After years of a minimalist, "less-is-more" approach to manicures, expression and experimentation are back in a big way, with ultra-long nails inspired by the SS26 fashion week runways topping our beauty wish list.
But one person who has rejected the summer beauty trend entirely is the Princess of Wales, who visited Evelina London Children's Hospital on Tuesday with her nails worn bare and short. And, shock horror, one of her nails was even broken!
© GettyBut given she recently completed the Three Peaks Challenge, likely scrabbling up the mountains at certain points, it's no surprise that the royal doesn't have long, perfectly painted nails. That didn't stop the critics piling in on the comments section on social media, though.
"Oh goodness, her nails are atrocious! Dirty and broken," one meanie wrote, while another lamented: "She's a busy working lady and mother, but a manicure would do wonders."
The trend for ultra-long nails
While Princess Kate isn't tapping into the trend for XL nails (likely in part due to impracticality, and maybe even royal beauty protocols prohibiting lengthy talons) the beauty and fashion worlds are going mad for them.
Fashion Week shows including Philipp Plein and Dreaming Eli sent models down the catwalk with eye-wateringly XL manicures, and if – unlike our future Queen - you are dreaming of growing your own long nails, summer is the ideal time to work on your length, according to the Together Health dietitian Lola Biggs, who explains: "Many people notice faster growth during the summer months, when warmer temperatures improve circulation and increase nutrient delivery to the nail bed."
© LaunchmetricsShe adds that increased sun exposure may also boost vitamin D levels, supporting calcium absorption – an important factor for maintaining nail strength and structure.
A confidence hack
In a time when the world can feel bleak, long nails act as a mini feminist rebellion – an anti-manopshere manicure, if you will. Unashamedly girly and perfectly impractical, long nails change how we feel about ourselves – even if they mean we can't open our Coke Zero.
"Long nails act as a mini feminist rebellion – an anti-manopshere manicure"
"Long nails can change the way you carry yourself and give you an instant confidence that's hard to explain until you have them," confirms the nailcare brand Essie's expert Aja Walton, who has tended to the talons of America Ferrera, Karlie Kloss and Victoria Monét. "But you don't just stumble into that length. You chose it, worked for it, and protected it. It’s deliberate beauty, which is deeply feminine and glamorous."
Olivia Dean's nail artist Ella Vivii agrees on the transformative power of long nails, noting: "I see nails as an extension of ourselves, so being able to grow them, shape them and paint them and present them to the world is fun."
© launchmetricsNavigating long nails
Anyone who's worn their nails long will know it's a lot more effort than a sensible, short mani. Your knuckles become your best friend, used for everything from scooping moisturiser from the jar to pressing the flush button in the bathroom, while typing requires the pads of your fingers to be utilised like never before.
"Long nails require a mental shift because you're essentially incorporating them into how you navigate your day," Aja says. "Gloves for cleaning and dishes are non-negotiable. Stop using your nails as tools – I know that is easier said than done. Try to type and open things with the pads of your fingers and at the first sign of a snag or crack, handle it immediately."
To maintain your ultra-long mani, these are the in-salon offerings and at-home treatments to try.
Looking after long nails
In salon
Our demand for longer nails has created a wave of new professional offerings to help us maintain the length we crave, and The Gel Bottle is leading the way with their latest innovation, Hard Biab.
If you're a nail salon devotee, you'll likely have booked in for a Biab – aka Builder in a Bottle – manicure, which paints onto your nails like a gel polish, acting like a coat of armour to strengthen and protect.
Hard Biab is the next gen in nail care. It's a hard gel/Biab hybrid that provides the strength and support of hard gel (as used in nail extensions) via a bottle application. It's thicker, giving the much-needed support that natural nails need to grow long, strong and healthy.
"Long nails have always been a statement and a canvas for self-expression, and now they're more accessible, with new innovations meaning you no longer have to choose between length and nail health," says The Gel Bottle's head of education, Giorgia Cappell. "Clients are now able to achieve long nail lengths from their own natural nails, opening up the long nail trend to everyone."
At home
The hand cream: Joonbyrd Confetti Sky Hand Treatment, £50
"Nails are made of layers of keratin that contain a small amount of water," explains the dermatologist Alexis Granite. "When nails become dehydrated, the layers separate, leading to peeling, brittleness and splitting, which is a common reason long nails break."
She says hand creams containing glycerine, hyaluronic acid, ceramides and amino acids can help maintain hydration in the nail plate and surrounding skin.
The cuticle oil: Mavala Mavaderma, £15.09
"Nails grow from the base of the nail near the cuticle, so if this area becomes damaged or isn't properly cared for, the nails can grow through weaker and more prone to breakage," cautions the nail expert Lynn Mason, who advises applying a cuticle oil daily to keep the area hydrated and nourished.
The tools: Tweezerman Manicure Kit, £12
As well as oiling your cuticles, keeping them neat helps support long, strong nails. "Over-filing or damaging this area affects growth coming through. Using gentle tools with the right amount of grit will ensure you don’t damage your nails," Ella says.
The supplement: Together Health Beautiful Hair, Skin & Nail Capsules, £14.59
If you're low in biotin, vitamin B12 or zinc, it can show in your nails. While ideally, you'd get these nutrients through a diet filled with whole foods, quality proteins and healthy fats, supplements can lend a helping hand according to Lola, who says these capsules were created to nourish the nail matrix.
The insurance policy: Essie Break Fix Liquid Nail Patch, £14.99
If the unthinkable happens and one of your long nails breaks, this is your go-to. "The biggest obstacle to achieving and maintaining length isn't slow growth, it's retention. You can do everything right and one unexpected snag can set you back weeks," Aja remarks. Break Fix reinforces cracks with a bonding formula that holds, letting the nail grow through that weak stage.
The cheat: Nibl nails
Created by the same people who revolutionised false lashes with Lashify lash extensions, Nibl nails snap on and click off via a tiny device mounted onto your natural nail, meaning you can wear ultra-long nails whenever you fancy, in endless designs. They're still in development, but they're approved by the renowned make-up artist Isamaya Ffrench, who called them "the future of nails", enthusing that they're going to change the world. Watch this space…
