Clean girl nails: our round up of the 15 best manis

3–4 minutes
OPI Nail Lacquers - Bubble Bath #S86

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To us, clean girl nails never go out of style. They’re simple, classic and easily maintained, which is why nail techs get these requests time and time again.

Want to get in on the trend? You’re in the right place! Here’s a round-up of 20 of the best clean girl manicures we could find, so you have all of the inspo that you need for your next set…

What are clean girl nails?

“Clean girl nails” are all about keeping things simple, neat, and naturally beautiful. If you’re curious about this style, here’s what it’s all about:

  1. Singular and neutral colours: Think soft, neutral shades like beige, nude, pale pink, and light taupe. These colours give your nails a polished yet understated look that’s super chic. Even bold shades like black and maroon can fit within the trend so long as the nail art is minimal.
  2. Short to medium length: Nails are kept at a comfy length, usually short to medium. This makes them easy to maintain and looks effortlessly tidy.
  3. Natural shape: The shape is usually natural, with rounded or softly squared edges. It’s all about enhancing your natural nail shape without going over the top.
  4. Minimal or no nail art: If you do go for nail art, it’s very minimal—think simple French tips, a single stripe, or tiny dots. The idea is to keep it elegant and fuss-free.
  5. Healthy nails: Taking care of your nails and cuticles is key. This means regular moisturising, gentle filing, and avoiding damage from harsh chemicals or too much gel/acrylic use.
  6. Glossy finish: A clear or sheer top coat is often used to give the nails a healthy, glossy finish without adding any extra colour.

Overall, clean girl nails are perfect if you love a fresh, natural look that’s easy to maintain and always in style.

15 clean girl manis to show your nail tech

1. Your nails but better

Get the look: OPI Bubble Bath

2. Marvellously mauve

Get the look: The Gel Bottle POSH

3. Milky white

Get the look: Mylee Gel Polish Ghosting

5. Blue, no baby

Get the look: Bluesky Gel Polish Aqua-intance

6. Pink tips

Get the look: Bluesky Strawberry Cream & Vishine Nude Gel Polish

6. Espresso

Get the look: Essie All Checked Out

11. Gold accents

Get the look: Vishine Nude Gel Polish & MEITREND Gold Liner Pen

12. Classic black

Get the look: Bluesky Gel Nail Polish Blackpool 80518

13. Naughty navy

Get the look: Essie Booties On Broadway

14. Betty Boop red

Get the look: Essie Rock The Runway

15. Sage in the spring

Get the look: DND Sage Groovin

Prepping and perfecting your clean girl nails at home

If you’re saving your coins and completing your own clean girl mani at home, here are our expert tips. They will help you finesse the ‘clean’ look without taking a trip to the nail salon.

  1. Start with clean, trimmed nails and gently push back your cuticles to create a smooth base for regular or gel polish. Don’t forget to apply a nail strengthener to keep your nails in healthy condition too.
  2. Buff your nails lightly to roughen the nail bed before applying any gel nail products. This will help to improve the longevity of your mani!
  3. Apply a nourishing base coat to protect your nails and help the polish last even longer.
  4. Choose your nail polish shade, applying thin, even layers for a chic, understated look.
  5. Finish with a glossy top coat and a drop of cuticle oil for a healthy, polished glow.

Don’t forget to browse our nail technician supplies to find all of the tools you need to practice any nail look from home!

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