Is it rhinestones season? The answer is a resounding yes, if any cues are being taken from the world of precious gems—which has been seeing a wonderful injection of colour all throughout. One might call to mind Cartier’s wondrous Clash de Cartier collection, recently enlivened with brilliant chroma, or Piaget’s artful expressions, reinvigorated through the vibrancy of its ornamental stones. Colourful accents, it seems, are what we are all desiring a little bit more of in today’s unstable climate. Combined with the indisputable fact that maximalism in beauty—everybody say thank you Sophia Sinot—is making its grand comeback, there’s simply no better time to bring the playful joy of gem-encrusted nails back into our lives.
There is a certain degree of nostalgia to such a manicure—it feels simple compared to the complexities of some 3D-embellished designs or that of more intricate, handpainted nails. Beyond all the fun that comes with adorning your everyday manicure with these tiny flashes of sparkle, it’s also right in line with the beauty’s eternal obsession with the Y2K era, only this one is narrated in shimmers, sequins and colourful beads.
At the recent Coachella double weekend bonanza, it was almost instinctual for one Kylie Jenner. Calling upon celebrity nail artist, Zola Ganzorigt better known by her Instagram moniker @nailsbyzola, the beauty mogul opted for a bedazzled arrangement of mini florals across her talons. And she hasn’t been the only one who has been feeling a gemful sort of way. Euphoria has always been home to many a dazzling entrapment and Jules’s high-chroma, press-on tips with silver stones at Nate and Cassie’s wedding is just one of them. Nothing screams glossy and glorious like Euphoria does, after all.
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It’s clear then: there’s been a desire for the bedazzled life. To achieve maximum twinkle on your own nail set, we’ll bid you well with this pretty little lookbook of gem nails to call your own.
1 / 12
Random magic
She’s seemingly random, but there’s an art to the arrangement, with no nail bed too similar to the next, whilst remaining cohesive all the same.
2 / 12
Fruity tunes
Level up your gem life—with a fruity spin that feels perfect for summer too.
3 / 12
Aura farming
These layered gradients aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, and they serve as the ideal base for a colourful assortment of sequins—without even having to use all that many.
4 / 12
Extended life
If coffins are more your thing, this OTT set might just be proof that there’s no one way to adorn your talons with these sparkling rhinestones, be it in neat rows or smothered all over.
5 / 12
Short and sweet
She’s simple, (somewhat) orderly and smiles in the sun. What’s not to love?
6 / 12
Bedazzled French tips
The very opposite of random—but this French tip orientation of wearing our sequins might just be our newest obsession.
7 / 12
Minute and minimal
There’s no need to overthink it. Keep to a specific colour palette across both your base and choice of sequins—and keep a light hand when you’re laying on the stones.
8 / 12
She's a sophisticated gurlie
Like Kylie Jenner’s Coachella set, using a floral motif to ground the rest of your manicure will lend to a rather elegant finish.
9 / 12
Tone up
It’s all or nothing. If random arrangements aren’t really your thing, take this as your sign to simply coalesce all of your little gems on two or three fingers, and leave the rest free.
10 / 12
Pastel tones
There’s a clear system to how this one unfurls. With a floral motif as its defining trait throughout, the colours of the gems and the alternating base colour provides just enough contrast to keep things interesting.
11 / 12
Y2K iridiscence
If there’s something that really screams noughties, it’s this precise purple-pink hue. Don’t forget your necessary flash of silver either.
12 / 12
Coquettecore
She’s prettier in pink. There’s no way to describe why—just that this translucent pink base feels like a dream to adorn.
