Clean girl beauty is everywhere right now. Whether it’s clean girl makeup or clean-smelling fragrances, you’ve probably seen some interpretation of the trend. And what’s not to love? This minimal aesthetic is effortless, understated and very expensive. All adjectives we totally want to get on board with.
Harriet Westmoreland used Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Ballerina for this clean girl nail look.
At Who What Wear, we always have our fingertips on the pulse of new nail trends. So it was only a matter of time before we started seeing the ‘clean girl’ mood reach the fingertips of supermodels, celebrities and beauty experts alike. Open up Instagram or TikTok and you’ll most likely stumble across some clean girl nails. But what exactly makes this look so good?
A milky wash of colour and perfectly preened cuticles makes for an expensive-looking manicure.
The clean girl nail look is comprised of a neutral nail colour, usually a sheer wash or a hue that pairs perfectly with your skin tone. It’s also teamed with immaculate cuticles and a short rounded shape to the nail edge. And don’t forget that super-glossy finish of a hydrating cuticle oil.
Nail artist Harriet Westmoreland is leading the way with the clean girl nail trend. We practically went down a nail Instagram hole scrolling through the perfectly preened nails on her profile. She’s also behind the nails of celebrities such as Rosie Huntington-Whitely and you’ll spot her prepping the fingertips of countless celebrities for awards shows.
Harriet puts in the prep for her clean girl nails. On her Instagram, you’ll find her impressive collection of skincare products and treatments that she’ll incorporate into her manicures. Think La Mer face oil on cuticles and indulgent body scrubs to buff hands to perfection. Want in on the action? Here are some of the products she uses…
Nail care is essential to the clean girl nail look.
Use a body scrub to leave fingertips and hands glowing.
This luxurious scrub leaves hands so soft.
Neat cuticles are key foundation to clean girl nails. Use a cuticle pusher on nail beds to instantly elongate nails and create a clean slate for your nail polish.
Use a cuticle pusher to gently push back nail cuticles for a neat finish to instantly look put together.
A sheer wash of colour or a neutral opaque shade of nail polish is the key to achieving clean girl nails.
This milky pink hue instantly adds a sheer wash of colour to fingertips. It’s one of the best Chanel nail varnish colours.
A cuticle oil finishes off the look with a glossy sheen and helps to keep cuticles hydrated for that expensive looking manicure.
This hydrating face oil doubles up as a great cuticle oil. And it will look great on your bathroom shelf too. Keep scrolling below for some of our favourite clean girl nails looks…
Neutral nails look so chic paired with gold jewellery and a statement sleeve cuff. Choose a neutral nail polish colour that matches your skin tone to keep nails looking understated.
Want more impact from your clean girl nail look? This opaque pink looks pretty yet understated.
Shades of caramel, chocolate and sand look elegant on darker skin tones.
A swipe of a milky pink polish on fingertips is an effortless way to make your hands look polished.
This is like a tinted moisturiser for nails. It leaves a barely there sheer pink sheen that looks good on everyone.
A bright yet sheer pink instantly brightens nails.
Like blusher for your nails, this bright pink colour from Dior is very sheer, adding a healthy-looking flush to the nails.
Good cuticle care is key to this look. In between nail appointments, keep cuticles hydrating with a cuticle oil to maintain healthy nails.
Use this hydrating nail oil before going to bed to keep cuticles and nails moisturised.
A clean nail look provides the perfect base to experiment with nail art. We love this inverted French nail art.
Use a nail brush with a fine tip to achieve precise lines.
Micro nail art looks so chic on a clean girl base. Why not try a heart or minimal flower on one nail to switch up your usual manicure?
A nail dotting tool is a must for precision nail art. To achieve a heart, dot two dots onto the nails and drag them both out to a point to form a heart shape.
As your polish dries, add a gold nail bead for a minimal look. Seal with a top coat to keep it in place.
A neutral French tip looks so polished. Plus, it always goes with any outfit.
Create a fine French tip with a neutral nail colour.
Not quite a French tip, but still minimal. Finely outline the edges of your nails in a white. It’s like a crisp white shirt, but for your nails.
White nail art paired with a clean girl nail base looks so cool.
A rose quartz nail look is still understated, but adds a little something more to fingertips.
Opt for a shimmering nail colour and top with a shiny top coat for that rose quartz finish.
A French manicure is so timeless. keep it feeling modern by opting for a super-thin line on the tips.
Unless you have the steady hands of a nail technician, a French tip can be tricky. Keep this correcting pen on stand to correct any smudges an remove polish from around the nail.
Keep hands soft with a regular hand cream. Don’t forget to apply to the cuticles to keep prevent dryness.
Hydrating and sinks in quickly. And of course, it looks so cool on your nightstand.
A minimalist dot gives a nod to the season. Why not opt for a pastel hue for spring and summer and a Bordeaux red for the colder months?
OPI’s Bubble Bath colour is a favourite for achieving that clean girl nail look.
Depending on how sheer you want your colour, you can layer a sheer hue until you get the desired finish.
Essie’s Ballet Slippers is a classic ‘barely there’ hue for nails.
A barely there wash of colour works so well not matter the time of year or what you’re wearing. It’s also less noticeable when it chips, meaning you can extend the wear of your polish.
This peachy pink shade instantly brightens lacklustre nails.
