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A guide to getting the clean girl look at home or at the salon
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TikTok’s clean girl aesthetic has inspired a chic nail trend: clean girl nails. Whether you DIY them at home or request a manicure at the nail salon, you can easily get the clean girl nails of your dreams in the color and style of your choice. We even spoke with professional nail artists Kristin Pulaski and Marta Nagorska to learn the best tips on nail care and polishing techniques. Keep reading for an at-home clean girl nails tutorial, plus example looks to inspire your next fabulous manicure!
Clean Girl Nails: Quick Definition
Clean girl nails are a minimalist manicure trend inspired by the clean girl TikTok aesthetic. The typical clean girl nails come in shades of pale pink, sheer nude, peach, and cream—topped off with a glossy finish. Nails are usually almond-shaped and are moisturized often to stay looking healthy.
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Section 2 of 5:
15 Cute Clean Girl Nail Looks to Try
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Glossy nude nails The quintessential clean-girl nail look: a sheer, nude shade emphasizing your natural nail color. Use just one coat of nude polish to prevent it from becoming opaque. [5] X Research source Don’t forget to swipe on your top coat for that elegant glossy finish!
- Consider sheer nude shades like OPI’s Bubble Bath or essie’s Centerpiece Of Attention to achieve this low-key look.
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Milky white nails Milk nails offer a pop of color without branching too far from the clean girl aesthetic. Their glassy finish is sure to dazzle. Use a milky white, semi-opaque shade to achieve this look—or apply it over a bright color for a milky finish. [6] X Research source
- Two popular nail polishes in milky white shades are essie’s Cloudy White Marshmallow and Sally Hansen’s Silk is… .
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Pearlescent nails Channel the beauty of pearls under the sea with this subtle, shimmering take on clean girl nails. Hailey Bieber is a fan, thanks to its similarity to her famous glazed-donut nails . [7] X Research source Simply paint a sheer, shimmering polish over a clean nail (or a solid off-white shade) for a glam pearlescent finish.
- Get the shimmery look with a nail polish that feels plucked from the sea, like Revlon’s 020 Pure Pearl or OPI’s Switch to Portrait Mode .
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White swirl nails Get artsy with this abstract swirl look that infuses a glossy nude base with a creative white swirl. To DIY a swirl nail, start by applying a base coat and nude polish to the entire nail. Once your nails are completely dry, add a swirl by carefully curving a thin striping brush over the nail in the direction you want your stripes to be. [8] X Research source For ease of application (and to keep the mani minimalist), aim for 1-2 swirls per finger. Seal your design with a glossy top coat.
- Any beige or nude shade should work as the base of this look. Opt for opaque white polishes like Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Polish in White On for the stripes, and find thin yet flexible striping brushes .
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Classic French tips You can’t go wrong with a classic French manicure to embody the simple elegance of the clean girl aesthetic. Start with a dry base layer of sheer pink polish. Use nail stencils or nail-safe tape to cover the nail below where the French tip will be. Apply a thin stripe of white polish along the end of the nail and let it dry before removing the tape. Once dry, seal your tips with a shiny top coat. [9] X Research source
- Get this simple, elegant look using your favorite white polish—such as wet n wild’s Wild Shine polish in French White Crème —and nail tape or stickers like Orly’s Half Moon Guides .
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Micro French nails Update the classic French tip with a more subtle manicure that offers a wisp of color to an otherwise plain look. [10] X Research source Start with short nails—you don’t need as much space as you would for a French tip. Apply a base coat and let it dry. Then, use nail tape to cover up all but the top sliver of your nails. Stripe on the colorful polish of your choice, let dry, and seal with a glossy top coat.
- Nail stickers like Orly’s Half Moon Guides are the easiest way to get a clean, consistent tip on all your nails.
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Gold-tipped nails Channel the luxurious vibes of the clean girl nail aesthetic while adding some extra shimmer to your manicure. Start with a base coat and sheer pink polish for the base. Once your nails are done drying, apply nail tape to section off the tip and apply your gold polish.
- A metallic polish with a thin brush, like this silver and bronze gel liner duo , will make application easier than using a regular gold polish.
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Sheer pink nails Let your impeccable nail care be the star of the show with this low-key, feminine clean girl nail style. [11] X Research source After applying your base coat and letting it dry, add one or two coats of a sheer pink polish to achieve this chic manicure.
- A popular pink polish within the clean girl community: essie’s Ballet Slippers . [12] X Research source
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Cherry-print nails Add a subtle detail that will become your summertime go-to mani: mini cherries. This look works on a plain nail or over a sheer nude base polish—you can even have a nail artist apply cherry nail art over fresh French tips. [13] X Research source Just make sure the cherries are extra tiny to maintain those minimalist, clean girl nail vibes.
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Logo mani Leave logomania behind—almost. To incorporate a fun detail on a neutral, clean girl manicure, have a nail artist add a simple luxury logo to your pointer finger’s nail. Ideas include the Chanel C motif or the Dior CD logo.
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Inverted French tips Subvert expectations with a clean girl nail look that puts a pop of color at the nail bed instead of the tip. [14] X Research source Start with a base coat and sheer pink polish. Use nail tape or sticker guides placed upside down to create a ‘tip’ at the bottom of the nail plate. Apply a bright pastel or neon shade and let it dry completely before sealing it with a top coat.
- Nail tip guide stickers like Orly’s Half Moon Guides , placed upside down, will help you achieve a clean, inverted swipe of color.
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Pearl nails Clean girl nails with a 3D element are sure to stand out. Add a touch of subtle bling by applying miniature pearl charms to a plain base polish using nail glue and a clean, thin brush or dotting tool. You can match your makeup to this mani by applying subtle pearl gems to a white eyeshadow look.
- Pearl nail charms are often sold in kits with multiple sizes, like this set from VOTACOS which includes micro and mini pearl charms along with rhinestones.
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Polka dot nails Turn a basic base polish into a polka-dot party with a cute polka-dot pattern on top. Once your nude or sheer pink base coat has dried, use a dotting tool to apply small dots of color, evenly spaced around the nail. Dot one color at a time—so add one to two yellow dots on each nail, then a couple of blue dots, and so on until you’re satisfied with the final pattern. [15] X Research source
- Use a thin dotting tool like the ones in this SAVILAND set .
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Gem nails Put a little bling at the base of your nails to infuse a basic look with some sparkle. After applying a base coat and a nude polish of your choice, use nail glue and a dotting tool or toothpick to set miniature nail gems at the center of each nail. The gem should sit right above your cuticle.
- Nail gems or rhinestones come in large sets or smaller packs. Look for a set that includes a tweezer and picker tool, like this one from Canvalite .
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Ombre glitter nails An ombre nail look can offer you a bold manicure without straying too far from the simple glamour of the clean girl aesthetic. To get the look, gather nail-safe glitter, a thin striping brush, clear nail polish, and a paper plate, napkin, or piece of aluminum foil that can serve as your working surface.
- Pour a quarter-size dollop of clear nail polish on your surface and pour a small pile of glitter nearby. Load the brush up with clear polish and a small amount of glitter. Coat each nail with one coat, letting the glitter spread around.
- After this coat dries completely, repeat the brush-loading steps, but only add more glitter to the tips of your nails to create an ombre or gradient effect. [16] X Research source
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Section 3 of 5:
How to Do Clean Girl Nails at Home
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Remove any old nail polish and file or trim your nails into shape. Remove any old nail polish using nail polish remover and cotton swabs or pads. Then, use a nail clipper to cut your nails to your desired length before shaping them with a file—clean girl nails are usually short or medium in length. File your nails into a round or almond shape, depending on your preference. [17] X Research source Trim any hangnails with your nail clipper as well.
- When filing your nails, move your file in one direction the whole time and lift the file away from the nail in between each stroke to prevent filing in both directions. Avoid sawing back and forth or up and down, which can cause damage to your nails. [18] X Research source
- To file your nails into a rounded shape , hold your nail file at one of your nail’s two corners at a 45-degree angle to the nail bed (the bottom of the nail where the cuticle is). Gently file the corner of the nail, rounding as you go. [19] X Research source Stop when both corners are rounded and smooth with no sharp edges remaining.
- To file your nails into an almond shape , you’ll need to start with a longer nail. Visualize the center of the tip of the nail: This will be the ‘point’ of your almond shape. File the upper corners of the nail to round them, alternating back and forth to create an even shape. Stop when the rounded shape resembles the point of an almond—your nail should be widest at the cuticle and taper to a rounded point at its tip. [20] X Research source
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Soak and push back your cuticles. Squeeze a few drops of gentle face cleanser or shampoo into a bowl of warm water. Place your nails into the soapy water and let your cuticles soak for 2-3 minutes. Remove your fingers from the bowl and pat dry, then apply a drop of cuticle remover to the cuticle of each nail and massage the oil into your nail bed for about 1 minute. Then, use a cuticle pusher to gently push back your cuticles. [21] X Research source
- Finally, apply a nourishing lotion to your hands and nails to ensure your skin is moisturized and supple.
- Use a clean cotton wipe to remove any remaining cuticle remover, dead skin, or lotion before moving on.
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Buff your nails and apply a base coat. Place the gritty side of your nail buffer parallel to the surface of your nail and move it down your nail in an X-shape (one stroke down to the left, then another stroke down to the right). [22] X Research source Buff each nail for 6 to 8 strokes. After you buff, wipe the nails once more with a cotton pad. Now you’re ready to apply a base coat: position the brush at the middle of the nail and swipe the base coat up toward the tip. Repeat on both sides so the base coat covers your nail completely. Let dry (usually 1-2 minutes) before moving on. [23] X Research source
- Buffing smooths your nails so the polish will apply evenly to the surface. Be careful not to buff them too much, or nail polish may slip off your nails. [24] X Research source
- Base coat may also help prevent your polish from chipping and staining.
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Apply two coats of nail polish and add any nail art. Paint a thin layer of your chosen polish onto your nails, then let your nails dry completely before applying a second coat. Wait at least 2 minutes between coats to ensure that the first layer has had adequate time to dry. Repeat until you’re satisfied with the saturation of your nail shade.
- Optionally, add nail stickers to create small, delicate designs. Just keep these add-ons to a minimum—the clean girl aesthetic is all about less-is-more details. [25] X Research source
- Pulaski starts by polishing with her non-dominant hand so her dominant hand doesn’t have wet polish on it yet—that way, it’s easier to clean up mistakes as she goes.
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Regularly clean your nails and moisturize them with cuticle oil. Nagorska emphasizes the importance of regularly applying cuticle oil because “you keep washing your hands throughout the day, so you keep washing out all the natural oils that your nail has” that are needed to maintain the nail’s health.
- Clean under your nails on a daily basis. Wash your hands with soap and water to remove stubborn buildup, and follow with moisturizing hand cream or lotion. [28] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source Or, consider using a special product like an orange stick , a wooden stick meant for cleaning under nails .
- “A manicure brush is [another] great tool to clean the underside of your nails, especially once the debris has softened during a shower or a bath. Alternatively, you can use a wet wipe wrapped around a manicure stick or an eyelash spoolie,” Nagorska shares.
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Section 4 of 5:
How to Ask for Clean Girl Nails at the Salon
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Find a reference photo of a nail look you want on Instagram or Pinterest. If you just ask for clean girl nails, the manicurist may not know what you’re talking about. Save a reference photo on your phone to show the nail artist before your appointment begins. [29] X Research source Bringing a photo will ensure you and your nail artist know what look you’re aiming for and can work together to achieve your vision.
- Search phrases like “clean girl nails,” “clean girl manicure,” and “clean girl nail art” on Pinterest and Instagram to discover reference photos. You might even stumble upon a nail artist near you who can recreate one of their past clean girl looks on your nails!
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Ask for short, rounded nails. This shape is popular within the clean girl aesthetic because it looks natural and effortless. [30] X Research source If you’re getting an acrylic or gel set instead of having your natural nails done, request a rounded or almond shape.
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Select a sheer, subtle polish shade. Even if you have a reference photo, you may prefer a nail polish color different from the one in the picture. Look at the nail salon’s polish options and pick a sheer or subtle shade in a neutral color close to your skin tone. [31] X Research source If you opt for nail art, stick to minimalist designs like a French tip or small stars.
- Don’t forget to request a glossy finish to complete your clean girl nail look!
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References
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- ↑ https://www.vervemagazine.co.nz/trendy-clean-girl-nail-looks-to-try/#google_vignette
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- ↑ https://blueskycosmetics.co.uk/blogs/blog/should-i-use-a-top-coat-everything-you-need-to-know-about-gel-polish
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