Jelly nails are the lip gloss of manicures. The look features nails coated with a sheer, ultra-glossy wash of color that leaves them looking like, you guessed it, jelly.
Posting a “how-to”, TikTok user @uuy4mkish explains that the formula for jelly nails is basically a mix of clear nail polish with added color to it. (Talk about easy to do!) The possibilities are endless and the result is a glass-like and transparent look.
Jelly: A colored polish that has a transparent finish that may show the nail line. Jelly polishes are not the same as gel polish.
If you'd rather head to the salon, ask your nail technician for “crystal” or clear tips, which are key to the jelly nail look. You can get them any length you want, but keep them long enough to clearly see the demarcation between the nail tip and your nail bed for the best effect.
Gel nails are more expensive than acrylics. That's because gel nails require more equipment, such as a UV or LED light, a gel top and base coat, in order to be applied properly. Not all gel nail polish kits come with tools to remove gel polish however -- keep that in mind too.
The nail trend, which has now amassed over 369 million views on the app at the time of writing, is one that Rachel Green and the cast of Cruel Intentions coveted all through the late 90s and early 2000s. It's a sheer, ultra-glossy manicure that gives your nails a 'lip-gloss' effect or a 'jelly effect. '
The biggest benefit of gel manis is how long they last. "Gel manicures could last up to two weeks with proper nail prep and at-home care, such as cuticle oil and hand lotion," says Duguay-Gordon. And if you're careful, they can last up to four weeks.
There is a reason why gel polish is the way to go, and it's because not only do they look great, but they last longer than traditional polish. In fact, they can last up to 14 days without noticeable wear and tear, and that makes them even more noteworthy and a nail salon favorite.
Turns out, if you have nail polish (the brighter the color, the better) and a bottle of top coat, you can do jelly nails on your own. They can be done on both fake and natural nails, and with regular polish or gel polish. You'll be rocking this look in no time!
After prepping with a base coat, apply one to two coats of a sheer, jelly polish to each nail. Allow time to dry.
Gel polish, however, requires a UV lamp and a bit of extra practice to nail down. For first-timers, it's best to leave gels to the professionals to lower the risk of damaging your natural nails.
Nails are made of protein called keratin, and a deficiency of protein can show up as soft, fragile, or brittle nails. Since gelatin is a form of protein, the logic is that the protein would help strengthen nails.
Korean beauty isn't just limited to make-up and skin care. Just recently, Korean jelly nails started to trend. Different from the American ones, Korean nails are usually short, clean, and have a neutral color that blends with their tone.
Sexy claws and nail art: what do men like? According to the Jolie survey, women's nails that tend to be shorter (i.e. flush with the tip or only slightly beyond) are particularly popular among men. In addition, a slightly rounded almond shape is particularly popular because it looks natural and well-groomed.
Currently essie•gel is available in 100 shades that mirror our fan favorite enamel polishes. To see if your favorite polish color is available in gel, click here.
They may feel dry when you remove them from the ice bath. It will take at least an hour for them to be completely dry. While non-UV gel polish may be convenient, it does take some time to dry, just like regular nail polish. If you have an LED light, the gel will cure underneath the LED just like it will under UV light.
What are Gel Nails? Gel nails are a type of acrylic nails, they have a more glossy appearance than acrylic nails which tend to be sturdier. Acrylic nail manicures tend to cater to those who want to go for a more creative and dramatic look by enhancing their nails with artificial nails.
While gel polish is fantastic in its own right, it lacks the rigidity of a hard gel—rigidity that's necessary for lengthening and sculpting nail extensions. According to Ornellas, “Hard gels are used for strength and structure,” whereas “gel polish is just for color and art, and a little strength."
"The biggest risk to leaving a gel manicure service on for longer than three weeks is that the extra weight can start pulling on the edge of your nail, causing tears in the base of your nails," says Reynosa. "They can then lift, which peels back keratin layers and causes more mechanical damage.
“The jelly nail trend actually stems from the mid-80s and the '90s when girls wore jelly sandals,” explains Resort Nails manicurist Diamond Tiarrah Walton. “Jelly sandals were very popular back then because of the translucent that was sometimes fused with glitter.”
But where did it originate? Vogue nail expert Lauren Murdoch-Smith thinks she first saw jelly nails via Unistella, and also Dior's spring/summer 2014 make-up collection for an at-home take on the trend.
Kylie Jenner
So Kylie's nails are clearly acrylic, and she's made no bones about the fact that talented nail artist Britney Tokyo is responsible for them. Jenner's nails typically retain their long length, but color and pattern is constantly evolving.