The “clean girl” makeup trend was among the most popular (and polarizing) TikTok beauty trends of 2023. With a huge 1.4 billion views And counting, the beauty movement consists of a mix of neutral shades on glowing skin, imparting a highly sculpted yet barely there finish. With so many beauty lovers embracing easy, natural makeup, it didn’t take long for the trend to open up on our nails.
That’s right — the clean girl nail edition is here and ready to be on everyone’s hands this year.
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What is the clean manicure and why is it a trend?
TikTokers @niamhlynchxxxx went viral in 2023 with her clear nail collection, which garnered 1.2 million views, while Google searches for bare nails, simple nail designs, and nude nail art are replacing the bolder colors typical of summer. Think clean shades of baby pink, apricot and milky white, minimalist yet Instagram-worthy nail art and flawless cuticles.
Are you interested? We asked a manicurist and a minimal nail artist Georgia Rae how to achieve the clean nail look at home — and frankly, we’re a little obsessed.
According to Georgia, clean nails are chic, minimal, neat and, most shockingly, low maintenance. “My most requested look is ‘my nails but better,'” she says.
The newfound love for barely-there nails contrasts with the over-the-top, embellished acrylics we craved not too long ago, and Georgia thinks the post-pandemic shift has something to do with it. “During the various restrictions, we all experienced the inability to do our usual beauty treatments and it gave us the opportunity to really embrace ourselves in our natural state – nails included.”
Whatever the reason, the good news about the clear manicure is that you can try it at home and it’s relatively easy. Essentially, it’s all about giving your natural nails a boost.
How to prepare your nails for the clear manicure
As a self-proclaimed nail lover, I was eager to give the clear manicure a try. It’s a trend I’ve unknowingly tried before, though there are a few TikTok-inspired additions to my routine. But the key to a great, clean manicure at home is preparation.
I like the CND skin eraser, a gentle, hydrating exfoliator that actually does all the work for you by removing dead skin from the cuticles. Squeeze about a pea-sized amount following the shape of your skin, rub it in and leave it on for five minutes to work. Once the time is up, rub off the excess using a towel and carefully remove any visible dead skin using good quality tweezers (I like Tweezerman Cuticle Nipper,). Another option: Invest in a high-quality nail shape like Bare Hands’ Dry Gloss manicure kitwhich includes a glass file and cuticle oil pen to exfoliate nail beds and gently exfoliate rough skin for a flawless finish.
How to paint your nails to achieve the clean manicure
Painting is the hardest part. Start by wiping your nail plate with nail polish remover on a lint-free wipe, which you can easily find Amazon. Regardless of whether you use a dark or light shade, a base coat is essential to protect the health of your nails. i used OPI Natural Nail Base.
A classic clear manicure uses a clear, milky base. Georgia recommends OPI Nail Polish in Neutral, the Chanel’s La Base Camélia. i used OPI nail polish in Passion.
To get a perfect, streak-free nail, make sure only one side of your brush is filled with a generous amount of polish, wiping the excess from the other side at the top of the bottle. Then simply slide the polish over the nail. Georgia explains that being careful not to apply too much pressure will prevent streaks. You may want to start in the center of the nail and then “merge” the polish with one stroke on each side.
Achieving a clean nail isn’t exactly a quick process, but it’s worth it. The trick to successfully creating flawless polish is to keep your layers thin. Because neutral polishes are often quite sheer, you may need two or three coats to build up the shade you want. For this manicure I used two coats of paint. Don’t worry if the polish ends up outside the lines of your nail plate — you can use a small, square brush dipped in nail polish remover to carefully wipe away any mistakes.
Clean nails are shiny so I followed with my polish Seche Vite Fast Drying Top Coat.
How do you do nail art on a clean manicure?
When it comes to nail art, keeping it simple also means it’s much easier to recreate at home. That doesn’t mean it has to be boring. If Tik Tok and Instagram is anything but, there are so many designs to choose from, including a minimal one French advice, elegant hearts, accent dotsand even tiny, diamond ornaments.
I tried it reverse french manicure (turning the tip so it sits on top of the skin) with a silver tint (CND Vinylux in Steel Kisses, for a similar appearance). This complements rather than overpowers the sheer pink base. I guided the silver polish with a small nail art brush — which you can too get from Amazon — and cleaned off any excess that got on my skin with another fine brush dipped in nail polish. It doesn’t have to be exact, but practice makes perfect.
If you’re feeling fancy or want your manicure Really Finally, head to your local salon for a gel manicure. The shine from it is unmatched and lasts up to three weeks compared to standard polish, which can chip easily. Georgia recommends asking OPI Nail Polish in Bubble Battheor the aforementioned Put It In Neutral layered together.
How to clean manicure skin care nails
The clean manicure places a huge (we repeat: huge) emphasis on hand care, and Georgia lives for the luxury of all. “For so long, I feel like manicures have been seen as a chore or something you go to the salon for quickly,” she says. “I like to make it an experience or a treatment that you look forward to like you would a massage or a facial.”
Georgia likes to dry brush the backs and palms of the hands, followed by an exfoliating scrub. This can be like a hand scrub Sidia’s The Hand Exfoliant, but any body scrub will do. She does this once a week before adding a moisturizer and skin oil, depending on her client’s wishes and skin condition. “This process leaves the hands shiny and improves the overall effect of the manicure,” she says. If you’re worried about smudging, you could always exfoliate after treating your cuticles, but save the hand cream for last, as your polish may not adhere properly, resulting in chips.
I like to use Beigic Refining Hand Wash, Mirror Water Buff Body Scrub, and Beigic Classic hand and nail creamfollowed by a few spritzes of Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multipurpose Dry Oil. Finally, I finish off my manicure with the most luxurious skin oil of all: Jinsoon cuticle oil. I apply it constantly (I keep one by my bed and one at my desk) for soft, smooth skin. You are less likely to select them this way as well.
But how comprehensive is the clean manicure trend?
Just like the clean makeup trend, which could alienate those with skin conditions like acne and rosacea, those with bitten nails or a tendency to pick at the skin around them may not feel included in the clean manicure trend . But minimalist nail art and manicures are for everyone, regardless of the condition or length of your nails. The Instagram account @allnailswelcome (edited by beauty editors Lucy Partington and Laura Capon) invites everyone to post their manicures and nails, providing inspiration across the board.
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