Is the Manicure Over?

Raise your hand if you remember when getting a manicure meant deciding between chrome, aura nails, 3D charms or tiny fruit painted onto every fingertip. Now? The chicest women I know are doing something far more radical: They’re showing up with nails that barely look done at all. Welcome to the era of bare nails, where healthy, glossy nails are replacing elaborate nail art; and, for some women, regular manicures altogether.

Despite the name, bare nails aren’t necessarily naked. Most versions feature a single coat of a translucent pink, milky beige or barely-there peach polish that evens out discoloration while letting the natural nail show through. Others rely on strengthening treatments with a glossy finish or simply buffed nails topped with clear polish. And increasingly, some women are embracing truly bare nails; no polish, no gel appointments, no standing three weeks between fills. Just healthy nails that look like…well, nails.

“We’re seeing a clear shift in the nail industry away from bold, intricate designs and toward a more refined, polished aesthetic,” says Maryna Slynko, nail artist and founder of Slynko Beauty Bloom Studio. “Where detailed nail art once defined trends, the focus is now moving toward overall appearance of shape, precision, and quality of execution.” The look differs from the soap nails trend that dominated 2025. Soap nails leaned pink and freshly scrubbed. Bare nails are even more minimal, embracing whatever natural tone your nail already has.

Search “bare nails” on TikTok and you’ll find millions of views dedicated to glossy nude manicures and nail rehab routines. You’ll also find women documenting why they stopped getting their nails done altogether—whether to save money, reclaim hours spent at the salon or simply because they got tired of planning their lives around gel removal appointments.

“I stopped getting regular manicures post-Covid once I realized how little joy they brought me compared to the time and money they took,” says Jillian Quint, Purewow’s Editor-in-Chief. “At first, I was self-conscious about my au naturale fingers, but, increasingly, I've seen more and more women—even high powered women—following suit. It's almost a flex at this point: I don't need to impress you with my jelly nails or watermelon nails, because I'm a grownup with a million other things going for me!”

And, if you’ve been paying attention to recent red carpets, you’ve probably noticed bare nails without even realizing it. Instead of matching their manicures to their gowns, celebrities are letting healthy-looking nails speak for themselves. Emma Stone showed off a sheer nude manicure at this year’s Oscars. At the Met, Sarah Pidgeon rocked a clear mani. Hailey Bieber has also long favored sheer, glossy manicures, while Zendaya frequently opts for nude nails that never compete with her killer fashion moments. Jennifer Lawrence is another fan of barely-there manicures, often pairing soft neutral nails with minimalist beauty looks.

Like nearly every beauty trend this year, bare nails reflect a broader shift toward simplicity. If you remember, makeup has moved away from full glam toward skin tints and soft sculpting, and fragrance lovers are embracing softer scents (even banana notes!) So naturally, nails were bound to follow. “Today, that effect isn’t created through complexity, but through simplicity done well,” Slynko explains. “It comes down to clean cuticle work, well-balanced nail shape, smooth, even coverage, and carefully chosen shades.”

That’s also changing what clients request at the salon. Rather than asking for intricate designs, Slynko says people are prioritizing overall polish. “Clients are increasingly asking for results that look clean rather than design-heavy. Even when clients choose brighter colors, they often prefer them in a simple, solid finish without additional elements.”

But back to the idea of female liberation. For years, chipped polish or grown-out gel was a beauty faux pas–another item on women’s mental-to-do-list. (I challenge you to find a man who worries about squeezing in a manicure between work appointments.) Bare nails reject that pressure while also making women feel good about what they already have going for them. Or, as Slynko puts it, it’s less about adding more and more about refining what’s already there.