How To Get Glass Nails, 2026’s Cleanest Nail Trend

“Skin looks like skin again, hair feels more natural, and nails are following the same trend,” she says. “Sheer, see-through designs give a sense of lightness and honesty—they don’t hide the natural nail, they celebrate it. I think that’s very much an evolution of the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic, but with more sophistication and longevity.”

Huber-Millet rejects the idea that glass nails are solely a summer style, observing that heavier, deeper-coloured clothing contrasts well against a glossy glass nail. “It’s like wearing delicate jewelery,” she describes.

How to make glass nails look intentional

Like most nail trends, the key to ensuring a sleek, seamless finish is perfect prep work. “Prep is everything,” Diogo explains. “The cleaner the base, the better the final result—especially with a sheer look.”

Her best advice is to start with a cuticle remover to tidy up the nail bed, and then go in with some cuticle clippers to get that crisp, clean border. After that, gently buff the nail to create a smooth, even surface. Repeat this process as many times as you need for the nail to look clean and manicured before swiping on a base coat or color.

How to get glass nails at home

To achieve the effect at home, Westmoreland recommends the following layering system: base, chrome, apex clear gel (the smoothing and strengthening layer you apply on top of or underneath a color or nail design to help it last), and then finally, a top coat.

Huber-Millet recommends not going totally sheer, though the word “glass” may suggest otherwise. This added depth gives a little more oomph to the nail than a transparent polish. Most of all, the finish needs to be hyper-glossy. “The shine needs to be almost mirror-like,” she emphasises. “This is what creates the light-catching illusion.”