Another year is just on the horizon, so naturally, I’m wanting to know what the biggest nails trends of 2023 will be. Twenty twenty-two saw a number of nail art trends, from the Hailey Bieber “glazed donut” manicure to the colourful French tips that we turned to as the temperatures soared. But what does 2023 hold for nail designs? As a beauty editor, I’m keen to know what we’ll all be booking in for at our beloved nail salons in 2023.
To find out which nail trends, nail colours and nail art we will all be booking in for next year, I asked two top nail experts to share their predictions with me. Ahead, celebrity nail artist Gracie J of The Editorial Nail and Samantha Kendrew, head educator at Mii Cosmetics, share the 2023 nail trends that you should have on your radar. Get ready to book in that all-important nail appointment.
It’s a nail trend that has taken over our social media feeds recently, and this optical-illusion manicure is set to continue into 2023. The ombré effect creates a three-dimensional look that gives the illusion of light and shadow on the nails. We can also expect to see the traditional French manicure take a twist, with abstract placement that turns the simple lines on its head.
Sensorial nails with tactile textures will be big news for 2023 says Kendrew. “Maximalist is definitely here for 2023,” she says. “Nails will be tactile and dressed with a variety of textures including 3D decals, gems and floral adornments in a non-traditional application to create texture. This can be worn as a signature nail, on the tips or a fully immersive style.”
Whether it’s embellishments or texture-effect polishes, we can expect the sensorial nail trend to take off on our fingertips in 2023.
On the tail of the sensorial trend are velvet—or cat-eye—nails. We’ve spotted this nail effect on the social feeds of the biggest nail techs, and it is still gaining momentum with varying application methods and designs. These shimmering polishes react with magnetic exposure, creating a dual-toned effect that resembles the expensive look of velvet.
“As a press-on aficionado, my favourite thing to do with my press-on nails is to incorporate versatility in the designs,” says Gracie J. “I love a two-in-one look that can shape-shift without compromising the integrity of the design. It’s one of the key features in my collection and such a fun way to diversify nail art for my clients and customers.” Simply choose a long nail design and cut down (and file) to create a brand-new nail design.
“Melted metallics and iridescent silver finishes give an out-of-this-world, virtual-reality feel to nails,” says Kendrew. We’re continuing to see chrome powders and molten polishes reign, and this trend is only going to gain momentum in 2023.
Beauty can often be a mirror for—or a form of escapism from—the world around us, and Kendrew predicts that we’ll be tuning in to optimistic colours in 2023. “Bold, uplifting colours such as turquoise, fuchsia, bright blue and luscious red will showcase this desire for optimism and joy,” she says. Whether it’s a minimalist French tip or clashing bright tones, we’re getting a hit of dopamine from these bright nail hues.
We’re getting all the good vibes for these mood-ring nails in 2023. Also coined aura nails, this nail art design is created with an airbrush gun, so it’s a design you should definitely book in with your nail technician for the best finish. However, we’re also seeing the return of colour-changing nail polishes that react to temperature, so you can still get the mood-ring effect at home.
