Over the past few years, the ’90s have definitely been the best decade in our hearts. We can’t get enough of famous beauty trends from the 1990s, like bouncy blowouts that look like they came from a supermodel and frosty eyeshadow and lip liner that makes a statement. It wasn’t a time for minimalism (unless you count those thin eyebrows), which is what makes this decade so important in the beauty world. From their glamorous hair to their perfectly manicured nails, celebrities like Pamela Anderson, Naomi Campbell, and Princess Diana set the tone. That’s what we’re going to talk about here: The nail trends that have lasted over time and shaped our manicures today.
01 of 19 Classic Red
The Princess Diana Red 90s Nail Trend
When it comes to nail polish colours that never go out of style, red is pretty much the best. Red nail polish is one of the most versatile colours because it comes in a wide range of shades, from bright blood orange to dark maroon. Princess Diana was the most famous red lover, and she even broke royal dress code by wearing the colour to press and charity events. American royal Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy followed the trend by often having red nails while out and about in New York City.
02 of 19 CBK Tortoiseshell Nails
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy was better known for her tortoiseshell headband, but the texture has a strong ’90s vibe in any form. It’s not surprising that tortoiseshell nails are popular right now, along with our obsession with this timeless style icon. It’s not too hard to do yourself with a jelly base and a second polish for the print, but you can also get it done at a salon or as press-on nails.
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03 of 19 Milk with blueberries
The 90s nail trend was Alivia Silverstone Blueberry Milk Colour.
You can call this light cornflower colour baby blue, powder blue, or blueberry milk. The only thing you need to know is that it’s been a favourite of A-listers for years. Dua Lipa, Hailey Bieber, Zendaya, and Sofia Richie Grainge have all recently signed off on this colour as a beauty trend. But real fans of the 1990s know that Mary J. Blige, Madonna, Alicia Silverstone, and Lindsay Lohan were the first to do it.
04 of 19 Deep French
People still love French manicures from the 1990s, but a deeper tip has been coming back in a big way lately. The unapologetically chunky look is both nostalgic and timeless. Zola Ganzorigt made a cover image for a nail education magazine based on Kylie Jenner, and the result is magic that you can wear.
05 of 19 Manis that don’t match
The Claudia Schiffer Skittle Coloured 90s Nails Trend
Supermodels were at their best in the 1990s. The “Big Six” the most bookable names in the business rose to fame this decade. They included Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer. These two gave just as much beauty inspiration off-duty as they did on the runway, from London to Milan. This mismatched manicure on Schiffer is a great example of how supermodels were the first influencers. The “why choose?” attitude spread to salons all over the world and gave rise to the idea that accent nails didn’t have to be one-of-a-kind.
06 of 19 “Pretty Woman” Nails
This brown manicure is inspired by fashion from the 1990s and looks like Julia Roberts’s famous Pretty Woman dress at your fingertips. This polka-dotted mani is sure to make you feel like a romantic heroine because it strikes a balance between a neutral look and a fun statement.
07 of 19 Manis made of metal
The Britney Spears Metallic 90s Nail Trend
Movies like Men In Black, The Matrix, and Total Recall kept sci-fi on people’s minds in the 1990s. There were also really fun beauty trends, like high ponytails, space buns, and metallic manicures inspired by Zenon Girl of the 21st Century. Artists like Britney Spears and Madonna loved silver gold and copper nail polishes that looked sleek and futuristic.
08 of 19 Milky Colours
The 90s nail trend with Jennifer Aniston’s milky hue
Jennifer Aniston is best known for her amazing hair and Rachel Green outfits, but she also made milky manicures more popular. In the 1990s, whites and creams with a milky finish were very popular, and for good reason. The look is easy to wear and works for any occasion.
09 of 19 Lipgloss Nails
The Brandy Nude 90s Nail Trend
The “better nails” look isn’t new. Beauty stores have had sheer nude polishes with a subtle shine finish for decades. But the saying goes “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” Brandy Norwood shows that this look which is often called “lip gloss” nails is always classy elegant and stylish.
10 of 19 Cool Chrome
Jennifer Lopez with the Chrome 90s Nail Trend
Celebrities have loved all things iridescent for a long time, even before Hailey Bieber came up with the glazed doughnut manicure. This style also included frosty chrome finishes on eyeshadows and lipsticks, as well as on fingernails. As you can see above, Jennifer Lopez’s nails look solid, but today’s chrome is usually more see-through.
11 of 19 Naked Nails
You might be surprised to learn that the most popular nail look at any awards show in the 1990s was the naked nail. Every it-girl of the time from Tyra Banks to Salma Hayek to Cameron Diaz walked down more than one red carpet without lacquer. However, Jennifer Lopez Kylie Jenner and Hailee Steinfeld have all briefly switched to the minimalist if not completely bare trend.
12 of 19 Vampy Black Cherry
Even though all the milky and opalescent manicure trends may suggest otherwise, we shouldn’t forget that the ’90s were the grunge era. Black polish was a popular choice, but many A-listers added a vampier twist to crimson to make it more interesting.
13 of 19 Opalescent Sheen
The ’90s were definitely a time for opalescent manicures, with everything from fully frosted looks to pastel sheens. This nail trend isn’t as shiny as the glaze mentioned above. Instead, it has an iridescent iciness that looks cold even in the warmest colours.
14 of 19 Moody Brown
The Naomi Campbell Chocolate 90s Nail Trend
People who lived through the 1990s will tell you that brown was very popular. The colour quickly fell out of favour, but after years of waiting the neutral is back in a big way.
15 of 19 Abstract Art
Black women were the first to do nail art, long before it became popular. Flo Jo and La Toya Jackson’s famous sets from the ’80s and ’90s come to mind when we think of real abstract nail art. Then hip-hop stars like Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim started the cultural trend of nail art that is still going strong today.
16 of 19 Epic Extensions
What better way to show off detailed nail art than by giving yourself more space to work with. Black recording artists like Mary J. Blige and Missy Elliot helped make abstract nail art popular and also pushed the limits of nail length to inches that had never been seen before.
17 of 19 Square French
The 90s Pamela Anderson Square French Nail Trend
What would French manicures be like today if stars like Victoria Beckham Pamela Anderson Jessica Simpson and J.Lo hadn’t loved them. The most up-to-date French manicure combines minimalism with the revival of styles from the 1990s and 2000s.
18 of 19 Moody Purple
The ’90s were mostly about the barely there nail, but purple was the one colour that stood out the most. The beautiful colour ranges from dark violets to light lilacs and has been seen on famous people like Aaliyah and Mary J. Blige.
19 of 19 Tie-Dye
By the end of the 1990s manicures started to move away from the more colourful Y2K designs. Even though butterfly wings hadn’t fully reached the tips of the fingers yet, tie-dye nail art was starting to take shape. Carmen Electra’s cool blue version has come full circle and is now returning with modern updates.
