One might assume that one of Hollywood’s glitziest evenings of the year would be the perfect opportunity for an eye-catching manicure, but at last night’s (and the after-parties that followed), many of the stars opted for minimalism, such as
Jennifer Lawrence, Zendaya, Issa Rae, Emily Blunt, and Meg Ryan. Even , who won the Oscar for best
Actress, showed off a sheer nude on her nails as she clutched her gold statue. Clean, fresh, and minimal, whether A-listers went completely bare on the nails or wore a natural-looking polish (or in some cases, a French tip), the Oscar night manicures were ultra muted. It reflected an overarching theme of undone and effortless glam at the event—there were few dramatic beauty moments during the evening, save for Pamela Anderson, who made a red carpet statement by altogether. So, was the name of the game. The beauty of a sheer nude or slick of clear gloss on fingertips is that it goes with everything—perfect if, like many of the
Oscars attendees, you have an outfit change in your locker. It’s a versatile manicure with longevity. It doesn’t shout too loud, but rather fades into the background, making fingertips look polished. Some A-listers (see Ratajkowski and Ryan), looked as though their nails had had little more than a buff and polish, which felt refreshing and rather cool—the antithesis to the usual carefully considered nail looks that tend to rule at awards ceremonies. Naked nails look great, but it is worth noting that they should be healthy, perfectly shaped, and polished—undone, but not uncared for. For Emily Blunt’s delicate rose-pink nails, nail artist Julie Kandalec used a custom blend of The Gel Bottle’s Silk and Starlight, while Thuy Nguyen deployed CND’s Field Fox for Gabrielle Union’s manicure. If you’re looking to recreate the look at home, get a good nail file, some strengthener (we love Sally Hansen’s Advanced Hard As Nails), and a buffing tool and tend to your nails as you do your face. Easy.