Celebs Who Took Their Red Carpet Nail Art To The Next Level

While nail art has been around for ages, in recent years, the rich and famous seem to have truly embraced what nails can add to an outfit. "Nails are a crucial detail that can completely elevate an overall look," celebrity nail artist Lisa Kon tells us exclusively. "Well-groomed nails show attention to detail and add a polished, put-together feel, whether the style is minimalistic or bold." So, when it comes to celebrities at red-carpet events, nails can actually make or break their fashion moment, as they play a crucial role in the overall aesthetic the star is going for.

"Playing with textures — matte vs. glossy finishes or chrome effects can completely change the vibe," the founder of the Lisa Kon brand and owner of the Lisa Kon nail salon chain explains, adding that "accent nails or subtle nail art that ties into an outfit's color scheme or theme" can take the entire look to a whole new level. But while most celebrities have pretty nails for big events, there are a couple of names that stand out due to their dedication to and appreciation of nail art — and, of course, the manicurists behind it.

Hollywood star Cynthia Erivo is known for her impeccable style; in fact, she is one of the few celebrities who have nailed method dressing. Of course, Erivo's nails play a big part in her image, and those who have seen the 2024 hit "Wicked" know the role that nails played in that, too. For her iconic portrayal of Elphaba, Erivo's nails were done by nail artist Shea Osei. "I gasped," the artist shared with Refinery29, reflecting on watching the film for the first time. "The nails are the first thing you see. I was like, I did those! My artistry, my craft is out there." The actor admitted that she had brought Osei onto the project. "She was the first person I thought of when we decided to have Elphaba's nails grow and change throughout the films, in tandem with her personal transformation," Erivo revealed on Instagram. "Whenever you see my hands, it's her work that you're seeing."

Erivo has been getting her nails done by Osei since the actor was 16. "She had found me online after she had tried nail salons in and around London and they were just not giving her what she wanted," the talented nail artist revealed. "So we created that friendship just from, you know, doing the nails." Of course, Erivo's red-carpet nails are just as magnificent as the rest of her look. For the "Wicked" premiere in Los Angeles, California, Erivo decided to go with super-long bedazzled green and metallic silver nails, which were definitely a work of art. "Cynthia is so creative," celebrity nail artist Gina Oh admitted to Elle. "The sky really is the limit when it comes to her nails."

As one of the biggest pop stars of her generation, Dua Lipa has made an incredible impact not only on the music industry but also on fashion and beauty trends. So, when it comes to her nails, it's not surprising that the "Don't Start Now" singer is a trendsetter in that area, too. "Her trendy, bold manicures perfectly match her edgy fashion choices," Lisa Kon tells us exclusively.

The star isn't married to just one style, and her red-carpet appearances prove she is willing to have fun with nail art. "Usually Dua has a look that she fancies and she'll pull images," her nail artist, Michelle Humphrey, revealed to Vogue. "And then we'll either do that, or sometimes I'll add something or take something out, then it becomes its own thing." For the 2019 Grammy Awards, Lipa decided to go with a bold and bedazzled look that showcased just how much of a trendsetter she is. In fact, the singer mixed silver and gold on her nails way before the mixing-metals trend kicked off.

It was clear since day one that Billie Eilish is all about authentic fashion, often nailing androgynous dressing and bold colors. Two parts of her look that always keep us guessing are her hair and her nails, as it's hard to tell just what the talented singer will pull off next. In fact, Billie Eilish's hair transformation from bright green to blond is unforgettable. And the designs she has been rocking on her nails are just as dramatic. "Billie is a nail girl, through and through: She talks with her hands, she sings with her hands, she dances with her hands," her nail artist, Tammy Taylor, admitted to Vanity Fair. "Billie has her ideas on everything."

For her appearance at the 2020 Grammy Awards, the "Birds of a Feather" singer went with long neon-green square nails with a detailed Gucci pattern on them — one that perfectly matched the pattern on her outfit as well as her lime roots. Now, that's what we call color-coordinated fashion! Of course, those who keep up with the star know that Eilish adores having fun with her nails, and she isn't afraid of going for long and extravagant ones!

While many imagine intricate and unusual designs when it comes to stunning nail art, the truth is that nails can be dainty and simple yet just as impactful. A celebrity that does this trend perfectly is Zendaya, whose nails are always chic and sophisticated. "She keeps her nails elegant yet impactful, always in harmony with her red-carpet looks," Lisa Kon — the mastermind behind this subtle look — shares exclusively with Glam. While Zendaya loves taking fashion risks, she tends to keep her nail art short and simple.

One occasion where all eyes were actually on her fingers was the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, as that was when the "Euphoria" star walked a red carpet with her engagement ring for the first time. News of the former Disney star getting engaged to fellow actor and longtime boyfriend Tom Holland broke in early 2025. "For this occasion, I created a manicure that perfectly complemented her sophisticated style — minimalist yet striking, just like her," Kon revealed in an Instagram post. "It was an absolute honor to contribute to Zendaya's breathtaking look for tonight's ceremony. Her elegance, grace, and undeniable talent make her a true icon on and off the red carpet."

Swifties out there know that when it comes to Taylor Swift's style, nothing is a coincidence. This, of course, also applies to her nails, which often hide Easter eggs about future projects. "A specific way you can leave Easter eggs is on nails," the musician admitted to Entertainment Weekly in 2019. "Some people picked up on it immediately, others picked up on it a few months down the line, but it made me feel nice." Over the past years, Taylor Swift has, in fact, dropped big hints with her outfits, so we can't really blame her fans for analyzing every aspect of her look.

When the pop star walked the carpet of the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, fans across the globe instantly noticed that her moody and edgy aesthetic — including her dark nail art — was screaming "Reputation (Taylor's Version)." However, as the "Look What You Made Me Do" singer is known to throw out Easter eggs years in advance, it's difficult to say when we'll actually get to hear the re-recording.

Doja Cat is known for her artistic expression through music as much as she is for her beauty and fashion choices. The star isn't afraid of bold changes and unusual looks, and that has quickly garnered her the title of a style icon. Nails often play a big part in her red-carpet looks, and the musician isn't afraid of taking matters into her own hands, too. "Did my nails. Took me 6 hours. They're very cool and I like them," the artist shared on Instagram, revealing that she is no stranger to doing her own nails (via Allure).

For the 2024 Grammy Awards, Doja Cat decided to pair a see-through dress with matching nude nails for a cohesive look. Of course, short nails would have been too simple, so the "Paint the Town Red" singer decided to make them extra long and square for that needed dose of drama. Frankly, this entire look is one of the most iconic celebrity naked-dress moments.

The Met Gala is known as a place where iconic fashion and beauty moments are a staple, so it's not surprising that some of the best nail moments in red-carpet history have happened at this event. In 2023, Rita Ora showed up to the Met Gala red carpet with super-long chains attached to her black nails. The theme of the evening was "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty," and we have to admit that she nailed it (pun intended). "Rita was close to Karl, so she wanted to make sure she paid homage to him in a way that was meaningful to her," nail artist Naomi Yasuda revealed (via Marie Claire). "Her nail look is a take on a deconstructed Chanel necklace."

While this may have been Ora's best nail-art moment to date, the truth is that the "Let You Love Me" singer loves turning her nails into a statement piece no matter the occasion. "She treats her nails as part of her statement style, always experimenting with unique shapes and designs," Lisa Kon tells us exclusively.

Another fabulous Met Gala nail-art moment happened in 2024 when rapper Lil Nas X flaunted his see-through square nails with white and pearl embellishments, a perfect homage to the evening's theme, "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion." In fact, the rapper's stylist, Hodo Musa, revealed to Rolling Stone, "Over the last few years, we have had so much fun trying new things and have slowly started to uncover who Lil Nas X is and how he likes to express himself."

While nail art has been traditionally associated with women, more and more men are also experimenting with it as a simple yet impactful way to express themselves. "Nails are like an accessory — they should complement an outfit just as jewelry or a handbag would," Lisa Kon shares exclusively with Glam. "For example, a sleek, neutral manicure pairs well with a chic, classic look, while bold colors or intricate designs can add personality and edge." And just looking at Lil Nas X's 2024 nails makes us excited for the "Industry Baby" singer's future red-carpet appearances.

If we had to pick just one celebrity to crown as the ultimate queen of nail art, it would be Cardi B. Ever since her breakthrough, the rapper has made nails such an important part of her look, and over the years, she has given us a variety of different styles to swoon over. "She gets her nails done by me once a month. Even if it's just a small event, she doesn't let anyone else touch them," nail artist Jenny Bui revealed to Cosmopolitan. "She always comes to the salon too. I've only gone to Cardi to do her nails twice, and once was the Grammys this year. She rarely asks me to go because she knows I'm busy, and I have to support my kids who are still in school. She's very respectful of my time."

Those who have paid attention to the "Bodak Yellow" singer's nails know that she only really goes for a specific nail shape. "Cardi always does stiletto nails. People send me stuff hoping that I'll use it on Cardi, but if it's a rhinestone and not real Swarovski crystal, Cardi can tell the difference," Bui added. "She'll say, 'Jenny, why isn't this bling right here shining? They're not Swarovski, right?'" However, just because Cardi B prefers a certain shape, that doesn't mean her nails are boring at all. In fact, when the rapper showed up to the 2025 Grammy Awards red carpet, all eyes were on her nails. While the purple-ombré base and the black pointy tips were already dramatic enough, it was the cut-outs on the actual sides of the nail that were the true star of the show.

Actor and musician Janelle Monáe is living proof that one doesn't need to go with super-long nails for them to be the perfect fashion accessory. Over the years, the star has become known for fun and abstract nail art that is perfect for anyone who can't function with ultra-long nails, à la Cardi B (more power to you if you can). From half-moon shorties to nails that perfectly match her fashion, Monáe has given us a variety of quirky nail art, proving once again that nails hold so much power when accessorizing.

For the 2022 Met Gala's theme, "In America: An Anthology of Fashion," the "Hidden Figures" star decided to perfectly match her nails to her bejeweled and striped outfit. The addition of the same pattern and texture on her nails resulted in a cohesive look, making her one of the best dressed of the evening. And if you're a fan of the prestigious fashion event, check out our prediction for the celeb we expect to have the best 2025 Met Gala outfit.

Even though Elle Fanning might not be the first name to come to mind when thinking of quirky nail art, her nails at the 2019 Met Gala definitely earned her a place on the list. While the "Maleficent" actor is usually a fan of more decadent and subtle nails, for the evening's theme, "Camp: Notes on Fashion," Fanning decided to go all out. The star rocked classic hot-pink Barbie nails as a base, but the charms attached to each nail truly leveled up the star-quality of the look.

"How could you not incorporate vintage in a camp look?" nail artist Mar y Sol Inzerillo told WWD, and we couldn't agree more. As soon as Fanning hit the red carpet, we couldn't stop staring at her nails, and she couldn't stop showing them off. "Coors beer can, French fries, hamburger, McDonald's pie and toothpaste," Maegan Hayward, the Manhattan store owner that provided the charms, revealed to WWD. "The more over-the-top the better," she added.

Megan Thee Stallion is definitely an artist who isn't afraid to think outside of the box, and her nail art proves it. While the rapper is known for her extravagant and daring fashion sense, she is also a trendsetter when it comes to nails. In 2025, Megan Thee Stallion attended the Gaurav Gupta show at Paris Couture Fashion Week, and when she walked the carpet before the show, her nails quickly became the talk of the town.

Instead of applying the press on nails the usual way, her nail artist Tahvya Krok suggested applying them backward. "I was scratching my head like, 'What do that mean? Put the nail on backwards?' And I didn't see the vision at first," the "Body" rapper revealed to WWD. "But when I got the nails on my fingers, I said, 'Yes!'" The pointy nails were the perfect addition to the musician's futuristic outfit, and something tells us that Megan Thee Stallion just created a new trend. "It's giving 2025 but in 3035," she added. "That's what the girls are gonna be doing, so you're seeing it here first."

A celebrity who is slowly but surely establishing herself as a nail-art inspiration is definitely Doechii. The musician's talent is undeniable, but her style definitely played a role in Doechii's rise to fame. And as a true fashionista, Doechii knows that the right nails can make or break an outfit.

When the "Anxiety" singer showed up at the 2025 Grammy Awards, she was all about showing off her two-tone nails that perfectly matched her outfit."I draw a lot of inspiration from Doechii's style and outfits, particularly the textures, silhouettes, and color palettes in ways that both provide a cohesive addition to her look, but also complement her storytelling whether it's about the event, her style, or her overarching message," Doechii's nail artist, Rachel Sun, admitted to Byrdie.

Now, if you're ready to take notes from these celebrities and up your nail game, make sure you also check out these outdated nail trends that should stay in the past.