Jelly nails are making playful manicures the must have trend of 2026. Inspired by K beauty and Korean Jelly nails, this look is all about transparent, syrupy shades that resemble tangy sweets. The result: fresh jelly effect nails with a glossy, translucent finish. Viral on TikTok and Pinterest, jelly nails are loved for their shiny finish, deliciously juicy appearance and endless nail art possibilities. A fun, pop inspired aesthetic that can be reinvented in countless ways.
What are Jelly nails?
It is impossible to miss this manicure trend, straight from the 90s and now winning over beauty lovers once again. But what exactly are Jelly nails?
A texture inspired by sweets and syrup
Jelly nails are instantly recognisable thanks to their delicately tinted transparency. Unlike an opaque coloured polish, the shade subtly reveals the natural nail while adding a glossy finish. The effect is reminiscent of jelly sweets, tangy lollipops and fruity syrups. The result is a deliciously glossy manicure with an almost wet look finish.
This jelly texture instantly creates depth and dimension, whether worn in soft pastel shades or vibrant colours such as cherry red, raspberry pink or pop coral.
Jelly nails: the sweetest new treat for your nails.
What is the difference between Jelly polish and gel polish?
Here is how to tell the difference between a jelly polish and a gel polish:
👉 Jelly polish is a translucent coloured polish that creates a jelly effect.
👉 Gel polish refers to builder gel, a thick gel formula applied in salons. This gel cures under a UV or LED lamp and allows nail technicians to create strong, sculpted nails in a chosen length and colour.
A jelly nail polish is therefore not necessarily a gel polish and can easily be incorporated into a traditional manicure routine without a UV or LED lamp, while still delivering that signature glossy, translucent finish. The new Manucurist Jelly polishes are part of the Green™ nail polish range and are not available in Green Flash™ Gel Polish. They follow the same application and removal routine as classic Green™ polishes.
What is the difference between Jelly nails, Glass nails and Soap nails?
Jelly nails are part of the wider clean look trend and the rise of ultra glossy nails coming from South Korea, alongside Glass nails and Soap nails. Here is what sets them apart:
- Glass nails focus on a highly reflective mirror finish, with pearlescent gradients and 3D jewel like effects.
- Soap nails embrace a glossy nude finish inspired by soap bubbles, creating a naturally radiant look.
- Jelly nails stand out with their colourful translucent shades, bringing a brighter, juicier and more playful dimension.
Glass nails, Soap nails and Jelly nails: three glossy nail trends straight from South Korea.(@matejanova, @ellzabeth)
Why Jelly nails are everywhere in 2026
The influence of K beauty
Like many of today's beauty trends, Jelly nails were popularised by Korean manicures. For several seasons now, K beauty products have celebrated luminous, natural beauty where transparency plays a central role. After the rise of glass skin in skincare and make up, it is now time for Korean Jelly nails. The result? A manicure with a fresh, juicy, jelly like texture that feels playful, uplifting and easy to wear every day.
The success of Jelly nails on social media
First seen in the 1990s before fading from view, this retro aesthetic has made a major comeback thanks to social media. On TikTok, the hashtag #jellynails has already surpassed 250 million views, while Instagram features hundreds of thousands of posts dedicated to this colourful trend.
Beauty enthusiasts love these eye catching manicures that capture the light and create an almost liquid effect on the nails. Videos showcasing layers of translucent shades, glossy gradients and fruity nail art designs continue to gain huge popularity. Jelly nails tick every box for 2026: playful, radiant and highly photogenic.
Jelly nails are taking over social media, especially when worn by Selena Gomez, pictured on the left.
(@tombachik, @nailsbymei)
A manicure that flatters every nail length
Another reason to love Jelly nails: they suit every nail shape and length. On short nails, they create a fresh, minimalist finish. On almond or ballerina shapes, they enhance the trendy gummy effect.
Their transparency brings light and depth to the nails, creating a naturally healthy looking glow while remaining easy to apply and wear.
The most popular Jelly shades
Red Jelly nails
Red Jelly nails are the stars of the season. Embrace the trend with these shades:
Twizzle is a vibrant red shade from the Green™ Jelly collection. With its warm orange undertones, it dresses nails in a juicy finish as irresistible as a sun drenched piece of fruit.
For a different jelly effect, try Active Glow™ Cranberry. This treatment polish wraps nails in a translucent, ultra glossy orange red veil. Enriched with sweet almond oil and cranberry extracts, it nourishes nails deeply while enhancing their natural radiance.
Looking for something even more playful? Pomme d’amour is a raspberry red polish, perfect for coating nails in a delicious pink red syrup effect.
Pink Jelly nails
Pink Jelly nails remain Pinterest favourites. For maximum inspiration, discover:
Pink Sorbet, a candy pink Jelly polish with cool blue undertones that gives nails a sweet marshmallow look.
In the same spirit, two mirror shine treatment polishes stand out:
- Active Glow™ Grape for its lilac gloss finish, especially beautiful on medium and deep skin tones.
- Active Glow™ Blueberry for its intense pink transparency, ideal for fair to medium skin tones.
Coral and peach Jelly nails
For summer, coral and peach shades instantly brighten the hands. We particularly love:
Glacé, the collection's translucent coral polish. A soft peach shade that delivers an irresistibly refreshing fruity sorbet effect.
Sugar Plum, a translucent pop pink Jelly polish with orange undertones, a vibrant shade that instantly energises your manicure.
For a softer glow, the peach pink gloss effect of Active Glow™ Raspberry remains a reliable favourite for a quick and effective manicure, with no base coat or top coat required.
How to achieve perfect jelly effect nails
Preparing the nails
A flawless Jelly manicure starts with proper preparation. Smooth, perfectly groomed nails are essential for achieving an even, luminous translucent finish.
Begin by filing your nails into your desired shape. Then push back the cuticles using a few drops of Cuticle Softener and a Steel cuticle pusher. Next, lightly buff the nail surface using a nail prep file to create micro grooves that improve polish adhesion. Finally, clean and degrease the nails with a nail prep solution or a gentle remover.
Applying Green™ Jelly polish
The jelly effect is built gradually through layers of colour. Follow this routine when applying Green™ Jelly shades:
- Apply one coat of Green™ Base Coat.
- Apply a thin first coat of Jelly polish, then build the intensity with a second coat if desired. The goal is to preserve the signature transparency that allows the natural nail to show through while creating that syrupy finish.
⚠️ Important: always apply thin coats to avoid brush marks and ensure smooth air drying.
- Once the colour is fully dry, apply one coat of Green™ Gel Effect Top Coat to enhance the jelly effect and create an ultra glossy finish.
- Finish by applying Drying Drops to each nail, then leave to air dry for one final minute.
Quick removal
Thanks to its vegan, plant based formula, Green™ Jelly polish can be removed easily in under a minute.
Simply place cotton pads soaked in Nail Oil Remover or Gentle Nail Polish Remover onto the nails and leave them for a few moments. The polish dissolves quickly and can be removed in a single swipe. After removal, nails feel revitalised and renewed.
Our favourite Jelly nail art ideas
French Jelly nails
Give your classic French manicure a playful Jelly twist with these fresh variations:
- Green™ Jelly version: apply Pink Sorbet as a base and create the French tip using a Mani Stamper and Snow on the free edge of the nail for a fresh, glossy contrast.
- Active Glow™ version: apply Active Glow™ Cranberry as a base and finish with a Red Coral French tip for a vibrant, trend led look.
French manicure, Jelly style: the perfect summer nail art.
(@matejanova)
Ombré Jelly nails
Soft translucent gradients are among the most viral Jelly nail art trends on social media. To recreate the look, apply Pink Sorbet as your base, then use a sponge to blend Pink Sorbet, Sugar Plum and Glacé. The result is a shimmering melted sorbet effect.
Glazed Jelly nails
For even more shine, wear all five Green™ Jelly shades in a rainbow manicure, one colour per finger. Then apply White Glazed Effect powder and seal with a top coat. When jelly transparency meets a pearly finish, the result is irresistibly frosted.
Polka dot Jelly nails
Jelly nails provide the perfect base for fun, colourful nail art inspired by a sweet shop. The ideal design? Polka dots, of course. Over a Sugar Plum base, use a dotting tool to create playful red dots with Lava. Almost good enough to eat.
Ombré, polka dots or glazed finishes: anything goes with Jelly nails.
(@look8thenails)
It is hard to resist the charm of Jelly nails. With their glossy reflections, translucent colours and sweet inspired aesthetic, they instantly bring freshness to your fingertips. Minimalist in a single coat or extra juicy when layered, they wear like a burst of colour and light. The hardest part? Choosing between the five Jelly shades in the Green™ collection. Once you try the jelly effect, it quickly becomes addictive 🍬🍭
