Gemstone Nails Are the Maximalist Manicure Trend Taking Over Right Now

The world is looking exactly like I pictured it would when I was about 10 years old: Everything is now bedazzled. Kylie Jenner just threw a 29th birthday party complete with a gem-themed cake and decor that looks straight out of my third-grade dreams. Now, beauty brands are going all in, covering tubes of lip gloss from cap to bottom in jewels, while people are embellishing everything from their water bottles to face masks.And, of course, manicures always make their way into every trend wave (hi, Copenhagen nails and sardine nails), so naturally jewels are now emblazoning our nail beds. Celebs like Sabrina Carpenter and Dua Lipa are also fans of the sparkly look, so below, I rounded up all the gemstone manicure inspiration you need to add a little whimsy to your nails.How to achieve gem nails: Luckily, gem nails look much more complicated than they actually are. All you need is some basic nail-polish skills and a few tiny gems. Start by clipping, filing, and grooming your nails as usual to create a clean canvas. Then, apply one or two coats of a neutral or milky polish that will let the colorful gems stand out. Let the polish dry completely before moving on to the fun part—the actual gem-ification.Using a pair of tweezers, place your gems exactly where you want them on each nail. (Amazon has a plethora of shapes and colors.) Depending on the type of gem and adhesive you’re using, secure them with nail glue or a gel adhesive, then let your nails air-dry or cure according to the product’s instructions. And there you have it: your very own bedazzled masterpiece.Gem nail inspiration:All-Over JewelsGo all in with a milky base and mix of colorful gems scattered across each nail. Play with different shapes, sizes, and colors, from tiny stars and hearts to classic rhinestones and jewel-like accents, for a perfectly mismatched look.@akikonails_nyc@craftedbyaprinceAdd Cosmopolitan as a preferred source in your Google search results.Use your Google account to add this to your settings.Rhinestone Florals This is the design that kicked off the gemstone nail movement, courtesy of Dua Lipa and Kylie Jenner. Choose your favorite colors to create the petals in a simple circle, then use another shade to fill in the center.@sansungnails@samrosenailsPatterned GemsYou can also choose your favorite pattern, whether it’s animal print or French tips, and let the gems serve as the finishing touch rather than the main event. This look only requires a few gems per nail, so you don’t need to be quite as precise with placement.@nailsbymh@samrosenailsHalf-Nail BedazzlingSabrina Carpenter wore gems on the bottom half of her nails during her last tour, and I’ve been obsessed with the look ever since. Her nail artist even DIY’d the look below on the left. You can also reverse the look, lining the gems along the tips to create the effect that the jewels themselves form a French tip.@nailsbyzola@samrosenailsWhy Trust Cosmopolitan?Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo who covers all things nails—from the latest manicure trends to new polish launches.Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.