What are jelly nails? 5 best manicure designs for the trend explored

For beauty enthusiasts who like to stay on top of TikTok’s latest beauty trends, jelly nails are something one must be acquainted with. The jelly nails trend will be seen everywhere for spring and summer, as predicted by an editorial manicurist and founder of JINsoon Nail Lacquers, Choi Jin-soon.

Jelly nails entail using one coat of colorful nail polish to get an unfinished, transparent look and then adding a high gloss top coat.

A break from the classic, simple manicures, jelly nails allow one to flaunt an ultra-shiny manicure that offers a transparent finish like stained glass. And while it might look like too much work, one can easily avail of jelly nails at home.

The steps to create this viral manicure are as follows:

• The ingredients required to create jelly nails are a transparent nail polish, a top coat, and a nail polish of the desired shade.
• Begin by diluting a color with transparent varnish. This hack is the technique to ace this trend.
• Next, slip one to two drips of colored nail polish into the clear nail polish and create a translucent color.
• Apply directly to the nails and wait for it to dry. Use a top coat to seal the manicure and add a glossy shine.

Even though the jelly nails trend is relatively new, there are multiple designs that one can create for a unique take on manicures.

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3D Aura Manicure to Pretty in Pink Jelly Manicure: Five best manicure designs for jelly nails

1) 3D Aura Manicure:

With Sydney Sweeney sporting Aura manicured nails, the manicure garnered a lot of attention. This manicure combines jelly nails with the aura manicure, wherein one can achieve the same by airbrushing a small circle in the center of each nail.

The best combination for this manicure is using a transparent shade as the base color to get a jelly-like finish.

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2) Marble Manicure:

Marble jelly nails give a rose quartz-like effect and it doesn’t require multiple tools. The marble manicure can be achieved by prepping the nails with a single coat of clear nail polish and two coats of pink jelly polish.

Next, use a lighter pink shade of jelly polish like Clean Slate by Cirque Colours ($12.50). Swipe the shade in random patterns and areas. This technique will give it a marble effect.

Once it is dry, apply another coat of light pink over the splotches and finish with a top coat.

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3) Pretty in Pink Jelly Manicure:

Pink jelly manicures are chic and classy. When done with French tips, it brings a modern twist to the otherwise classic nail design. One can achieve this manicure with simple nail prep and clear base coat application on which a mix of pale pink nail polish like Sally Hansen’s nail color Rosy Quarts ($10) is to be applied with a clear polish.

Next, paint this mix halfway up from the base and use a rose jelly polish like Cirque Colours’ Rose Jelly ($10) while still wet. Paint the other half of the nail to give it a blended look.

Use a nail art brush and paint a curved French tip with a light pink polish on each nail. Finish with a glossy top coat.

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4) Cherry Red Jelly Tips:

Cherry Red is the color of all seasons, and combining this shade with jelly nails makes for an amazing manicure. Use a single coat of the shade Coquette by JINsoon ($18); the color is ideal for a sheer base coat.

Use a darker shade of red to adorn the tips and seal the manicure with a glossy top coat to achieve the cherry red jelly tips at home.

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5) Floral Jelly Mani:

The floral jelly manicure is a chic yet jelly manicure for people who don’t want a lot of color on their nails but still want to hop on the jelly manicure trend. Adding flower decals to a jelly manicure gives it a touch of grit and spice.

One can begin by prepping the nails with a clear base coat and then paint each nail with two coats of nude sheer nail polish like Sally Hansen’s Sheer Nail Colour in the shade Unveiled ($10).

Place white floral decals like 3D Flower Nail Art Charms ($8) on the corner or the tips of the nails and seal with a top coat.

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Take a break from the classic manicures and fall shades with the abovementioned unique and easy-to-create jelly manicure ideas. One only requires up to two to three products to avail of this trending manicure, and they complement every outfit and occasion.