Glass Nails Are the Ultimate Minimalist Manicure

If you love naked nails and minimalist manis, you’re going to love glass nails. The simple, clear manicure matches with everything and couldn’t be easier to wear. In an era of soap nails and milk bath nails, the evolution of of glass nails makes perfect sense.

“I think the clear manicure honestly is just a continuation of the soap-nail trend,” says celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik, who is responsible for some of the most iconic nail looks for celebs like Selena Gomez and Jennifer Lopez, NBD.

We first saw the glass-nails trend on Gomez, created by Bachik himself, back in May of this year at the Rare Beauty annual Mental Health Summit in Los Angeles. She paired the polished mani with her signature long almond-shaped nails and we were instantly wondering how to get the look.

Ahead, Bachik gives us the lowdown on everything you need to know about glass nails (including what to ask for at the salon to get the perfect look). Keep scrolling for some manicure ideas to take to your next appointment or DIY yourself.

What are glass nails?

Glass nails are pretty much exactly what they sound like: a clear, super-shiny, glassy manicure. Bachik has created the glass-nail look for Gomez, and it’s totally taken off. Celebs like Hailey Bieber and Anne Hathaway have cosigned on the barely-there nail trend, with Bieber even taking it down to her toes with a totally translucent, fresh summer pedicure.

“Soap nails were a minimalist version of the semisheer lip-gloss nail, and clear nails are minimalist version of soap nails,” says Bachik. Perhaps we’re in for more simplistic manis and pedis this summer than in years past.

Another perk of the glass-nails trend: You can seriously extend your time between nail salon appointments with this style. Thanks to clear polish, your nails will grow out seamlessly (you can even try this style at home). At a time when everyone seems to be talking about recession indicators and finding ways to save money in their beauty routines (low-maintenance hair colors that are easy to grow out and result in fewer trips to the salon, like bronde, continue to remain super popular lately), glass nails seem like they’re par for the course.

How do you prep for glass nails?

Achieving the glass-nails look couldn’t be easier. But with a simple, clear mani like this, the nail and cuticle prep is key (the glassy polish won’t hide anything, so getting your fingers looking picture-perfect before will be a game-changer!).