Life feels chaotic, doesn’t it? Nail polish won’t fix everything, but a fresh manicure can make you feel more composed. It’s a personal pick-me-up plus it’s a major trend. It’s no wonder clean girl nails have taken over runways and red carpets. They make hands look well cared for, even when time and energy are running low. This neutral and sophisticated style says you’ve got a handle on things, even if you’re just barely getting through the day.
What Nails for a Clean Girl Look?
Clean girl nails are part of an aesthetic that’s been everywhere lately, from runways to red carpets to real life. Despite the name, the goal isn’t perfection. Instead, it’s about looking put together in a calm, understated way. The trend features timeless pieces in neutral colors and soft patterns without bling. For example, nice jeans with a tailored fit, dresses without frills, and tops without logos. A blazer comes in handy for cool weather, but every accessory is low-key and high-quality. Even the makeup is simple so that it enhances the natural, dewy look.
As for clean girl nails, sheer shades suit the theme. Remember soap or mannequin nails? Those are spot on because the goal is to look tidy yet luxurious. Perfect cuticles on a glossy structured manicure with French tips fit right in. But there are many other options to explore! Keep reading for more clean girl nail inspiration.
Who’s Wearing This Look?
At the last time we checked, the clean girl hashtag had over two billion views on just TikTok. Related nail tags on Instagram had millions of views each. It seems like lots of people want to look effortlessly put together!
If you follow nail artists Iram Shelton or Tom Bachik, you’ve seen many clean girl manis. Many celebrities like Selena Gomez and Jennifer Lopez are wearing them. Even those with normally exuberant styles have appeared on stage with simple and elegant nails lately.
If you feel like vanilla French tips are too tame, try ombre Boomer nails. The gentle gradient proves you went the extra mile but made it look easy.
New Lavis Poly Gel
Are Matte and Metallics Part of the Aesthetic?
Clean girls wear jewelry, just not flashy stuff. So, there’s no reason to avoid tasteful metallic embellishments on a manicure. And no, a high-gloss shine isn’t a requirement either. Feel free to dress up your satiny neutral nails with delicate gold petals! Yes, they will make your mani stand out more, but a design like this can replace jewelry altogether.
DND Gel Nail Polish Duo - 873 Inner Peace
Minimalist Style, Maximum Conscience
What’s interesting about the clean girl aesthetic is that it’s an all-encompassing lifestyle, not just a flash in the pan fashion. Many of those who live it are eco-conscious and interested in sustainability. You’ll see them dropping off their recycling and inquiring about factory conditions where their clothing is made. Moreover, they shop for brands that minimize their environmental impact and have safe ingredients.
For instance, some clean girls prefer non-toxic nail lacquer while others take a longer view and like hard gel manicures that only need to be backfilled every few weeks. These perspectives go right along with good grooming and hygiene habits of conscientious self-care.
Sophisticated and Simple
Do you think this beige swirl design pushes the limits of clean girl nail art? It’s neutral, has a soft and elegant pattern, and the nails are almond-shaped. Oddly enough, some would say it’s just too spicy! To be sure, it would dress up more casual outfits.
One of the trickiest parts of creating a clean girl manicure is getting the color right. It’s one thing to say “neutral shades” and another to pick something that actually flatters the skin tone. Moreover, the color black is technically neutral, but definitely too bold for this aesthetic. White, cream, beige, pink, and pale peach work perfectly.
If you want to find the ideal nail shade for a clean girls manicure, there are plenty of sheer polish palettes to browse. Even large collections like the SNS Pro Beige have beautiful options.
SNS Pro Gel Nail Polish Duo - Beige Collection - 088 AC-14- BABEDELICIOUS
See-through, Glass, and Syrup Nails
Have a little fun with your French manicure and give one nail a peekaboo design like this heart accent. You can find lots of inspiration in glass and syrup nails designs completed with jelly polish. The interplay between the opaque and transparent shades makes a manicure visually interesting without being showy.
LDS Color Craze Gel Nail Polish - Set 12 Colors - Softly Sheer Collection
What about Pastels Besides Pink?
Here’s a legitimate concern: is it pushing it too far to use non-neutral colors in a clean girls manicure? Check out these little yellow petals. The photo was tagged under the aesthetic, but that’s the artist’s opinion. What do you think?
Honestly, we lean towards having a little fun. Yes, this unique design will obviously show its age after someone has worn it two weeks straight, but it’s also cheerful!
Delicate Floral Nails
Let’s go a little further with these delicate flower nails with teeny tiny rhinestones. It feels like someone wanted to celebrate Spring in a tasteful way. The way they are put together just feels so refreshing!
Chrome for Clean Girl Nails?
Besides glazed nails, what about other chrome decorations for clean girl nails? Here’s an iridescent look with an abstract bent. It has a lovely contrast between the sheer matte shade and the perfectly round spots. If you love what chrome powder can do for nails, you’ve got to try the new Lavis Chrome Matte Top Coat. It makes it easier to achieve professional results.
LAVIS Chrome Matte Top - 0.5 oz (New)
Soap Nails for Clean Girls
Nail artist Iram Shelton dreams up clean girl looks and lives the lifestyle herself. These are her hands with a recent soap nails manicure. She works in a high-end hotel spa in London, and this look is like what she creates for her clients. She used OPI’s Bare My Soul, one of the top picks for clean girl nails.
Conclusion
Are you feeling the clean girl vibes? Pull out your manicure tools, give those fingertips TLC, and brush on a gorgeous sheer shade. You’ll find the ideal polish and essential supplies in our store where the prices will make you smile.