The Met Gala 2024 introduced us to an enchanted "Garden of Time”. At the heart of this extravaganza were the showstopping nail designs. Two genres reigned supreme: transparent or glass looks and sculptured 3D art. In this article, we'll uncover the secrets behind these spellbinding manicures and explore how to recreate the magic. Join us as we explore the best nails from the 2024 Met Gala.
Best Nails from the 2024 Met Gala
Glass Nails
Translucent nails were one of the night's most desirable looks. For Jessica Biel, celebrity nail stylist Elle Gerstein crafted a breathtaking glass manicure using a transparent barely-there polish, then adorned her fingertip with delicate chrome leaves and crystals.
Lavis Oval Medium - 10 Sizes Half Buffed - Soft Gel Tips
Nail Charms
For celebrities like Jessica Biel and Lil Nas X who embraced the glass nail trend at the Met Gala, soft gel extensions were key to achieving those ethereal looks. Products like the Lavis soft gels offer the perfect canvas. They accommodate nails of any shape or length for a truly customized fit. Their pre-shaped forms mean less time spent filing and shaping. Lavis delivers breathable yet durable extensions lightweight enough for a natural appearance.
Lil Nas X took the glass nails style to dazzling heights with his bejeweled ensemble thanks to nail wizard Temeka Jackson who created a design encrusted with sparkling silver gems. As Jackson shared on Instagram, her “glam slam” channeled the Gala theme with crystals replacing dewdrops on delicate flora.
Jennifer Lopez appeared at the Gala with a manicure that seemed deceptively simple at first glance. But take a closer look, and you'll discover a shimmering tribute to nature's elegance. Instead of completely clear, their iridescent sheen mimicked a butterfly’s wings. This crystalline quality beautifully complemented the glassy beaded details of J.Lo's custom Schiaparelli gown.
Celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik shed light on the inspiration behind the design in an Instagram post: "Like a butterfly transforming in a shimmery chrysalis, I encased Jen's polished natural nails in a translucent pearl cocoon". To achieve the sheer, soft effect, Bachik blended CND's Flowered Folly Shellac with a bit of top coat to match her skin tone. He left the tips bare of color, then sealed the entire nail with layers of glossy top coat and chrome powder. The result was a modern, high-shine tribute to metamorphosis.
CND Shellac Gel Polish - 049 Flowerbed Folly - Brown Colors
Lavis Chrome Powder Aurora 05
What Is the Garden of Time?
The Met Gala 2024’s "Garden of Time" theme drew inspiration from J.G. Ballard's short story of the same name. In the tale, Count Axel's beautiful and luxurious garden stands for the finer things in life like art and culture. Every time he cuts a flower from his garden, he turns back time and allows his elegant lifestyle to continue a little longer before the uncivilized outside world closes in on him. However, once the last flower is cut, no more grow. Sadly, the Count and his wife accept that eventually, even the most refined and cultivated achievements come to an end, making way for the never-ending cycle of creation and destruction.
Much like Count Axel's botanical oasis, the best nails from the Gala represented art frozen in time. Transcendent yet temporary, a Garden of Time blossomed across fingertips so we could enjoy these refined achievements before they are removed and consigned to the past.
3D and Sculptured Nails
Other nail artists pushed boundaries with astonishing 3D sculptures. Cardi B's nail artist Coca Michelle constructed a mind-bending structured manicure that took 20 painstaking hours to construct. While the design appears simple at first, Michelle revealed that she intentionally went for a "minimalist" approach to let "the color and structure of the nail have a moment" and create "an elevated look of a thorn on a rose stem".
Michelle started with a neutral base combining OPI's Spice Up Your Life and Samoan Sand shades. But she might have completed Cardi B’s talons more quickly with poly gel. This innovative product offers the strength and sculpt-ability of acrylics in a beginner-friendly format. The odorless formula is wet and ready to use but won’t harden until cured in a nail lamp.
OPI Gel Nail Polish Duo - GLS023 Spice up Your Life
OPI Gel Nail Polish Duo - P61 Samoan Sand - Pink Beige Colors
Lavis Gel Polish 202 - Teal Colors - Maxi Teal
Gigi Hadid had a cheerful, whimsical look thanks to her nail artist Mei Kawajiri. The model sported a 3D floral manicure with hand-sculpted yellow blooms and thorny green stems for a botanical twist on a traditional French tip design. As Kawajiri explained, "This mix of playful and classic is just like Gigi”.
Lizzo made her jaw-dropping entrance at the Met Gala with a manicure that deserves its own spotlight. Her nail artist Eri Ishizu turned to Aprés Nail products. Beige Flag was the neutral base. Then she meticulously hand-crafted the 3D petals with Aprés' Extend Gel. "I had so much fun creating these nails!" the artist exclaimed.
Eri Ishizu's artistic touch also extended to Ayo Edebiri's mesmerizing manicure. As the nail artist explained, "We created an ethereal look to perfectly complement Ayo's stunning Loewe flower dress". To set the dreamy tone, Ishizu began with a single coat of Aprés' soft pink polish. She then custom-blended sheer hues for individual nails by mixing sky blue and sage green shades with a clear coat. But Ishizu's true magic was in the intricate floral details. She carefully sculpted 3D flowers and added flourishes like pearls, studs, and petals. The end result was a manicure plucked straight from a fairy's secret garden.
Apres Soft Gel
Apres Gel Colors
Dried Flower
Lastly, Cynthia Erivo wore real bits of nature encapsulated in her claws. The design was perfect for the actor, set to portray Elphaba in the highly anticipated Wicked movie. Her artist, Rose Hackle, turned Erivo's nails into tiny terrariums with botanicals, minerals, and even insects preserved in time.
Nail Foil
Conclusion
If this exploration of the Met Gala's gorgeous nail artistry has left you craving more, take advantage of our deals to help you achieve your dreams. Explore our store's new arrivals section to discover trendy colors, products, and styles to cultivate your own miniature "Garden of Time". Remember, within each of us lies the power to dream entire new worlds into existence on our nails!