Recession nails or racial erasure? Why a ‘naked’ manicure is not as neutral as it seems
Bold colours are out and short, (seemingly) bare nails in, but some see trend as part of criticised ‘clean girl aesthetic’
TL;DR
- Copenhagen Fashion Week features a trend of short, unvarnished or sheer-polished nails, a departure from previous bold styles.
- This minimalist nail trend is described as 'very Danish' and aligns with a broader 'no-makeup makeup' approach.
- The trend may be influenced by recessionary concerns, with the cost of manicures rising.
- It reflects a wider consumer shift towards enhancing natural features and low-maintenance beauty.
- Environmental concerns about the waste and microplastic pollution from traditional manicures are also a factor.
- Critics argue the 'naked' nail trend is part of the 'clean girl aesthetic' and can be seen as erasure, particularly by devaluing styles historically associated with Black and working-class women.
- Beauty experts suggest that nails are dead cells and do not need 'breaks' from polish, debunking the myth that they need to 'breathe'.