There’s something undeniably chic about well-groomed, naked nails. Going purposefully polish-free can ooze confidence and signal you're too cool to care about trends – especially with so many being churned out out TikTok today.
Look to Sarah Jessica Parker – and her most-famed persona, Carrie Bradshaw – who on the whole eschews nail polish in favour of beautiful, bare nails. So too do A-list actors such as Carey Mulligan, who just walked the red carpet at the Saltburn premiere in LA with naked nails, high-fashion faces like Stella McCartney, and many royal family members – most notably Catherine, the Princess of Wales.
But while nail polish choices are always a case of personal taste, and despite bare nails being a timeless look, the ‘no-nicure’ is somewhat trending itself. Juanita Huber-Millet, the founder of Townhouse – London’s most coveted nail bar chain – confirms naked nails are having a moment.
Since launching Townhouse Kensington, they've "seen a big demand for natural-look nails with a healthy finish," she told Bazaar. The bare mani is becoming increasingly popular across her the salons throughout London, too. “It starts with a super clean and minimal manicure, focusing on impeccable cuticle work and finishing with the nail plate buffed to perfection to the customer’s preference – shiny, satin or matte-look.” Increasingly popular, she says, “it’s looking like the new status symbol for our clientele”.
Why the lure? It may be partly a progression of the ‘your-nails-but-better’ movement. Loved by celebrities like Sophia Richie and Margot Robbie, this look is an exaggeration of highly perfected ‘natural’ nails, lacquered in neutral-toned semi-transparent polish. The ‘no-nicure’, however, is more understated.
View full post on InstagramThere are other explanations for its appeal, Huber-Millet says. Going polish-free “is a great way to add to the ‘clean girl’ look,” (think of an off-duty model who’s undone but well done, sartorially speaking). “It’s also just a healthy expression of natural beauty.” And who doesn’t want to feel naturally healthy?
It also speaks to the recent decline of gender norms around nail trends. Currently, the men’s grooming market is flourishing, with so-coined ‘male art’ and ‘man-icures’ symbolic of that. Indeed, Harry Styles, Machine Gun Kelly, Lil Yachty and AJ McLean all boast nail polish brands, putting male nails front and centre.
“The 'no-nicure' has been increasingly popular for men as well as women – we’ve seen a big rise in male manicures (and pedicures) across our all locations,” Huber-Millet tells us. “Male grooming doesn’t just mean skin and haircare: on-point hands, tidy cuticles and trimmed fingernails are a real confidence booster and shows you’ve got it together. With celebrities like Harry Styles, Brad Pitt and Drake (who has been known to pop into Townhouse unannounced) all opting for manis as part of their beauty regimes – male nail care is definitely on the rise.”
But whether it’s men fully embracing nail art or entering into the nail care world with a bit of buff and cuticle work – while some women pare back their nail preferences in line with a look more traditionally male-leaning – today, anything and everything goes.
As with all minimal-seeming beauty trends, when achieving the bare, buffed nail look a little effort is still required. Here Huber-Millet shares her tips for keeping hands and nails looking naturally groomed:
Get professional maintenance
"Book in for routine manicures and pedicures – we would advise once every month for a manicure and every two months for a pedicure. Done well, regular appointments will keep your hands and feet feeling and looking beautiful, not only doing wonders for your nails but helping to address any overgrown cuticles and dry skin issues. Your nail therapist will also be able to advise on the best at-home care during visits to keep your hands and feet looking their best at home."
Buff at home
"If you fancy sporting the ‘no-nicure’ trend, use a dual-sided buffer to gently smooth the nail surface and the shiny side to create a healthy matte or shiny finish. Leave bare or finish with a top coat for some added shine and strength."
Remember moisture
"Hand cream and cuticle oil are the single most important thing for this look. Moisturising your nails and cuticles daily will keep them healthy and looking beautiful – I always keep a bottle of hand cream in my handbag for on-the-go hydration. We have a refillable cuticle oil station at the Townhouse Kensington salon, which is complimentary for customers to top-up their Townhouse cuticle oil, ensuring they’re able to continue their manicure maintenance at home."
