Minimalist nails are timeless, but if you're looking to up your nail game this summer, 'jelly bean' or 'jelly' manicures are guaranteed to have you (and everyone around you) swooning.
We can thank South Korea for bringing this trend into the forefront. It's a country known for its buzzy, nail art culture and is no stranger to delivering coquettish designs and surreal, otherworldly finishes thanks to its expertise in product development and artistry.
'Jelly nails originated from Korean nail trends and the wider K-Beauty movement, which celebrates luminous and translucent finishes,' says Gaëlle Lebrat-Personnaz, founder of Manucurist, who now have their own range of Jelly nail polishes. 'They stand out for their glossy, colorful, and ultra-fresh look.' It's on brand for the movement that brought us glass skin. Take the minimalist approach by using a single, pastel hue such as mochi pink or go all out with jewel tones.
There are many ways to create the jelly effect, and it all comes from the nail polish formula. 'It contains fewer pigments than a traditional nail polish, allowing the natural nail to remain visible through the colour and creating a sheer, luminous finish,' explains Lebrat-Personnaz. 'The colour can be built up with additional coats while maintaining the signature translucent jelly effect'.
In salons, there are specialist professional products that are designed to achieve the look while ensuring extra longevity. You can find it in modern at-home, non-gel formulas too.
Ahead, the coolest jelly nail ideas to try this summer
1/ Fruity jelly
3D textures and a glassy finish creates a statement-making manicure.
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2/Rose jelly
Keep it understated and grown-up with a blush pink hue.
3/Jelly beans
Stop traffic with an unexpected array of bright colours.
4/Glass jelly
A fun take on nail art, inspired by glassy, colourful tiles.
5/ Lavender jelly
If pastels and neutrals are your go-to tones, give it a fresh, summery update with soft lilac. It's still delicate, but delivers a gentle pop hint of cool colour.
6/ Cobalt jelly
Bright blue, aura design and a jelly finish: this look successfully combines all three of summer's hottest nail trends.
7/ Aqua jelly
Take a cue from the mermaids and the sparkling sea with this glimmering blue hue.
8/ Magic jelly
Ethereal sparkle creates a luminous, otherworldly finish.
Medina Azaldin is the beauty editor of ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK, working across print and digital features. She has more than seven years journalism experience and has previously written for Red and Good Hoousekeeping. When she's not demystifying the latest skincare ingredient, sniffing out the next big perfume trend or uncovering the science behind wellness practices, you'll most likely find her in Hatchards Piccadilly or watching a crime series with her cats. Oh, and she's a competitive cheerleader, too.
