This Expensive-Looking Nail Trend Is Everywhere Right Now

“We’ve been seeing this shift towards understated, natural-looking nails for quite some time, and it’s really a reflection of what’s happening across the beauty industry as a whole. There’s been such a strong focus on skincare and your-skin-but-better make-up that enhances natural beauty rather than masking it. Nails are no different. Many are gravitating towards glossy, expensive-looking manicures that feel effortless rather than overly polished. The ‘Invisible’ manicure delivers exactly that – it’s timeless, low-maintenance, disguises regrowth beautifully and gives that polished, ‘Quiet Luxury’ finish that’s become so desirable.” – Daisy Kalnina, founder & CEO of The GelBottle Inc

“Preparation is everything. I always recommend gently pushing back the cuticles and lightly buffing away any dead skin from the nail plate using a soft buffer. I love the Bio Sculpture Bright Pink Sponge Buff (180/220) as it’s incredibly gentle and safe for non-professionals to use at home. Taking the time to perfect the cuticle area and create a smooth, clean nail plate makes all the difference. It helps eliminate any lumps or bumps and gives you the perfect base for a smooth, salon-quality finish.” – Milly Mason, manicurist 

“Gently push back the proximal nail fold with an orange wood stick, then use a tool like the Staleks Expert 51 with the loop end or a gentle buffer to carefully remove any non-living tissue from the nail plate without applying pressure. Tidy any obvious hangnails if needed, file the nails so they’re all a consistent shape and length, then cleanse the nail plate with nail polish remover to remove any surface oils before applying polish.” – Georgia Rae, manicurist 

“A few shades I love for creating this look, and that I find to be universally flattering, are the Nailberry Strengthen & Breathe Oxygenated Strengthening Base Coat, which gives a beautiful milky finish. Another favourite is Chanel La Base Camélia worn alone or layered with one coat of Chanel ‘Ballerina’, Essie ‘Sheer Fantasy’ for a soft buildable pink, or Essie ‘Fairy Tailor’ if you’re looking for something slightly warmer and more beige-toned.” – Georgia

“For that your-nails-but-better finish, I always recommend choosing a shade that complements your natural skin tone. The beauty of BIAB is that you can build a sheer wash of colour while creating a natural-looking finish with long-lasting wear. Some of my favourites are ‘Cloud’ – a milky sheer white, perfect for that fresh, clean-girl aesthetic – and ‘Grace’, a soft blush with a warm undertone that enhances the natural nail beautifully. I also love ‘Kiss’, a sheer rose with a hint of shimmer for a subtle glow. Otherwise, if you’re after the look of bare nails with added strength, go for ‘Clear’. Wear it alone for a truly natural finish or layer it with a sheer nude or pink gel colour for a barely-there tint.” – Daisy

“The beauty of this look is that it isn’t limited to one particular nail length or shape. It’s all about enhancing the natural nail. On shorter nails, I particularly love a soft square shape, while on longer nails, I naturally gravitate towards a soft almond or oval shape. The most important thing is choosing a shape that suits your hands and keeping every nail consistent.” – Georgia 

“To create an ‘Invisible’ French manicure, the secret to getting it right is all about layering, but it’s also about when you apply the tip. I start with one coat of a tinted base or a sheer two-in-one base and colour. My favourites are Essie Gel Couture Sheer Fantasy and the Chanel Camélia Base. Next, I paint the tip first using a soft, creamy white. Chanel Le Vernis 173 Glaciale and Essie Fiji  are both perfect for creating that subtle effect. I then apply another sheer coat of the tinted base or colour over the top to soften and blur the white tip before finishing with a glossy top coat. The result is a diffused French rather than a sharp, obvious white line.” – Milly

“Firstly, focus on skin and nail health. As beautiful as the manicure is, it will never look flawless on dehydrated skin or visibly damaged nails. Establishing an easy-to-maintaineasy to maintain hand and nail care routine makes all the difference. I keep an exfoliating scrub by the bathroom sink and, as the final step in my evening skincare routine, exfoliate my hands before applying a rich hand cream and cuticle oil overnight. During the day, I top up with a lightweight hand cream, cuticle oil and always apply SPF to the backs of my hands.” – Georgia 

“My number one tip is to apply cuticle oil and hand cream every single day. I also swear by the LCN 10% Urea Foot Mask on both hands and feet – it’s my absolute hero product. Keeping the hands, nails and cuticles well hydrated helps maintain healthy nails, prevents dryness and hangnails and instantly makes any manicure look fresher, healthier and more polished.” – Milly

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