A neutral manicure is just a neutral manicure… until you add a touch of glitter. And just like that, you have a shining new look that we have decided to call “Naked Disco” nails. Unlike more complicated designs such as Aura Nails or Double Ombré French Nails, this emerging trend is easy to DIY and still makes a statement.
The basic-gone-glam manicure only requires two things: a neutral base — pink, peach, beige, brown, or your favorite subtle hue — and a smattering of glitter or gems (we suggest silver embellishments for a full-on disco ball effect) on top. It’s a look that we spotted on the runway at Adeam’s spring 2023 show and more recently on the red carpet. Selena Gomez and Margot Robbie both wore dazzling manicures (painted by nail artist Tom Bachik), in two very different fashions, that prove how versatile, albeit simple, this nail trend is.
For Robbie’s understated take on disco, Bachick applied a single coat of Essie Nail Polish in Hi Maintenance, a sheer pale pink, before applying the brand’s Expressie FX Nail Polish in Holo, a silver polish packed with fine holographic glitter, as a topcoat. The result is an extra-shimmery nude that one might even mistake for glitter on bare nails from far away.
Essie Nail Polish in Hi Maintenance
Essie Expressie FX Nail Polish in Holo
Gomez’s version, on the other hand (pun intended), was better fit for the highly glamorous with an all-over smattering of bigger crystals that you could likely spot from space. The base for her manicure was Aprés Nail’s Gel Colour in Forgotten Film, a slightly sheer beige hue. After sealing that with a gel topcoat, Bachik applied a fine glitter (Allure recommends Olive & June’s Exclamation Point) and then sprinkled a hearty dose of Swarovski crystals like pixie dust atop the nails (you can buy similar ones on Amazon).