The Beauty Editor’s Guide to the Hottest Spring Nail Trends

As a beauty editor for over 12 years, it’s safe to say I have developed a keen eye for emerging trends. And while I love to get in on what’s new, what’s next, what’s hot right now, I’m always very aware that what we all really want are top-notch, on-trend product suggestions worthy of your time and money. 

Confession: I love the look of perfectly painted, salon-sculpted fashion nails, but I have zero desire to sit for hours in the salon achieving the look. ZERO. So, what’s a nail-obsessed beauty editor to do? She DIY’s it! 

To say I’m a fan of the at-home manicure would be  quite the  understatement. I used to spend hours at the salon, religiously returning every two weeks for my mani upkeep, and the truth is, I dreaded it almost every time. Not to mention how much money it costs to keep your nail game strong. If I do the math on what I spent in a year on my nails, its almost shocking. (Ok, I added it up and it’s around the equivalent of a Gucci shoulder bag. Yeah, the one with the gold chain strap.)

True Story About False Nails

About three years ago, when I was the beauty director of a national print newsstand magazine, I received a PR mailer, which was basically a box of new KISS nails to put on my radar, and I was instantly obsessed. I could not believe how much cheaper and easier it was, compared to a traditional salon manicure…and dare I say even better?!  I kid you not, I have not had my fingernails professional done in years, but thanks to KISS and imPRESS Manicure, my nails ALWAYS look stylish and perfectly on point.

My most frequently asked question as a beauty editor: which nail styles are your favorites, and do they stay on? The first answer is: I like to mix it up. Sometimes I glue them on, sometimes I press them on, sometimes I like to wear them long and salon-sculpted, other times I go for a short and sweet style and shade. I just love how quickly and easily I can switch up my look to match my outfit or my mood, the possibilities are endless. I scope out social media, screenshot some looks I love on celebs and influencers, and I almost always can find an at-home manicure that matches the look, for under $20 bucks. It’s seriously like having my own celebrity pro nail artist at my fingertips. 

Nails When You Need Them

I have been spotted applying pressies on the train (before a big NYC event) or popping them on at the park, it really runs the gamut. These are my every day, any day nails and getting them on and off is basically effortless. How long do they last?  With proper application and care, the nails will stay put and perfect for up to a week.

So back to what new, what’s next, what’s hot right now…how am I so sure about what’s on trend? I sprinkle my own beauty editor spidey senses with a little star power. I scroll the insta feeds of some of the beauty industry’s biggest influencers and pros, like celebrity nail stylist Gina Edwards  and Tom Bachik to score the hottest tips, tricks, and trends. If you love all things nails, follow her IG stat.. She’s the manicure maestro behind all those wow-worthy celebrity red carpet and fashion runway nail looks, and that’s often how I’m tipped off if a trend is hot or not.

5 Stunning Spring 2023 Nail Trends You Need to Try Now

So now that spring has officially sprung, the new season calls for a new mani. (Make that, many new manis!) Ahead, you’ll find all the fresh, fierce, flirty, nail inspo you need to get a flawless fashion manicure in a flash. Here are all my spring-fresh faves…

1) Glazed Donut Nails

Glazed beauty is all the rage, and we can all thank to the model and beauty mogul Hailey Bieber, who started the sweet and shiny beauty trend last year when she stepped out onto the red carpet for the 2022 Met Gala…and whoa, every corner of the Internet took notice. Since then, ‘glazed donut nails’ have become quite a phenomena. flooding our social media feeds with a staggering 199.6 million views on TikTok alone. 

The Glazed Donut nail trend is not really a trend any longer…it’s a bonafide mainstay in our beauty routines and has achieved cult-like status. Now, glossy, icing-inspired manis have been spotted on the hands of Sydney Sweeney, Vanessa Hudgens, and Kylie Jenner,  just to name a few, but it all began when LA-based manicurist Zola Ganzoright created the sheer, iridescent, milky look for Hailey Bieber.