The 1990s have been the best decade in our hearts for the past few years. We love all the classic beauty trends from the ’90s, like bouncy blowouts that make you look like a supermodel, frosty eyeshadow, and bold lip liner. It wasn’t a time for minimalism (unless you count those thin eyebrows), which is what makes it such an important decade in beauty history. Pamela Anderson, Naomi Campbell, and Princess Diana were all media darlings who set the tone with their glamorous hairstyles and well-groomed nails. This is what we’re focusing on here: The nail trends that have lasted over time and shaped our current manicures. Find 19 nail trends from the 1990s that are still popular today, along with their modern counterparts, to get you excited about your next trip to the salon.
01 of 19: Classic Red
The 90s nail trend for Princess Diana Red
Red is pretty much the best color for nail polish that will never go out of style. Red nail polish is one of the most versatile colors because it comes in so many shades, from bright blood orange to dark maroon. Princess Diana was the most famous red lover. She even broke royal dress code by wearing the color to press and charity events. American royalty Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, on the other hand, followed the trend and often had red nails when she was out and about in New York City.
02 of 19: CBK Tortoiseshell Nails
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy with a tortoiseshell headband and a manicure with a tortoiseshell design next to each other
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy was better known for her tortoiseshell headband, but the texture has a strong ’90s vibe in any form. It’s not surprising that tortoiseshell nails are having a moment along with our love for this timeless style icon. It’s easy to do yourself with a jelly base and a second polish for the print, but you can also get it done at a salon or with press-on nails.
03 of 19
Milk with Blueberries
The 90s nail trend was Alivia Silverstone’s blueberry milk color.
You can call this light cornflower color baby blue, powder blue, or blueberry milk. The only thing you need to know is that A-listers have loved it for decades. Dua Lipa, Hailey Bieber, Zendaya, and Sofia Richie Grainge have all recently signed off on this color as a beauty trend. But real fans of the ’90s know that Mary J. Blige, Madonna, Alicia Silverstone, and Lindsay Lohan (whose character Hallie in the 1998 movie The Parent Trap wears a sheeny blue from Hard Candy) were the first to rock it.
04 of 19 Deep French
A picture of a deep white French manicure next to a picture of Kylie Jenner with a similar manicure @nailsbyzola / Instagram / Byrdie
People have always loved French manicures, but lately, a deeper tip has been coming back in a big way. The unapologetically chunky look is both nostalgic and timeless. Zola Ganzorigt made a cover image for a nail education magazine with Kylie Jenner as the model, and the result is wearable magic.
05 of 19
The Claudia Schiffer Skittle Colored 90s Nails Trend
The 1990s were the best time for supermodels. Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer were two of the “Big Six” (the most bookable names in the industry) that rose to fame this decade. These two were just as beautiful off-duty as they were on the runway, from London to Milan. This mismatched manicure on Schiffer is a prime example of supermodels being the OG influencers. The “why choose?” attitude spread to salons all over the world and led to the idea that accent nails didn’t have to be the same. The trend cycle has turned, and we’re seeing this color trend show up on our social media feeds again.
06 out of 19 “Pretty Woman” nails
Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman wears a brown and white polka dot outfit and has a brown manicure with white polka dots.
This brown manicure is like Julia Roberts’s famous Pretty Woman dress on your nails. It’s another nail trend from the ’90s that was inspired by fashion. The look strikes a balance between wearable neutral and playful statement, so a polka-dotted mani like this one is certain to make you feel like a romantic heroine.
07 out of 19
Britney Spears Metallic 90s Nail Trend
Flicks like Men In Black, The Matrix, and Total Recall kept sci-fi top of mind during the ’90s. With that came super fun beauty moments like Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century-inspired high ponytails, space buns, and metallic manicures. Futuristic and sleek, nail polishes in silver, gold, and copper were go-tos for artists like Britney Spears and Madonna. Now, we’ve elevated the space-age style with eye-catching elements like 3D nail art and nail piercings.
08 of 19
Milky Hues
Jennifer Aniston Milky Hue 90s Nail Trend
While Jennifer Aniston is primarily known for her incredible hairstyles and Rachel Green outfits, she also boosted the popularity of milky manicures. Whites and creams with a milky finish were all the rage in the ’90s—and for good reason. The easy-to-wear look works for every occasion, from date nights and work to brunch and formal occasions. These days, we’ve expanded our milky nail glossary to include cousins like “milk bath” nails and coffee manicures.
09 of 19
Lipgloss Nails
Brandy Nude 90s Nail Trend
The “your nails, but better” look is nothing new. Sheer nude polishes with a subtle shine finish were introduced to beauty aisles decades before the ’90s. But, as the old saying goes, if it’s not broken, why fix it? This look (often referred to as “lip gloss” nails) is absolutely timeless, elegant, and refined, as Brandy Norwood proves. Plus, it looks amazing on every single nail shape and length. If you’re looking for a pop of color, try jelly nails instead.
10 of 19
Cool Chrome
Jennifer Lopez with Chrome 90s Nail Trend
Long before Hailey Bieber coined the glazed donut manicure, celebrities loved all things iridescent. Eyeshadows and lipsticks had a frosty chrome finish, and this preference extended to the fingernails, too. As seen above, Jennifer Lopez’s nails appear opaque, while today’s version of chrome tends to be more transparent, allowing the natural nail to peek out.
11 of 19
Naked Nails
Cameron Diaz with naked nails in the 90s
Charlotte Tilbury Reformulates Iconic Product as Beauty Industry Watches Global Demand Grow
This may come as a surprise, but the number-one nail look spotted at any awards show in the ’90s was the naked nail. Whether completely bare or sporting a layer of clear topcoat, every it-girl of the era—Tyra Banks, Salma Hayek, Cameron Diaz, Winona Ryder, Halle Berry, Cindy Crawford, Shania Twain, even Madonna—all walked more than one red carpet sans lacquer. Today, the idea may seem like a stretch given the impact of celeb manicures (so much so that mani cams exist), but Jennifer Lopez, Kylie Jenner, and Hailee Steinfeld have all temporarily converted to the minimalist (if not completely bare) trend.
12 of 19
Vampy Black Cherry
Gwyneth Paltrow with vampy red 90s manicure
While all the opalescent and milky manicure trends may allude to otherwise, let’s not forget that the ’90s were the grunge era. Black polish made a popular statement, but many A-listers like Gwyneth Paltrow and Sandra Bullock sweetened the obsidian note with a vampier take on crimson. Lovers of OPI’s cult-classic Black Cherry Chutney are already familiar with the hue, but recent trends have fused the shade into more modern iterations like Megan Fox’s jelly manicure and Kylie Jenner’s black rose nails.
13 of 19
Opalescent Sheen
Halle Berry with 90s opalescent nails
From a fully frosted look to pastel sheens, the ’90s were definitely a time for opalescent manicures. Not quite as glossy as the aforementioned glaze, this nail trend leans more toward an iridescent iciness that reads chilly even in the warmest hues. The minimalist glam captured the hearts of many barely there nail devotees of the time like Halle Berry, Brooke Shields, and Debra Messing. Since then the look has evolved into ultra-fine shimmery trends like naked glitter nails and fairy nails.
14 of 19
Moody Brown
Naomi Campbell Chocolate 90s Nail Trend
Anyone who lived through the ’90s will tell you that brown had a big moment. The shade dipped out of popularity as quickly as it appeared, with true blacks and oxbloods being favored in the early aughts, but after years of waiting in the wings, the neutral is back in a big way. And this time, you’ve got options. You could choose to go the classic route, painting all ten nails the same hue (as seen with Naomi Campbell’s warm, moody look), or you could try a tonal look, à la the fall-ready “box of chocolate” nail trend.
15 of 19
Abstract Art
Florence Griffith-Joyner Abstract Art 90s Nail Trend
Long before nail art became adopted into the mainstream, Black women pioneered the nail genre. When we think of true abstract nail art, Flo Jo and La Toya Jackson’s iconic ’80s and ’90s sets come to mind. Then, in the ‘90s, hip-hop legends like Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim (who could forget her famous dollar-bill manicure?) ushered in the cultural wave of nail art that continues to the modern day.
16 of 19
Epic Extensions
Mary J Blige with square nail extensions in the 90s
Speaking of nail art, what better way to display intricate designs than with extra canvas space? Along with leading the rise of abstract nail art, Black recording artists like Mary J. Blige and Missy Elliot pushed the boundaries of nail length to then-unprecedented inches. Anything but a trend, longer-than-long nail extensions have remained a mainstay in the manicure space with stars like Cynthia Erivo and Megan Thee Stallion continuing to carry the torch.
17 of 19
Square French
Pamela Anderson Square French 90s Nail Trend
Where would French manicures be today without the love they received from stars like Victoria Beckham, Pamela Anderson, Jessica Simpson, and J.Lo? The most modernized version of the French manicure fuses minimalism with the ‘90s and ‘00s style revival. However, with the resurgence of square-shaped nails, we’re forecasting a rise in angular, chunky tips with the exaggerated thick white line. Zendaya and Selena Gomez are some of the most recent adopters of this style prediction.
18 of 19
Moody Purple
Aaliyah with moody purple manicure in the 90s
While the ’90s may have largely been all about the barely there nail, one statement color reigned supreme: purple. From brooding violets to silvery lilacs, it should be of no surprise that the majestic color grazed the fingertips of many celeb elites like Aaliyah and Mary J. Blige. Like all royalty, the hue is one of enduring resonance continuing to be the moody manicure of choice for celebs like Selena Gomez and Megan Thee Stallion.
19 of 19
Tie-Dye
Carmen Electra with tie-dye 90s nails
By the late ’90s, manicures began to transition toward more colorful Y2K motifs. While butterfly wings hadn’t fully descended to the fingertips just yet, tie-dye nail art began to take form. Carmen Electra’s cool blue rendition has gone full circle, re-emerging from post ’90s and Y2K obscurity to getting a significant refresh courtesy of Dua Lipa and Hailey Bieber.
