Mr Viral
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Pastel manicures with bright, summery colors practically go viral every summer. And yet, only a few weeks into this season’s warmer weather, “nightshade nails” are cropping up everywhere as a surprising, fresh take on summer nail trends. Even better, it’s the chic tonal alternative to lavender-milk nails we didn’t know we needed until now.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen moodier nails lately, but they are a fun and intriguing departure from the typical neons and pinks we so often see this time of year. Case in point: Hailey Bieber showed off a moody mani while attending the Fashion Trust U.S. Awards in Los Angeles, a significant change from her classic neutral glazed-donut nails. This dark eggplant color on her nails is reminiscent of the deadly nightshade flower—ominous. Nail artist Zola Ganzorigt, who created the look, tells Glamour UK that she used OPI You Don’t Know Jacques!, a purple-taupe shade, for the base of Hailey’s long, almond-shaped nails. “She wanted her nails to match the YSL dress she wore,” says Ganzorigt.
Given that many of the biggest nail trends have come courtesy of this trendsetting duo, it was only a matter of time before our editors were served different iterations of nightshade nails on social feeds as the shade began capturing the imagination of content creators all over TikTok and Instagram.
What are nightshade nails?While nightshade is the color to know right now, it’s not the easiest shade to define. Plum and purple, in particular, are breakthrough manicure colors in 2025, but nightshade isn’t a run-of-the-mill purple, nor is it your typical warm plum, either. Think of a moodier, eggplant-inspired color, a smoky mauve, or more of a cool-toned berry-purple shade, and this is what you can expect a nightshade-nail-polish color to look like.
To get the look at home, try a shade similar to what Bieber has popularized: the well-known purple-brown hue of the flower. Shop these products to DIY your twilight-esque mani:
OPI Nail Lacquer in You Don’t Know Jacques!
Essie Nail Polish in Leather Weather
OPI Nail Lacquer in Clay Dreaming
Londontown Lakur Nail Polish in Save the Queen
And like the different plant varieties it’s named after, the nightshade nails trend also encompasses cool glossy purples (the nightshade family includes eggplants, too), neutral berries, and plums with chocolate undertones, as well as the bruised, almost-black shade of the fruit.
No matter which iteration you choose, it’s the go-to manicure for those wanting a more dramatic or glam-goth take on pastel lilac nails this summer. (Or maybe you’re not quite ready to retire your favorite autumn nail vibe.)
How to wear nightshade nailsThe beauty of nightshade nails is their versatility. We’ve seen them worn on long, short, and rounded almond nails. We’ve also noted personal touches, such as a chrome or cat-eye finish and flower nail art. You can even incorporate the nightshade hue into a lavender-milk manicure by using the deeper shade for your tips or drawing on a wavy design for a more personalized touch. If you’re creating the look at home, apply two shades of your desired moonlight-esque color and make sure to use a topcoat afterward to boost shine and keep your mani lasting as long as possible.
And remember, there’s never a wrong time of year to wear a nail style you love, so why not try nightshade nails yourself? Here’s some inspo to get you started. Get ready to screenshot and take these manicure ideas to your next nail appointment.
High-shine nightshade nails
Nightshade florals
Chrome nightshade
Nightshade nail art
Purple-haze nails
Metallic nightshade nails
Short and squoval
3D nightshade flowers
Aura nails
Nightshade stiletto nails
Customized cat-eye
3D nightshade nail art
Nightshade French manicure
Purple ombré
A version of this story was originally published in Glamour UK.
