Jelly nails mark the return of playful manicures in 2026. Inspired by K-beauty and Korean Jelly nails, this trend focuses on sheer, syrupy shades reminiscent of fruity candy. The result: fresh jelly-effect nails with a glossy, translucent finish. Viral on TikTok and Pinterest, the jelly nail manicure captivates with its glossy look, tempting visual texture, and endless nail art possibilities. A pop aesthetic with infinite variations.
What are Jelly nails?
Impossible to miss this manicure straight out of the 90s, winning over beauty addicts all over again. But what exactly are Jelly nails?
A texture inspired by candy and syrup
Jelly nails are recognisable by their delicately tinted sheer look. Unlike an opaque coloured polish, the colour here subtly lets the natural nail show through while adorning it with a glossy finish. An effect reminiscent of jelly candies, tangy lollipops, or fruity syrups. The result: a delectable, sparkling manicure with an almost wet-look shine.
This jelly texture instantly adds depth, looking just as stunning with pastel candy shades as it does with vibrant pops of cherry red, raspberry pink, or coral.
Jelly nails: a new sweet treat for your nails.
The difference between Jelly polish and gel polish
Here is how to tell a jelly polish apart from a gel polish:
👉 Jelly polish is a sheer, tinted nail polish that delivers a jelly-like finish.
👉 Gel polish, on the other hand, refers to builder gel, a thick gel formula applied at a salon. Cured under a UV/LED lamp, this gel shapes strong, curved nails with customizable length and color.
A jelly nail polish is not necessarily a gel polish and fits perfectly into a classic manicure routine, without a UV/LED lamp, while still delivering that distinctive glossy, sheer finish. In fact, the new Manucurist Jelly polishes are part of the Green™ polish range and are not available in Green Flash™ gel polish. They follow the same application and removal routine as classic Green™ polishes.
The difference between Jelly nails, Glass nails, and Soap nails
Jelly nails are part of the major wave of clean look trends and high-shine nails emerging from South Korea, like Glass nails and Soap nails. Here is what sets them apart:
- Glass nails play on an ultra-reflective mirror finish and jewelry-like effects that range from pearlescent ombrés to 3D dimensions.
- Soap nails, on the other hand, focus on a shiny and natural nude finish—reminiscent of "soap bubbles" for the ultimate glossy look.
- Jelly nails stand out for their colourful hues and semi-sheer effect that brings a poppier, juicy, ultra-luminous dimension.
Glass nails, Soap nails, Jelly nails: 3 high-shine nail trends straight from South Korea.(@matejanova, @ellzabeth)
Why Jelly nails are a must-try in 2026
The influence of K-Beauty
Like many current beauty trends, Jelly nails were popularised by the Korean manicure. For several seasons, K-Beauty has championed luminous, natural beauty looks where sheer textures play a key role. After glass skin in makeup, make way for Korean jelly nails. The result? A manicure with a fresh, juicy, jelly-like texture, full of good vibes and easy to wear every day.
The success of Jelly nails on social media
First emerging in the ’90s before fading, this retro aesthetic is making a major comeback thanks to social media. On TikTok, the #jellynails hashtag has racked up over 250 million views, while Instagram boasts hundreds of thousands of posts dedicated to this playful trend.
Beauty lovers adore these trending manicures that catch the light and create an almost liquid look on the nails. And with good reason: videos of sheer layered shades, glossy gradients, and fruity nail art are huge hits! The Jelly nail aesthetic checks every box for 2026 trends: playful, radiant, and ultra-photogenic.
Jelly nails are causing a stir on social media, especially when worn by Selena Gomez here on the left. (@tombachik, @nailsbymei)
A manicure that flatters every nail length
Another perk of Jelly nails: they flatter every nail shape and length. On short nails, they offer a fresh, minimalist vibe. On almond or ballerina lengths, they emphasize that trendy "gummy" look.
Their translucence brings light and depth to nails, with the added bonus of a healthy glow effect, all while remaining easy to apply and wear.
The trendiest Jelly shades
Red Jelly nails
Red jelly nails are taking center stage this season. Dive into the trend with these polishes:
Twizzle is a vibrant red shade from the Green™ Jelly collection. A polish with orange undertones that dresses nails in a juicy finish, as irresistible as sun-ripened fruit.
To vary the jelly effects, try Active Glow™ Cranberry care polish. It coats nails in an ultra-glossy, translucent orange-red veil. As an added bonus, this care polish, enriched with sweet almond oil and cranberry extract, deeply nourishes nails and enhances their natural radiance.
Looking for a more vibrant Jelly option? Pomme d’amour is a raspberry shade polish, perfect for coating your nails in a delicious pinkish-red syrup that looks good enough to eat.
Pink Jelly nails
Pink jelly nails remain the most popular on Pinterest. Rake in the likes with:
Pink Sorbet is a bubblegum-pink Jelly polish with cool blue undertones, giving your nails a marshmallow-like charm. Yummy!
In the same vein, keep an eye on these two care polishes with a mirror shine:
- Active Glow™ Grape for its lilac gloss, gorgeous on medium to deep skin tones.
- Active Glow™ Blueberry, which creates an intense pink sheer tint ideally suited to fair to medium skin tones.
Coral & Peach Jelly Nails
For summer, coral and peach shades are fabulous for instantly brightening your hands. For this, we love:
Glacé, the translucent coral polish from the Jelly collection. A soft peach shade that gives a super refreshing “fruity sorbet” look on the hands.
Sugar Plum, a sheer pop-pink Jelly polish with orange undertones, is a vibrant shade that instantly boosts your manicure.
Finally, for a subtle glow, the peach-pink gloss effect of Active Glow™ Raspberry remains a foolproof choice for a quick (no base coat, no top coat) and effective manicure.
How to create the perfect jelly-effect nails?
Nail preparation
The success of a jelly nail manicure depends above all on preparation. Clean, smooth nails help achieve the uniform, luminous translucent look you are after.
Start by filing your nails to your desired shape. Then push back the cuticles using a few drops of cuticle softener and a cuticle pusher. Also remember to buff the surface of the nail with a prep file to create micro-scratches that help the polish adhere. Finally, cleanse and degrease your nails with a little degreaser or a gentle nail polish remover.
Applying Green™ Jelly polish
The jelly effect is built up gradually by layering the colour. Here is the routine to follow when applying Green™ Jelly polishes:
- Apply a coat of Green™ Base Coat.
- Next, apply a first thin coat of Jelly polish, then build up the colour with a second coat if desired. The goal: preserve that signature sheer look that reveals the natural nail and creates the syrupy effect.
⚠️ Important: apply thin coats to prevent brush marks and ensure easy air-drying.
- Once the colour is completely dry, apply a coat of Green™ Top Coat gel effect to boost the “jelly” look and ensure an ultra-glossy finish.
- Finish the manicure by applying the Drying Drops to each nail before letting them air-dry for one more minute.
Express removal
Thanks to its vegan and bio-sourced formula, Green™ Jelly polish is removed very easily in under a minute.
Simply apply cotton pads soaked in Nail Polish Remover Oil or Gentle Nail Polish Remover to your nails and leave on for a few moments. The polish dissolves and wipes away in a single swipe. After removal, nails feel restored and the nail plate looks revitalized.
Our Jelly nail art ideas
French Jelly nails
Put a twist on your classic French manicure with these pop & Jelly versions featuring subtle finishes:
- Green™ Jelly version: apply Pink Sorbet as a base and create the French manicure smile line using the Mani Stamper with Snow on the free edge of the nail for a fresh, glossy contrast.
- Active Glow™ version: apply Active Glow™ Cranberry as a base and outline the nail with a Red Coral French tip, a vibrant and very trendy shade.
The French in Jelly mode, the perfect nail art for summer. (@matejanova)
Ombré Jelly Nails
Soft, translucent ombré designs are among the most viral jelly nail art trends on social media. To try it yourself, start with Pink Sorbet as your base polish, then create a sponge ombré with Pink Sorbet, Sugar Plum, and Glacé. The result: a gorgeous, shimmering melted sorbet effect.
Glazed Jelly nails
For an even shinier finish, mix and match the five Green™ Jelly shades into a fun rainbow look across each finger. Top it off with the White Glazed Effect powder and seal it with a coat of Top Coat. When jelly transparency meets a pearly finish for an iced effect… we're obsessed!
Polka dot Jelly nails
Jelly nails make the perfect base for fun, colourful nail art, candy shop style. The go-to design for this: polka dots, of course! Over a Sugar Plum base, use a dotting tool to add pretty red dots with Lava. Irresistible!
Ombré, polka dots, or Glazed—anything goes with Jelly nails. (@look8thenails)
It’s hard to resist the charm of Jelly nails! With their glossy shine, sheer colors, and candy-inspired aesthetic, they instantly bring a dose of fresh fun to your nails. Minimalist in a single coat or ultra-juicy when layered, they act like a shot of color and radiance right at your fingertips. The hardest part? Picking among the 5 jelly shades in the Green™ collection! Once you try it, the jelly effect becomes utterly addictive 🍬🍭
