December 13, 2022
When we think of the ’90s, Juicy Tubes and butterfly clips instantly come to mind. While we’ve already added the legendary lip gloss and hair accessory to our cart (#nostalgia), our latest obsession is a true ’90s throwback: jelly nails. You may remember that jelly-textured things were all the rage in the beauty and fashion worlds back in the day. After all, who among us didn’t own a pair of sparkly jelly shoes?
What Are Jelly Nails?
Jelly nails translate the throwback trend into a fun, colorful manicure that replicates the iconic texture. Jelly nails can come in a variety of different designs, and they’re a great way to play with nail artwork. But no matter what design you opt for, they all have the same clear, jelly-like look. Jelly nails work best on long nails or with claw-like acrylics to really achieve the translucent look.
Makeup.com editors were actually able to recreate the translucent, jelly neon nail trend at home with just two polishes. Keep reading for a breakdown on how to DIY the sheer nail look, plus inspo for your next jelly manicure.
How to DIY Jelly Nails at Home
STEP 1: Prep Your Nails
To prep your nails for your mani, soak them in warm water, gently push back your cuticles and shape your nails. It’s also important to apply a thin base coat, like the Essie Here to Stay Base Coat, before going in with any colors. The Here to Stay Base Coat provides an adhesive base on your nails for the color to stick to. It also helps your mani last longer and protects your natural nails from any staining.
STEP 2: Mix Your Colors
To create the sheer, jelly-looking polish, you’re going to need a bright or neon nail polish and a top coat, like Essie Speed Setter. This quick dry top coat dries in less than a minute (seriously!) and boosts the shine of your nails.
For a trendy look we’ve been loving, try Essie Jade It Happen. Using double the amount of top coat as color, mix the two polishes together in a dish.
STEP 3: Apply Two Coats
Using your mixture, apply a very thin layer onto nails. Make sure to let the first coat dry before following up with a second coat. This will give you a translucent, jelly-like manicure. Want your polish to be more opaque? Just add a little more color into your mixture.
The Best Jelly Nail Designs
The Jelly Accent
For a jelly manicure with a twist, try an all-out nail design, like these gold honeycombs. Add just one or two jelly nails to add an accent that is sure to make your manicure stand out. We are in awe of the textural detailing of this manicure, including the sparkly globs of “honey” that match the jelly accent nails.
