When I walk into a room, I immediately look at people’s hands. More specifically, their nails. Even if they don’t know it, everyone’s nails tell a story.
Think of Y2K baddies with blinged–out press–ons, or black Sharpie scribbled over nail beds. Maybe it’s a future track star wearing vibrant claws for her first big race, or a new college student proudly repping their school colors on their fingers. Even violin players don small splashes of color on their nail beds—keeping them short for practice, but sparkly for performance.
Our nails are a beautiful way to reveal our hobbies, our subcultures, and our fashion taste. They can represent us during milestones in our lives or act as an everyday form of self–expression. Nails, just like any art form, carry a rich cultural significance. Different techniques have developed all over the world, from the acrylics popularized by Black women in the United States to the charm–filled gel extensions stemming from Japanese “kawaii” culture.
So … why is everyone into bare nails all of a sudden?
For many, 2026 has seen naked claws take center stage in the fashion world. For his Fall/Winter ’26 runway, Marc Jacobs sent his models down the runway without a hint of color on their nails. Summer brought out FX’s hit show Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, which carried bare nails into the spotlight when Carolyn Bessette opted for a neutral nail tone during the opening scene, rather than her signature red. The trend only seemed to grow from there, with influencers like Alix Earle and Paige Lorenze, to actors like Zoë Kravitz and the Olsen twins sporting their own sets of blank nails.
Bare nails have always been around, but the real thing I’m confused about is the rise in this well–manicured, bare nail. There’s something uniquely off–putting about taking the time and effort to look … well, “effortless.” And it isn’t just nails—we’ve seen this desire for “effortless” minimalism grow throughout the fashion and beauty world, with trends like the clean girl aesthetic and no–makeup makeup dominating social media feeds.
Getting your nails done has become a trend itself, partially due to its increase in affordability, with a $35 average price in Philly. But as its popularity increases, those who were always able to afford gel nails now reframe the art as “common” and thus undesirable. This is not just the case with nails, but with maximalist fashion in general. Now that colorful fabrics and maximalist designs are trending, people who want to look high–end have shifted toward a minimalist aesthetic.
On top of that, proponents for the bare nails trend argue that naked nail beds are more affordable and take less time than getting our nails done. While these are valid concerns, the perfect, glossy, effortless “bare” nail cannot be achieved without expensive serums and treatments, as well as a job or lifestyle that doesn’t require hand–related labor. When working blue–collar jobs, like construction or equipment operation, it is much more difficult to avoid chips, dirt, or additional damage to nails. While these potential markers would also be visible on a colorful manicure, there is a higher expectation of “cleanliness” that comes with the bare nail trend, with any sign of wear ruining the illusion of perfection. When we think of nails as a sign of status, rather than of expression, they become another exhausting aspect of our appearance that we must keep up with. If we instead view our nails as a creative outlet that we are able to—but don’t necessarily have to—participate in, then they truly become a form of self–expression.
In a time when the nonchalance epidemic is pushing young audiences to believe that caring is embarrassing, creativity is crushed. But if we’re putting in all this effort into our appearance—whether it be styling the perfect outfit or dousing our nails in expensive treatments—what’s so wrong with looking like we care?
When I go outside in my rainbow–colored skirts and vibrant T–shirts, I often find myself worrying about doing too much or trying too hard. I feel an instinctive need to be nonchalant. But really, I do care. I obviously care. I love painting my nails with bold designs and putting on crazy, sparkly eyeshadow when going out. A recent favorite was a red, black, and silver square set, complete with handmade spiky studs embellishing the corners. Paired with my favorite red top and sequin–filled skirt, they made the night out one to remember. Having the ability to express parts of ourselves through what we wear is a gift—why should we pretend otherwise?
You really only live once. Wear that outfit you’ve been worried about, try out that hairstyle you saw on TikTok, and wear your heart on your sleeve. It’s time to bring maximalism back. A good place to start? Halloween season. I’m hoping to see some long, bold, and vibrant nail designs. Whether it’s intricate nail art of spiders and pumpkins on stiletto gel extensions, or simply purple and orange polish, let’s all show a little bit of ourselves on our nails.
