Sea Shell Nails: All The Nautical Inspiration You Need

Reported by Vogue.

Seashell nails are having a full moment — and the runway just made it official. Backstage at Chanel's latest cruise show, London-based nail artist Ama Quashie transformed models' fingertips into miniature aquatic treasures, working with what she called a "sea-washed palette" of gradated reds, ambers, pinks, and turquoise. Her directive: find colors that dissolve into each other, then layer iridescence and shimmer over soft pastels to conjure the luminous depth of mother-of-pearl. The result landed somewhere between a coral reef and a dream, according to Vogue.

Off the runway, the trend is moving fast. As soon as temperatures climb and out-of-office messages start stacking up, seashell nails flood every feed — and the range of interpretations is genuinely vast. Toronto-based nail artist Cerise Carvalho puts it plainly: "Tactile finishes and textures mimicking nature are really big right now, and seashell designs lend themselves perfectly to this for summer." Her approach leans into the fact that no two real shells are identical — layering translucent jelly polish, powders, magnetic effects, and gems to build something dimensional and legitimately show-stopping. Her French-tip variation, anchored by a flicker of sparkle at the center, reads like a shell you'd actually want to pocket on the beach.

From Subtle to Sculptural

For those who want the vibe without the maximalism, Brooklyn-based nail artist Nic Zuhse uses white liner gel and 3-D gel to replicate the ridged texture of wave-tumbled shells — detailed enough to read as art, restrained enough not to overwhelm. Meanwhile, Montreal-based creator Rachel Parent gravitates toward the trend's earthy, sandy tones precisely because they're wearable with everything. "Very detailed and dimensional, but still versatile," she says — which is basically the holy grail of any nail look worth committing to.

On the maximalist end of the spectrum, Aguadillo-based nail artist Guanina Cotto goes full conch: spiral shapes, punchy aquatic color, sculptural 3-D effects that look like they were pulled straight from a snorkeling trip off the Great Barrier Reef. Her at-home advice? Marbling and metallic polishes are your entry point into that kind of oceanic drama without requiring a gel lamp and a prayer.

Whether you want barely-there pearlescence or nails that double as conversation starters, seashell season has a version for you — and it's the rare trend that actually delivers on the fantasy of dressing like you live somewhere with a coastline.

Read the original at Vogue.