Watercolor Nails Are the Dreamy Mani Trend Replacing Marble Nails

The year is 2013. I'm sitting at my kitchen table after school watching YouTube tutorials on how to perfect water marble nail art. I'd add drops of polish into a Solo cup filled with water, use a toothpick to mix the colors into a marbled design, then plunge my nails into the swirly concoction. Did they come out remotely cute? No. But it was a 2010s beauty rite of passage. Now, there's an updated take on the nostalgic trend: Meet watercolor nails.Watercolor nails combine the swirled effect of marble nails with the diffused glow of aura nails. "I think clients like how watercolor nails look softer and more elevated than marble nails," says Ramon Duran, a California-based nail artist. "People are leaning more toward dreamy, wearable nail art right now." The finished look resembles diluted watercolor paint bleeding across paper, with sheer blotches of color that melt into one another.Ahead, everything you need to know about watercolor nails, including how to DIY them and plenty of inspiration for your next manicure.Watercolor glam has been everywhere lately, from soft-focus foundation to flushed blush reminiscent of a Renaissance painting. Now, that same aesthetic is making its way onto our manicures.Watercolor nails feature soft swirls of sheer color that look like diluted watercolor paints blended into one another, turning each nail into a tiny canvas. Unlike the defined swirl of marble nails, watercolor nails have a diffused finish with no harsh lines. "Watercolor nails give you that artistic look while still feeling clean, modern, and effortless," says Ramon Duran, a California-based nail artist. "I like how it blends the colors together in a sheer and light way."How to achieve watercolor nails:Watercolor nails can be recreated at home with regular nail polish, but you'll likely get the longest-lasting results with gel polish. Start by choosing two to four shades that go well together, whether that's dreamy pastels, sunset hues, or bright pops of color. Apply a sheer nude or milky base coat, then lightly dab each color onto the nail using a small makeup sponge or nail art sponge, overlapping the shades so they softly blend into one another instead of creating distinct sections."I like to do these nails with a gel polish and stamp it into the nail with mini sponges," says Duran. "Start small and build it up," he says. "And I like to flash cure in between." Continue stamping until you've reached your desired level of color, then finish with a glossy top coat to enhance the watercolor effect, or even a chrome topper for a reflective finish. Once you’re finished, you can use a cotton swab with some polish remover to get rid of any excess polish around the edges of the nail (or use tape in true 2013 water marble fashion).Watercolor Nails Inspo: @overglowedit@nailsbymh@kimkimnails@craftedbyaprince@chummy.nails@nailartbysig@akikonails_nycMeet the ExpertRamon Duran, aka @craftedbyaprince, is a California-based nail artist and content creator. He is beloved for his editorial gel extension designs and creative collaborations with leading beauty brands like OPI, READY READY, and more.Why trust Cosmopolitan?Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo who covers all things nails—from the latest color trends to new polish launches. For this story, she found all the best watercolor nail inspo and also tapped nail artist Ramon Duran for his insight.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.