background of pool and palm trees.
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How to wear popsicle nails
Popsicle nails channel the same sheered-out see-through finish as ’90s jelly nails, which currently have over 380 million views on TikTok, but they involve thinner coats of polish so you don’t get that dense Jello-like texture.
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It's also easy to find popsicle nail inspiration to work on any length, although ombre styles that resemble a Rocket Lolly are probably best left to your manicurist.
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To achieve the transparent finish, opt for one or two coats of a sheer nail polish such as the Butter London Jelly Preserve Strengthening Treatment in Strawberry Rhubarb.
Or get creative and take a punchy shade of regular nail polish and dilute it by mixing a few drops into a clear, high-shine top coat. Good combinations include the Manicurist Green Flash Varnish in Coral Reef with the brand's Top Coat Sunshine for a gel-effect sheen, or the Chanel Nail Colour in 147 Incendiare mixed with Jessica Brilliance High Gloss Top Coat.
Trust us, popsicle nails are the smile-inducing manicure your beauty routine needs stat. After all, if a flash of fuchsia polish doesn't get you excited for summer, then nothing will.
For more from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR's Acting Associate Beauty Director, follow her on @fiembleton.
