Photography: Courtesy of Zola Ganzorigt/@nailsbyzola and Rachel Sun/@allhailthynail
The 2025 Met Gala delivered no shortage of showstopping beauty moments—and the manicures were no exception. Celebrity nail artists brought their A-game to the red carpet this year, serving up fresh twists on some of the season’s biggest nail trends, like graphic nail art and high-impact looks in green velvet, hot pink, and Tiffany blue.
Many of the evening’s biggest stars showed off an elevated take on the “clean girl” nail trend, from Hailey Beiber’s "glazed donut" nails to Kim Kardashian's classic nude stilettos. Using OPI’s most iconic shades, nail artists leaned into milky finishes, soft French tips, and ethereal nail designs that exuded quiet luxury with just the right amount of glam.
Ahead, discover how to easily recreate four of the Met Gala’s most-talked-about minimalist nail looks by Zola Ganzorigt (@nailsbyzola), Dawn Sterling (@nailglam), Diem Truong (@nailsbydiem), and Rachel Sun (@allhailthynail).
Photography: Courtesy of OPI and Zola Ganzorigt/@nailsbyzola
Sydney Sweeney’s Celestial Light Pink French
Artist: Zola Ganzorigt/@nailsbyzola
Sydney Sweeney’s Met Gala nails combined two of the year’s biggest nail trends—a dreamy, light pink French manicure with a shimmering, cat-eye finish. To create this stunning look, OPI Global Ambassador and celebrity nail artist Zola Ganzorigt used a sheer pink base on almond-shaped nails and added a romantic, shimmer effect at the tips for an ethereal, romantic vibe.
Get the Look
- STEP 1: Apply OPI GELevate Soft Gel Tips (Almond Shape)
- STEP 2: Apply one coat of OPI GelColor in Bubble Bath (for a nail lacquer version, use OPI Nail Lacquer in Bubble Bath)
- STEP 3: Follow with one coat of OPI GelColor in Bare My Soul (for lacquer, use OPI Bare My Soul)
- STEP 4: For the tips, use custom magnetic power over OPI GelColor in Bubble Bath
- STEP 5: Layer on OPI Chrome Powder in Gold Digger
- STEP 6: Finish with one coat of OPI GelColor Super Gloss No Wipe Top Coat (for lacquer, use OPI Top Coat)
Photography: Courtesy of OPI and Dawn Sterling/@nailglam
Hailey Beiber’s Glazed Donut Nails
Artist: Dawn Sterling/@nailglam
Hailey Bieber graced the Met Gala red carpet with her now-iconic “glazed donut” nails—but this time, with an ultra-refined, sophisticated update. Celebrity nail artist Dawn Sterling stayed true to Hailey’s signature nail look with a mix of classic neutral OPI shades, then added an extra-special touch with a hint of chrome. The result? A slightly pearlescent manicure that took the famous glazed donut mani to a whole new level.
Get the Look
- STEP 1: Start with one coat of OPI GelColor Super Base Base Coat (for lacquer, use OPI Natural Nail Base Coat)
- STEP 2: Blend OPI GelColor in Funny Bunny, Put It In Neutral, and Top Coat Tin Man Can to achieve a soft, luminous finish (for lacquer, use OPI Funny Bunny and Put It In Neutral)
- STEP 3: Finish with one coat of OPI GelColor Super Gloss No Wipe Top Coat (for lacquer, use OPI Top Coat)
Photography: Courtesy of OPI and Rachel Sun/@allhailthynail
Doechii’s Modern Milky Manicure
Artist: Rachel Sun/@allhailthynail
For Doechii’s Met Gala debut, celebrity nail artist Rachel Sun designed a timeless manicure with exaggerated C-curve tips, milky neutrals, and artistic details. Created with OPI’s GELevate Soft Gel Tips, the set featured a subtle touch of gold along the ridge. Doechii’s unforgettable manicure paired perfectly with her custom Louis Vuitton jacket and matching checkerboard shorts.
Get the Look
- STEP 1: Apply OPI GELevate Soft Gel Tips (Square Shape) and sculpt a C-curve at the tip
- STEP 2: Begin with one coat of OPI GelColor Super Base Base Coat (for lacquer, use OPI Natural Nail Base Coat)
- STEP 3: Apply one coat of OPI GelColor in Put It In Neutral (for lacquer, use OPI Put It In Neutral)
- STEP 4: Add one layer of OPI GelColor in Funny Bunny and create an ombré from the tip of the nail downwards (for lacquer, use OPI Funny Bunny)
- STEP 5: Use OPI GelColor in Black Onyx to paint along the ridge of the nail, then buff in gold chrome on top (for lacquer, use OPI Black Onyx)
- STEP 6: Finish with one coat of OPI GelColor Super Gloss No Wipe Top Coat (for lacquer, use OPI Top Coat)
Photography: Courtesy of OPI and Diem Truong/@nailsbydiem
Kim Kardashian’s Barely-There Stilettos
Artist: Diem Truong/@nailsbydiem
Kim Kardashian balanced her dramatic black leather Chrome Hearts dress with a barely-there nude stiletto set by celebrity nail artist Diem Truong. Kim’s elegant, elongated nails were created using GELevate Soft Gel Tips, OPI’s newest nail innovation, then coated in OPI Put It In Neutral to enhance her natural nail tone without overpowering the look.
Get the Look
- STEP 1: Apply GELevate Soft Gel Tips (Stiletto Shape), then refine the shape and taper as needed
- STEP 2: Add one coat of OPI GelColor Super Base Base Coat (for lacquer, use OPI Natural Nail Base Coat)
- STEP 3: Use three coats of OPI GelColor in Put It In Neutral (for lacquer, use OPI Put It In Neutral)
- STEP 4: Complete the look with one coat of OPI GelColor Super Gloss No Wipe Top Coat (for lacquer, use OPI Top Coat)
Next, discover more red carpet-inspired nail looks your clients will love in this article: 7 Celeb Nail Looks From the 2025 Oscars.
