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No matter your style, aesthetic or “fill-in-the-blank” girl summer take, you know that nails are signed up. From milky creamy finishes to beachy decals, nails are having a moment, ready to pair with your fashion sense. We spoke with Rita Remark, global ambassador for Essie, and Gina Edwards, celebrity manicurist and nail expert with Kiss Nails.
On-trend nail look: Clean Girl/but better nails
“Imagine if the tips of your nails were naturally creamy white, your nail beds softly pink, your nails effortlessly glossy; naturally,” says Remark. That’s the Clean Girl look: a you but-better natural French mani. “It looks like you grew it,” she says, adding that celebs Selena Gomez, Zoe Kravitz and Jennifer Lopez are fans.
How to do it: Because it’s a natural look, follow your natural white tips with a sheer milky polish. No need to be perfect, because you’ll want to use a neutral sheer colour overtop to blur the onychodermal band (between the whites and the nail bed).
Dress it up: “As with any natural look, we’re wearing this with practically anything,” says Remark. “This look can be dressed down to elevate the casual and dressed up to add balance to luxury.”
Try on your talons: Essie in Fairy Taylor, $21, at shoppersdrugmart.com; and OPI in Funny Bunny, $12, at opi.com.
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On-trend nail look: Chrome shine nails
“Personally, my favourite nail trend this summer is sheer chrome layered over existing nail art,” says Edwards. “It gives the nails a soft reflective finish without overpowering the design underneath.”
How to do it: If you have the artist gene and can do nail art yourself, then finish it off with a sheer chrome topcoat. Or if you have a bit of growth on your salon-mani nail art, make it last longer with a sheer chrome top coat. You can do the same with press-ons, too, of course.
Dress it up: “Sheer chrome nails pair beautifully with gold jewelry, silky fabrics, linen sets and monochromatic dressing,” says Edwards. I love the styles from the collection because the finish catches the light like jewelry and adds that extra statement to a look. “Chrome itself isn’t new, but the softer diffused application is evolving in a much more wearable way.
Try on your talons: Kiss Gel Fantasy Magnetic in Beatbells, $23, at shoppersdrugmart.com; and Bio Sculpture 062 Chrome Catalyst, $35, at biosculpturenails.com.
From picked cuticles to gorgeous tips: How to grow long nails.
On-trend nail look: Oh-so-pretty pattern play nails
All your favourite #StyleTok patterns can be worn on nails. And the same way you would mix and match prints, you can do the same on your nails.
How to do it: Remark points to polka dots worn with stripes in complementary colours. “It doesn’t matter if each nail matches; they just need to coordinate. I love varying the thickness of the stripes from pinstripe to plaid and the dots from polka-dot to dainty.” Also, opt for muted brights and earthy tones to wear with “anything in your closet.”
Dress it up: Wear this on-trend nail look like jewelry, says Remark: “a bold accent for a more subtle outfit.”
Try on your talons: Quo Beauty Nail Stencil Kit, $11, at shoppersdrugmart.com; ClassyNailz Polka-Dot Press-on Nails, $39, at Etsy.ca.
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On-trend nail look: Shh-quiet luxury nails
“The quiet-luxury nail feels very new because it’s a little less opaque and more dimensional than traditional natural manicures,” says Edwards, looking to translucent-milky shades as fresh for summer 2026. “A lot of this season’s inspiration comes from fashion and beauty moving toward softer luxury and elevated minimalism. People still want creativity, but in a more wearable way.” And when it’s really shiny, that’s the statement effect, adds Edwards.
How to do it: Neutrals, of course. Think shades you’d find for leather, suede, cashmere, linen and any other touchable texture. To really make it eye-catching without bragging, opt for glass-effect faux nails or finish with a topcoat. Just make sure your nails are all even – and look expensive.
Dress it up: Your entire closet, from high to low fashion.
Try on your talons: Manicurist Paris Active Smooth in 00, $29, at detoxmarket.ca; OPI XPression Instant Gel-like Salon Manicure in Big Apple Red, $22, at shoppersdrugmart.com.
What’s the Coastal Grandmother trend?
On-trend nail look: Coastal nails
From opulent seashell iridescents to seafoam green tips, beachy nails go from the waterfront to the office. “This look was first seen on the runway at Chanel Cruise 26/27,” adds Remark. “Each nail wore its own hue of sheer iridescent, giving each hand an ethereal seaside glow.”
How to do it: “Like the inside of an oyster, pearly, reflective and mesmerizing, iridescent sheers add a delicate opulence to a nude manicure,” suggests Remark. She says to ”wear these sheer iridescents on their own or overtop of a sheer neutral shade.”
To up the beach-y factor, Edwards adds that 3D accents like tiny florals, pearls are big for vacation and event manis.
Dress it up: “Seafoam and soft tones work perfectly with resort wear, oversized white shirts, ballet flats and relaxed tailoring,” says Edwards.
For that Chanel look, Remark recommends wearing it with linen pants, white summer dresses, and gladiator sandals.
Try on your talons: Kiss Glam Jeweled (sic) in Tidal Tips, $14, at kissusa.com; and Essie in Mystic Marine, $10, at walmart.ca.
Nailed it—Kristen Gale on leveling up.
Nail tips: How to make your on-trend nails last beyond a weekend
Polished nails that last longer than a weekend
Summer is busy, and it can be hard on the nails, from dry sand to drying AC. But “long wear relies on prep and application,” says Remark. “You can apply polish perfectly, but if your nails are oily or wet, the polish will chip immediately.”
- Before you polish, cleanse your nails with soap and water, then give each nail a swipe of nail polish remover to remove oils and residue.
- Apply a long-wear base coat and let it dry.
- Then add a coat or two of polish, depending on your desired opacity. Make sure it’s dried fully.
- Finish with a long-wear top coat. A gel effect is your best bet
- Reapply your topcoat every two to three days. “This restabilizes the polish and refreshes shine,” says Remark.
- To combat dry cuticles, use a hand cream that contains SPF. For cracked heels, choose a hand lotion/foot cream that hydrates and exfoliates. Remark likes Prequel Foot Rescue Balm because it’s made with urea and salicylic acid.
Press-on nails that won’t pop off before your vacay ends
“Preparation is everything,” answers Edwards, when asked about ensuring a faux mani lasts for days. And it can last for up to 14 days, she says.
- Wash your hands. Hydrate your cuticles and push them back gently with a manicure stick.
- Buff and dehydrate your nailbeds (avoiding the skin) with alcohol. “It makes a huge difference in longevity.”
- Choose the sizes of nails. The nails should cover the entire nail without going over the cuticles. Place them in the order you’ll apply them. Edwards recommends the Kiss Professional Full Cover Nail Kits. Follow the instructions that come inside the packaging.
- Apply a bit of glue to your natural nail and to the back of the false nail.
- Apply the press-on at a 45-degree angle, right at your cuticle line. Then slowly lower it toward the tip to push out any air bubbles.
- Hold the nail down firmly for about 30 seconds. Repeat on other nails and on the other hand.
- Once all nails are applied, hydrate the cuticles again. Avoid using water immediately, which includes washing dishes and showering. Let the glue cure.
What is the Clean Girl aesthetic trend?
Summer lovin’ – had me a blast
While you might take your fashion sense seriously, have fun with your manis. “Summer nails should feel fun, expressive, and personal,” says Edwards. “This season isn’t about following strict rules; it’s about finding colours and finishes that make you feel elevated and confident.”