Sea goddess nails are having a major moment this spring with 48.1M views on TikTok for videos tagged 'mermaid nails' and searches for 'mermaidcore' spiking 90 per cent in the past three months. Instead of being twee or garish, 2023's approach to the otherworldly trend is surprisingly chic and grown-up. The summer runways embraced all things aquatic with impossibly glossy, dewy cheekbones as seen at Edward Crutchley, pearlescent skin at Alberta Ferretti, Ariel-worthy waves at Chloé and Blumarine, and just-out-of-the-ocean hair at Dries Van Noten.
Fashion more than dipped its toe in it too, with iridescent sequins shown at Huishan Zhang and bejewelled starfishes at David Koma. With The Little Mermaid live action film premiering next week, mermaidcore is at an all time high.
When it comes to nails, there are myriad ways to lean into the oceanic vibe with your manicure, from adding micro pearls on a seashell pink nail polish to playing with pearlescent finishes. Liberty's nail artist in residence Julia Diogo is a fan of updating the classic French tip with a chrome effect on a neutral base to mimic the gleaming scales on a fishtail. "You could also use one coat of Nails Inc 'Donut Give Up' for a super subtle finish," she tells Bazaar.
Whatever style you go with, Diogo recommends keeping your nails a "short, soft square shape". "It makes it fun yet still super chic," she adds.
Elevate the sheer pink polish with an iridescent, chromatic finish that catches the light. Subtle, but effective.
Delicate pearl embellishments add interest without overwhelming the nail and look perfect for brides too. Bloomsbury-based salon Iris Avenue currently features 'mermaidcore designs' on its nail art menu, so book in and get ready to make a splash.
A creative take on a wavy design with flecks of gold leaf to catch the light. For something more minimal, try this nail art on one accent nail.
A marbleised effect on a chrome finish mimics the shimmering waters in sunlight. On trend yet oh-so cool.
Here the French manicure gets the Ariel touch with ivory, mother of pearl effect on the tips.