Clear nails—as in clear fake nails—is a trend creeping back into the mix after its initial moment in 2018. They were spotted at Mugler and Christian Cowan’s spring 2025 shows, and it’s something Kandalec has been playing around with using dual forms, which are flexible, reusable fake-nail molds that professionals can use to shape and form nail extensions with polygel, a hybrid acrylic and gel product.
Creating crystal free edge nails using gel, acrylics, or polygel is like the AP level of nail art. However it can be replicated at home using clear press-ons, says Kandalec. You can decorate the clear press-on nails however you want. What’s key, though, is to leave the free edge of the fake nails without polish. To re-create the look above, paint the part of the press-on that covers your natural nail bed a semi-sheer pink (we love CND Vinylux Weekly Polish in Negligee). “This covers any nail glue bubbles,” says Kandalec. Then you can apply loose pieces of sequins to the free edge of the nail for a similar effect.
Junk Nails
Courtesy of Lila Robles / IG: @nailjerks
Courtesy of Vanity Projects
Chaotic, kitschy, and wildly creative, junk is probably the biggest nail art trend on TikTok right now. If it hasn’t been served up on your For You Page yet, junk nails are extreme, maximalist designs that feature loads of 3D elements—rhinestones, pearls, charms, builder gel, and often lots of Hello Kitty—that are often oversize and stuck onto extra-long nail forms (although, that’s not a hard requirement). And while they may not be the most practical, people are certainly fascinated by the designs, how they’re made, and how people can wash their hands with them. The term “junk nails” has seen a 106.5% increase in searches year over year, according to Spate’s Popularity Index, a proprietary algorithm that analyzes combined data from Google Search and TikTok.
“The rise of junk nails, which has surged over the past year, is a perfect example of the growing ‘tchotchkefication’ of beauty,” says Yarden Horowitz, Spate’s cofounder, noting that TikTok has become the driving force in this aesthetic shift. “From bag charms to lipstick cases to bows, consumers are leaning into small, expressive luxuries.”
There are no rules when it comes to junk nails. Three-D appliqués can be applied more stylistically and streamlined or they can be thrown together all over the nail in a slapdash manner reminiscent of a toddler’s toy box. A little inspiration is always helpful, though, and you can see all ends of the junk-nail spectrum scrolling through the work of Yulenny Garcia, nail artist and owner of Muñeca Beauty Salon in the Bronx, who creates mind-blowing manicures for designer Marc Jacobs and TikTok star Ryan James. If the charms are a little too much for your vibe, skip them. You can simply paint a different design on each nail to give a nod to the maximalist effect.
