Trust Me—Pearl Nails Are Going to Dominate Salons This Season

Spring has finally sprung, and with it comes an influx of trending nail designs to experiment with. As we enter a new season, it's only natural that our fingertips reflect the optimism of spring. After a long, dark winter, is there anything more joyous than tapping into those refreshing springtime pastels or trying out those Easter nail designs we see come back around each year? I think not. They're the perfect palate cleanser after wearing those wintery Bordeaux reds and festive glitter.
If, like me, you're a bit of a colourphobe and can't commit to just one nail art design, I'm pleased to report that there is a new spring nail trend on the block. Enter pearl nails—the pretty yet understated trend that is a little more interesting than the usual pink and neutral shades.
The pearl nail designs I have been seeing are akin to the glazed nail trend that we saw take off last year, and the milky nails that are doing the rounds lately. But these shimmering pearlescent finishes have a hint of opal or moonstone to them, with blue, purple and pink undertones that catch the light.
Pearlescent nails are the perfect way to go if you want something a little bit different from your usual mani. Most pearl polishes are quite sheer, so you can wear them as a sheer wash of shimmer or layer them up for a more opaque result.
What's more, they also make a perfect wedding nail design if you're looking for a bridal manicure that feels a little more special than your typical wedding pinks. Above are Pixie Lott's wedding nails, and I'm screenshotting them immediately. So pretty.
Scroll on for more pearl nail designs I love as well as the best pearl nail polishes to achieve the look.
The combination of the blue-toned pearl and sheer application makes this pearl mani a winner.
A more opaque finish looks equally pretty too. If you're having gel polish, buffing a chrome powder with an opalescent finish on top of a neutral base will give you this look.
If you don't want to go the whole hog, then pearlescent French tips are a way to dip a fingertip into the trend.
Even Jennifer Lopez is getting on the pearl nail trend—her nail technician Tom Bachik recently posted the result of her pearlescent manicure.
Shop pearl nails polishes:
Up Next, Zendaya Just Wore the Perfect Clean-Girl Mani Colour, and It's Just £12

Eleanor Vousden is the beauty editor for Who What Wear UK. She was previously deputy editor at Hairdressers Journal, health writer at Woman & Home and junior beauty editor at Powder. She has also contributed to Wallpaper and Elle Collections.With a degree in fashion journalism from the London College of Fashion, she has 10 years of industry experience and has been highly commended at the BSME Talent Awards for her work on Powder and also contributed to the title winning Website of the Year at the PPA Awards.Eleanor’s journalistic focus is providing readers with honest and helpful beauty content. She has interviewed celebrity makeup artists, hairstylists and dermatologists throughout her career, as well as celebrities such as Hailey Bieber, Sarah Jessica Parker and Scarlett Johansson.
-
Sabrina Carpenter's Throwback Manicure Is the Stylish Summer Nail Inspo I Didn't See Coming
Hint: It's one of fashion's most popular prints.
-
I Tried the Controversial Manicure Taking Over TikTok—My Nails Look Unreal
10 out of 10, would do it again.
-
Oat, Almond, or Strawberry? The Best Milky Nail Polish Shades for an On-Trend Summer Manicure
Soft, subtle, barely there nails.
-
Trust Me—These 10 "Boring" Nail Colors Transcend Trends and Always Look Chic
Universal crowd-pleasers.
-
Scoping Out Nail Trends Is My Extreme Sport, and I'm Predicting a "Sunny French" Summer
Classic yet striking.
-
From L.A. to London: The Top 5 Pedicure Colors Stylish People Are Wearing for Summer 2025
Celebrity nail artists have spoken.
-
Sorry, French Tips—I'll Be Wearing This Cute, Low-Lift Nail Trend All Summer Long
Effortlessly chic and so much fun.
-
I Won't Wear Sheer Nail Polish Unless It's This Exact OPI Shade Combination
Only the best.