I can’t be the only one with an iPhone album full of manicure inspiration, right? I screenshot favorites with the intensity of someone planning a heist, the latest being Idina Menzel’s duo-tone manicure, which I’m pushing to the top of my inspo gallery because I need it on my nails, like, yesterday.
The manicure was brought to life by Los Angeles celebrity manicurist Vanessa Sanchez McCullough (a.k.a @nailzbyvee on Instagram), and it comprises a French manicure with a twist: a vivid, hot-pink base swapped in for the classic nude, and a deep burgundy tip standing in for the traditional white. Set on medium-long almond-shaped nails with a glassy, high-shine finish, Sanchez described them in the post’s caption as “bold, glossy and just the right amount of theatrical.” (Perfectly on-brand for a Broadway icon.)
The color pairing also feels perfect for the transition from summer to fall, as if McCullough set out to dream up the ultimate bold, in-between look. The bright pink holds onto summer in all its vibrant glory, while the rich burgundy tips tease the moodier shades to come.
Menzel’s manicure isn’t the only playful celebrity nail look we’ve seen recently. Kylie Jenner’s “crystal candy” manicure also got our attention last week, featuring a sheer, milky nude base finished with oversized, multicolored gemstones (a pink emerald-cut stone, a green heart, a ruby-red emerald-cut stone and more—on each nail), courtesy of celebrity manicurist Zola Ganzorigt (whom you might know on Instagram as @nailsbyzola). Like Menzel’s, Jenner’s manicure was playful, a little over-the-top in the best way and very screenshot-worthy.
What’s interesting is that, in conversations with NewBeauty, celebrity manicurists predicted that many of September’s nail-color trends would be subdued, including milky nude, graphite gray and cool taupe. But Jenner’s and Menzel’s recent manicures prove there’s still room for spectacle alongside all that restraint. Which side of the spectrum will you land on?
