When Selena Gomez attended the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles, she hid her manicure under a pair of black opera-length gloves, leaving me to wonder what nail polish colour was shining below the designer fabric. A glam red? A rich burgundy? Lots of glitter? Now we know, thanks to Selena’s go-to nail artist Tom Bachik — and not only is it a masterclass in minimalism, it’s also affordable.
For the gala, Selena and Tom decided on a “high gloss glam” mani that is truly the definition of “your nails but better.” First, Tom prepped Selena’s nail beds and cuticles, skipping extensions in favour of her natural nails. He filed her nails into a soft squoval shape, then painted them with Aprés Nail Gel Couleur in Gossamer Light, a sheer nude that provided just a hint of barely-there delicate colour and lots of shine. The colour is gorgeous, but so is the price tag. The gel polish retails for £16.99, no superstar price tag here.
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Tom used a gel shade on Selena, which makes sense due to quick curing time and extra shine, but you don’t need an at-home UV light to get a similar look, regular nail polish can do the trick, too. Essie’s Gel Couture in Fairy Tailor (£9.99) gives you that reflective shine and sheer wash of colour without a UV light. For even more shine and protection, finish with a layer of CND Vinylux Long Wear Top Coat.
These minimalistic manicures are par for the course for Selena as of late; she has been feeling a simpler style these days, giving chrome a break in favour of sheer and nude shades. Earlier this month, she and Tom collaborated on a “perfect, subtle chic nude” with a no-makeup makeup vibe, and they’ve also channeled the winter weather with a pure snowy white shade. Whenever Selena changes up her polish, we pay attention — and usually make a nail appointment right after.
Get the look:
This feature originally appeared on Allure.