10 Celebs Who Love The 'No Manicure' Look

When it comes to your manicure, sometimes the simplest, subtlest design can look the most sophisticated — and expensive. Perhaps it's counterintuitive, but understated manicures have a "quiet luxury" appeal that is undeniably chic. "A clean, natural nail complements everything; it's a classic look that won't look out of place at work or for a special occasion," nail technician Metta Francis told Harpers Bazaar. "More and more people want to achieve this 'perfect' hand and nail look — and much like skin, have a desire for healthy, glowy nails."

Plenty of celebrities are opting for the kind of neutral manicures designed to look incredibly natural. Some are taking it even further, forgoing polish entirely, and opting instead for meticulously groomed cuticles and elegantly shaped nails. In fact, barely polished or unpolished nails have emerged as an unexpected new luxury symbol. "People want to create the illusion that they are not putting in hours of work," beauty writer Kristina Rodulfo told The New York Times.

Meghan Markle favors a milky neutral manicure that looks incredibly natural. "Right now we really have two manicure trends — people who want custom, over-the-top nails, the more-is-more manicure, and those who want a super-neutral, goes-with-everything manicure," nail artist Julie Kandalec told Vogue. "Obviously, she's part of the latter." Considering that when it comes to makeup, Meghan Markle favors a signature beauty combo that always looks great together, it makes sense she would have a classic go-to when it comes to her nails, too. Better yet: the soft pink nails perfectly complement her neutral-heavy personal style.

She may have been known for rocking a glam French tip manicure in the '90s, but these days Pamela Anderson favors a less fussy looking style: clear polish. "With a color-free manicure, the condition of the natural nail becomes the focus, so good prep makes all the difference," Susan Carroll, founder of the beauty brand Young LDN, told Elle. It turns out, much like how good skincare is part of why Anderson is still so gorgeous going makeup-free, great nail and cuticle care is part of why her 'no manicure' approach is so stunning.

Taylor Swift's signature beauty look is bold — black winged eyeliner and matte red lipstick — but when it comes to her nails, she's usually far more minimal. The pop star typically opts for nude-toned manicures that look natural. Still, Swift knows how to have fun with her nails, like when she rocked a gleaming cat eye manicure in pale pink for the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards. Even Swift's bling nails at the 2026 VMAs were the perfect twist on the 'no manicure' trend, since they paired a natural color with strategically added rhinestones.

Kate Middleton has never been one for bright colored manicures. Though she has worn very sheer pink polish for significant occasions like her wedding, Kate often opts for clear polish — or even skips polish entirely. "Instead she has simply opted for a buffed nail with a naturally squared, low-maintenance shape, which not only goes with everything she wears but looks clean-cut, natural, and gorgeous," royal and etiquette expert Myka Meier told Glamour. While it might seem like protocol, as with the unwritten mandate that royal women wear pantyhose, Meier says the choice to keep things natural is actually a reflection of Kate Middleton's personal taste.

Zendaya rarely makes a fashion or beauty misstep, and that holds true with her pared-back approach to manicures. The "Challenges" star favors a natural-looking nude pink color. She sometimes changes up the shape, alternately opting for a short square design or a more elongated medium-length, but always keeps it elegant. "I have this joke that if my nail breaks, I break," Zendaya told W Magazine, joking that she sees the state of her nails as a reflection of her overall well-being. "I often do my own nails. Just because I don't like seeing my nails chipped."

Pretty fingernails are one of actor Mariska Hargitay's go-to pick-me-ups. "I do always feel best with a fresh manicure," she told Allure. While she admits she loves a bold red nail, Hargitay has also been known to wear a more subtle look. To host the 2026 Emmy Awards, she wore a barely-there nude shade that left her hands looking polished and elegant without drawing the eye from her glamorous gowns. The 'no polish' look was perfectly in line with the understated manicure trend that's currently popular.

Jennifer Lopez is practically synonymous with glam, but when it comes to her nails, she knows that less is sometimes more. Though she rarely sacrifices on length — Lopez is loyal to her signature long almond shape — she often favors a natural pinky color and the occasional subtle French tips. In fact, Lopez has a real knack for elevating the nude colored manicure with a shimmering finish, hyper-glossy top coat, or carefully placed pearl embellishment. The effect is very "her real nails but better."

Though Sarah Jessica Parker loves to serve a bold fashion look on the red carpet, her sense of style doesn't really extend to her fingernails. "I never do my nails," Parker told the Belfast Telegraph (via Allure). "I've probably had nail polish on my nails twice in 10 years." Parker seems happier going sans polish, and it's a preference she apparently shares with her famous fictional "Sex and the City" counterpart, Carrie Bradshaw, who almost never wore nail polish. "It just never seemed that it was where Carrie would spend her time expressing herself," Parker told Glamour.

Nicole Kidman loves a 'barely there' manicure. The "Babygirl" star is known for keeping her nails short and polished in a neutral, natural shade. In 2026, she turned heads with a glass pearl manicure that looked both polished and understated. "It still feels very clean, but the soft pearl finish means it catches the light beautifully and makes each nail look really healthy," Sue Carroll, founder of beauty brand Young LDN, told Red. "What makes it so flattering is that it enhances the natural nail rather than covering it."

Selena Gomez has long been a fan of a minimalist manicure. The "Only Murders in the Building" star loves a bare-looking nail, sometimes opting for a pearly finish, a sheer nude shade, or even just a clear polish with carefully groomed cuticles. Tom Bachik is Gomez's go-to nail artist; in an Instagram story, he revealed that he turns to Chanel — particularly the sheer pink color Ballerina — to get Gomez's perfectly natural nail color, then gets an extra glossy finish by adding a final gel top coat.