I often joke that I am mentally ill, but no one doubts my foresight when it comes to progress. nail trends. My finger (tip) is on the pulse of all the rising manicure movements before they take over your Pinterest feed. tiger stripes nails—just picking up steam, by the way—to do unconventional color combination he will be professional support me Months later. Now that I have your attention, I’m excited to introduce a trend that will elevate last year’s trends polka dot craze Try something new before summer: studded nails, as you’ll soon see below.
I first glimpsed this trend last October, when an image of a manicure adorned with silver studs appeared on my Pinterest. This look immediately appealed to me, and not just because it resembled a handbag I’d just seen Lorelai Gilmore Flick around on your TV (I was re-watching my annual autumn Gilmore GirlsOK!), but because it was a cool and dressy way to wear polka dots compared to the countless other ways I saw celebrities show off online.
Thankfully, I had a nail appointment here vanity projects In new yorkWas standing in line on the Lower East Side, and I immediately presented him with both photos. (The manicure inspo shot and I snapped a photo of Lorelai on my screen, of course.) From there, we came up with her silver-flecked, pale yellow manicure — a look I saw bounce back this spring, this time in the crowd. Keep scrolling for the complete trend digest.
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Studded Nail Ideas to Try Before Summer 2026
disco dandelion
Although I found these nails in the fall, it The butter yellow color seems especially suitable for spring and summer. To create the pseudo studs, my manicurist applied individual flat discs to my nails with a small amount of gel to keep everything in place, and adjusted them along the way. After sealing the look with a gel top coat, we’re left with this glassy, ​​effortlessly cool manicure that works year-round.
channel
Le Vernis Longwear Nail Color in Ovni
Essie
Nail polish in all fun and games
heavy metal
This is as literally a trend explanation as they come. To totally nail this look, try an inky black base, like the one painted by the manicurist Ramon DuranAnd then glue (if regular polish) or fix (if gel) small stud decals around the perimeter of the nail. This look is undoubtedly edgy and feels very appropriate for the colder months, but I think it’s especially cool to wear anti-spring nails when the weather is warmer.
Essie
Jelly Gloss Nail Polish in Ink Jelly
belleboost
silver nail charms and gems
dark wash
This bright navy set is another set I recently saved to my Nailpo board. Navy nails have been in style since the beginning of 2026, but a sprinkle of studs takes them straight into spring/summer territory. For a softer look (and one that’s easy to create at home), dip a small dotting tool in silver nail polish and stick it around the perimeter of your nails to get a “studded” result. Even a hairpin works in a pinch!
OPI
Nail Lacquer in Chopsticks and Stones
OPI
Rapidri Quick-Dry Lacquer in One Second Silver
beauty secrets
5-Pack Dotting Tool Set
leather hardware
The first thing this trend reminds me of is a leather bag with metallic, studded hardware (ahem, that). Gilmore Girls episode I mentioned earlier), and this all-black manicure with tiny silver dots is a perfect expression. Nail art minimalists will appreciate these little accents that make a statement, but aren’t showy.
OPI
Nail Lacquer in Black Onyx
Nails, Inc.
Mirror Chrome Nail Polish Silver Served
londontown
high gloss top coat
contrast dots
Mismatched nails will soon be gone, but I especially love this contrasting hand trend when paired with contrasting studs. Blue and brown are a trending combo in the fashion world, so it’s perfect that we throw them into the manicure mix – and add a few dots in contrasting hand colors on top of it for added charm.
Essie
Nail Polish in Find Me An Oasis
Essie
vegan nail polish without any action
Manucurist
nail polish in lilac
soft stitches
celebrity manicurist Bettina Goldstein This design featured a slightly different iteration – fake stitches to mimic the seams in denim jeans – but maintained the theme of perimeter-lining art. If metal studs seem a little too pointy for your tastes, try a row of sweet stitching for something simple.
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Le Vernis Longwear Nail Color in Legende
accent stud
Don’t want to do a full manicure with studded nails? No problem. This mix-n-match set proves that metallic points look extra cute when mixed Tortoise print, polka dot French tips, and a small number of tiny stud clusters.
sally hansen
Insta-Dry Chrome Nail Polish in Steal the Show
OPI
Infinite Shine Nail Polish that is not afraid of the dark
AIBRIT
Gel Liner Art Polish Set
summer place
Although I love one Subversive spring beauty trend, I get it — dark nail polish isn’t everyone’s cup of tea when the sun finally starts to show. For a lighter, more seasonal approach, try this trend-stacked look by celebrity manicurist queeny nguyen. This set has everything: a milky polish base, trendy polka dots, and the floral nail art we all love for spring. Put it all together, and you have a seasonal smash hit.
londontown
honeymoon lacquer nail polish
fingerpaint
Stripping Polish in Red-Essence
fingerpaint
Stripping Polish in Hip Hip Hue-Ray
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