Millennials are Reviving the Barry M Era as ‘Jelly Nails’ Surge in Popularity
Jelly nails are quickly becoming one of the most searched manicure styles online. Think of the ‘jelly trend’ as the high-shine, high-sensory evolution of the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic. It’s playful, nostalgic, bouncy, and vibrant. This trend is about more than just a ‘wet look’ — it’s a full sensory experience. And jelly beauty has taken over everything from our nails to our makeup and skin-care formulas, with many ever-forward-thinking companies in Korea pioneering the concept. But the obsession isn’t new; every ’90s baby remembers the sparkly jelly sandals and hair clips of yesteryear. Playing with transparency and jelly textures was all the rage, from jelly shoes and hair clips to inflatable furniture, clear backpacks, and, yes, jelly polish.
Search data shows interest in the translucent manicure style has increased by 134% over the past year, with 13k searches recorded in the past month. For a lot of millennials, jelly nails evoke memories of the iconic Barry M ‘Gelly’ nail polishes that were everywhere in the early 2000s. It’s also really in line with Pinterest’s ‘Gimme Gummy’ trend prediction, which leans into glossy textures and playful, gummy bear or candy colours.
What are jelly nails?
Jelly nails are a sheer, glass-like finish design, created using translucent layers of gel polish that allow light to pass through the colour. Unlike traditional opaque manicures, the finish creates a glossy effect similar to coloured glass or jelly sweets.
Jelly nails are created using sheer layers of gel colour built over a clear base, allowing light to pass through the polish and giving it that signature, almost glass-like finish.
Why jelly nails are trending again
Jelly nails are relatively simple for nail technicians to create compared to more intricate nail art trends. Most nail techs can recreate the look using sheer gel or by layering translucent polish over a chrome-dusted gel base.
It also works really well on shorter natural nails, which just continue to grow in popularity. We’re seeing so many clients requesting more natural-looking manicures, so it’s not surprising that jelly nails, which really enhance the natural nail shape, are on the rise again.
Why jelly nails are perfect for spring and summer
The colours people opt for usually resemble sweets or fruit jellies, which is so fun for spring and summer when people tend to start introducing more colour into their wardrobes.
Pastel tones like soft pinks and ‘strawberry milkshake’ shades are one of the most popular variations, but what I really love about jelly manicures is their versatility. You can trial the look with pretty much any colour, but that little bit of translucence keeps them subtle enough for everyday. I predict we’ll see a lot of jelly styles in bridal and wedding guest looks this spring and summer.
Written by Annabelle, beauty expert at Fresha