Jelly Nails Are Everywhere This Summer. Here’s What Makes Them So Appealing, According to Nail Artists

Remember those fun jelly shoes we wore as kids in the ‘90s? One of this season’s hottest nail trends is partly inspired by them. Meet jelly nails, which have a similarly playful aesthetic and semi-translucent finish. Ahead, we spoke with two nail artists about why the look is having such a moment right now and got their best tips for trying the trend yourself.

• Aja Walton is a celebrity manicurist for essie and a licensed nail technician in New York City. As a manicurist who specializes in natural nail care and intricate hand-painted nail art inspired by fashion, art, culture and music, she is renowned for her androgynous designs that have been showcased on clients such as KeKe Palmer, Paloma Elsesser and Vera Wang, as well as a MTV collaboration honoring Black History Month.
• Elle Gerstein is a celebrity nail artist who started doing nails at the age of 17. Since then, she’s become a go-to manicurist for celebrities like J.Lo, Kelly Ripa and Blake Lively. Her work has been featured in top publications such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, W, Allure and Vanity Fair.
• Hannah Lee is a licensed manicurist, content creator and nail partner for Sally Hansen. Based out of Atlanta, she has a nail channel on YouTube that’s been around since 2010. Since launching her channel, she’s worked with publications like Teen Vogue and Marie Claire, as well as brands like Disney, Ford, Valentino, and Bottega Veneta. Lee’s celebrity clients have included Jennifer Lawrence, Zoe Saldana, Millie Bobby Brown and Zendaya.

“Jelly nails are a type of manicure that gives the nails a semi-translucent look, tinted with a hint of color. Think of them as the nail equivalent of sheer lip gloss or jello. They can be done in any shade, from soft pastels to smoky quartz tones. The beauty of jelly nails lies in their versatility and the ability to layer different colors for a customized effect," says Walton.

Lee adds that, “The jelly look has been around for ages, but I believe the trend really kicked off after Kylie Jenner posted a photo of her jelly nails earlier this year.” Since then, we've also seen thousands of posts about jelly nails on TikTok emerge.

“Jelly nails have always been on trend,” agrees Elle, adding that they continue to evolve by being incorporated into newer trends. “More recently, jellies have been working their way into different nail art elements like chromes and glitters.”

According to Elle, to make jelly nails (or any type of manicure) look good and last longer, the prep steps beforehand must be meticulous.

Step 1: To start, Elle suggests scrubbing your hands and nails with an antibacterial soap to remove any surface dirt and oils and drying them.

Step 2: Next, wipe some isopropyl alcohol (75 percent and up) across each nail to cleanse them. “This will act like an astringent and bring your nail to the proper pH level, while eliminating any dust and debris from the surface,” she explains.

Step 3: Apply a rubbery base coat like Orly Bonder to give the polish something to grip onto, so it’s less likely to chip.  

Step 4: Now, it’s time for polish. “You want to find a good polish with a jelly formula, which means that it’s semi-transparent and glossy,” advises Lee. “You can use any color you like, but I love a red jelly so my current go-to is Sally Hansen x Ring Pop Insta-Dri in Very Cherry. Apply no more than 2 to 3 coats to achieve the jelly look. You don't want it to be too sheer or too opaque,” she says.

Step 5: Always finish the look with a glossy top coat. (Elle likes Mineral Fusion’s Top Coat.)

"When asking your nail tech for jelly nails, you can say something like, 'I’d like to get a jelly nail manicure with a translucent, glossy finish. I’m thinking of a [specific color or shade], and I want the color to be see-through, almost like a stained glass effect,'" advises Walton. "If you have any reference photos, bring them along to make sure your nail tech can see the look you want, and feel free to ask them which colors or nail art would complement the jelly effect you're going for because there are so many fun options."

And if all of this sounds too involved for you, there’s also the option to try nail strips or press on nails that already have a semi-sheer look to them. Whatever you decide, people are sure to be jelly of your fun new nails.

Aptly named, right?

For added drama, go long.

Top things off with a coat of glitter polish for extra shine.

A simple way to try the trend? Keep the jelly colors to just the tips.

You know, to create some visual contrast.

Jelly nails don't always have to be bright and punchy. You could also wear them in a moodier navy.

A newer iteration of the jelly nail trend is to use builder gel to add 3-D adornments like so.

From jelly to jam. How cute are the little flecks that are embedded in the polish?

When jelly meets milky: a love story.

Jelly nails, but make them Y2K.