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It’s no secret that ‘90s beauty trends are reigning supreme once more. From the comeback of frosted blue eyeshadow and thin eyebrows to the resurgence of bouncy blowouts and prominent lip liner, we’re in an era of complete nostalgia, yearning for the stylish vibes that the decade provided. Over the past year alone, "It Girls" like Megan Thee Stallion, Hailey Bieber, Cardi B, Keke Palmer, and Kylie Jenner have championed the decade's most quintessential looks—especially in the nails department.
Nearly every look on our mani mood board has roots that can be traced back to the naughties. Even the most of-the-moment looks—think chrome nails and French manicures—were worn decades ago by ‘90s darlings like Pamela Anderson, Naomi Campbell, and Princess Diana. So, to inspire your next trip to the salon, we’ve gathered the best manicures of that era.
Ahead, discover 10 ‘90s nail trends that transcend time, plus their modern counterparts.
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Classic Red
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When it comes to timeless nail polish colors, you really can't beat red. From vibrant blood orange to maroon, red nail polish is considered to be one of the most versatile shades thanks to its vast shade offerings that range the undertone spectrum. Princess Diana was chief among the red-loving pack, even going against royal dress protocol by wearing the color during press and charity events. On the other side of the pond, American royalty Carolyn Bassette-Kennedy mirrored the trend, often spotted sporting red nails while out and about in NYC.
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Blueberry Milk
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It doesn't matter if you call this pale cornflower shade baby blue, powder blue, or blueberry milk: All you need to know is that it's been a favorite of A-listers for a long time. Most recently,Dua Lipa, Hailey Bieber, Zendaya, and Sofia Richie have co-signed this color into the beauty zeitgeist. But real '90s fans know that Mary J. Blige, Madonna, Alicia Silverstone, and Lindsey Lohan (whose character Hallie in 1998's The Parent Trap is seen wearing a sheeny blue from Hard Candy) rocked it first.
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Mismatched Manis
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The '90s was the golden age of supermodels. This decade saw the rise of the “Big Six" (aka the most bookable names in the industry), which included Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer. From London to Milan, these two provided just as much beauty inspiration off-duty as they did on the runway. This mismatched manicure on Schiffer is a prime example of supermodels being the OG influencers. The "why choose?" mentality hit salons worldwide and spawned the idea that accent nails didn't need to be singular. The trend cycle has turned, and once again, we're seeing this color trend pop up on our social feeds.
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Metallic Manis
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Flicks like Men In Black, The Matrix, and Total Recall kept sci-fi top of mind during the '90s. With that came super fun beauty moments like Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century-inspired high ponytails, space buns, and metallic manicures. Futuristic and sleek, nail polishes in silvers, golds, and coppers were beloved by artists like Brittany Spears and Madonna. Now, we've elevated the space-age style with eye-catching elements like 3D nail art and nail piercings.
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Milky Hues
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While Jennifer Aniston is primarily known for her incredible hairstyles and Rachel Green outfits, she should also be credited for boosting the popularity of milky-neutral manicures. Whites and creams with a milky finish were all the rage in the '90s—and for good reason. The easy-to-wear look works for every occasion, from date nights and work to brunch and formal occasions. These days, we've expanded our milky nail glossary to include cousins like "milk bath" nails and coffee manicures.
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Lipgloss Nails
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The "your nails, but better" look is nothing new. Sheer nude polishes with a subtle shine finish were introduced to beauty aisles decades before the '90s. But as the old saying goes, if the trend isn't broken, why fix it? This look (often referred to as "lip gloss" nails) is absolutely timeless, elegant, and refined, as Brandy Norwood proves. Plus, it looks amazing on every single nail shape and length. If you're looking for a pop of color, try lip gloss nail's brighter sister trend, jelly nails.
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Cool Chrome
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Long before Hailey Bieber coined the glazed donut manicure, celebrities loved all things sheeny and shiny. Eyeshadows and lipsticks were all given a frosty chrome finish, and this preference extended to the fingernails, too. As seen above, Jennifer Lopez's nails appear opaque, while today's version of chrome nails tends to be more transparent, allowing the natural nail to peek out.
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Moody Brown
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Anyone who lived through the '90s will tell you that brown had a big moment. The shade dipped out of popularity as quickly as it appeared, with true blacks and oxbloods being favored in the '00s. but after years of waiting in the wings, the neutral is back in a big way. And this time, you've got options. You could choose to go the classic route, painting all ten nails the same hue (as seen with Naomi Campbell's warm, moody look), or you could try a tonal look, à la the fall-ready "box of chocolate" nail trend.
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Abstract Art
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Long before nail art became adopted into the mainstream, Black women pioneered the nail genre. When we think of true abstract nail art, Flo Jo and La Toya Jackson's iconic '80s and '90s sets come to mind. Then, in the ‘90s, hip-hop legends like Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim (who could forget her famous dollar-bill manicure?) ushered in the cultural wave of nail art that continues to modern day.
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Square French
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Where would French manicures be today without the love they received from stars like Victoria Beckham, Pamela Anderson, Jessica Simpson, and J.Lo? The most modernized version of the French manicure fuses minimalism with the ‘90s and ‘00s style revival. However, with the reassurance of square-shaped nails, we're forecasting a rise in angular, chunky tips with the exaggerated thick white line. Zendaya and Selena Gomez are some of the most recent adopters of this style prediction.
