Popular Nail Trends vs. Safety: Delivering the Latest Manicure Trends While Combating Risk

From Ariana Grande’s classic French nail to Anok Yai’s subtle glimmer, the 2025 Oscars saw no shortage of popular nail trends. But it’s Cynthia Erivo’s mani masterpiece that continues to haunt us (in the best possible way). Featuring intricate, hand-drawn, 3-D clocks, chains, and jewels in mesmerizing golds and emeralds, nail artist Mycah Dior transformed Erivo’s nails into an electrifying canvas.

Big and bold fads like Cynthia Erivo’s nail art aren’t exclusive to the Red Carpet. Several industry experts predict 2025 will empower every trend from clean, low-maintenance minimalism (think micro french tips) to vibrant maximalism. Glamnetic’s Founder and CEO Ann McFerran declared 2025 the year of bolder, more vibrant, and more expressive nails. (We’re talking three-dimensional, abstract, layered art with more depth and dimension than Celine Dion’s pool-turned-water-park.) 

Keeping up with these nail art trends can be an exciting, fun way to explore your artistic prowess. But when it comes to safety, not all popular nail trends are created equal. Without proper research and prep, even the best nail art designs can cause unintentional harm on the wrong clients.

Before saying “Yes!” to every popular style or product, pause and ask yourself: Is it a good fit for this person’s lifestyle or nails? How can you educate clients about the risks of certain nail trends?

Let’s break down some examples. Here are 5 nail industry trends, both new and time-tested, that have yielded dangerous results.

5 Popular Nail Trends That Can Be Dangerous

In the wrong hands (and on the wrong nails), what popular nail styles require some extra caution? What are the most dangerous nail trends that can cause injuries?

Gel Nails

Gel nails have been popular for decades. They’re strong, gorgeous, lower maintenance, fast drying, and significantly more difficult to chip than regular polish. 

But before they were an industry staple, gel was a budding nail art trend. Even now, there’s still a lot we don’t know about gel nail risks. Existing research about the UV lamps and chemicals in gel polish is limited.

According to LearnSkin, an educational platform for dermatologists, and Adam Taylor of The Conversation, some possible damage from gel nail polish includes:

• Weakening of the natural nail (with long-term use and overuse).
• Trachyonychia (lengthwise ridges).
• Nail-pitting.
• Pterygium inversum unguis (adhesion of the skin to the nail).
• Skin cancer from UV light exposure, although the risk is considered trivial.

Acrylic Nails

Like gel polish, acrylic nails started as a nail art trend decades ago and have since become an industry staple. And, like gel, overuse of acrylics can be risky, too.

After all, fake nails stick to your natural nail more firmly than the natural nail sticks to your finger, LearnSkin explains. Simply wearing them will cause some damage to the underlying nails. This is especially true if they’re worn continuously without breaks for the nails to heal. 

Acrylic nail risks and overuse injuries may include:

• Traumatic onycholysis (condition where the nail plate separates from the nail bed).
• Allergic contact dermatitis.
• Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage).
• Overfiled nails.
• Pseudo-psoriatic nails.

Nail Piercings

Pierced nails are not a brand-new nail trend. Its popularity originally boomed in the early 2000s with a recent resurgence across social media, the Times of India reported. It involves drilling a hole in artificial or natural nails and inserting lightweight jewelry through the piercing.

If you’re new to this increasingly popular nail trend, you may wonder: Are nail piercings a risk for infections?

Yes, this is one of the potential risks to consider. Without proper sanitation to your tools and the pierced area, your client could get infections, nail damage, or damage to the surrounding tissue, Stylecraze says. Problems also arise if your clients are allergic to the jewelry or get the jewelry snagged. 

For best results, the client should have strong nails. They aren’t recommended for typists or people doing heavy labor, where the piercings can get stuck or yanked off, the Times of India wrote. Artists should also prioritise hypoallergenic materials and good hygiene to prevent infections. In addition to professional nail care at your salon, send them home with instructions for proper hygiene and maintenance, too.

Encapsulated Liquid Nails

Have you ever wanted an aquarium or snow globe you can wear 24/7?

That’s exactly the appeal of liquid nails. They involve encapsulated nails filled with liquid and moving elements. Liquid nails can look like fish tanks, glow in the dark lava lamps, snow globes, falling leaves, and more.

This raised nail shape trend raises an important question: Do “bubble” nails or “fish tank” nails weaken the natural nail structure?

They can. Although not inherently dangerous, this nail art trend puts heavy strain on the natural nails. Depending on the nails’ length and what materials you use, this can lead to breakage, lifting of the natural nail, and skin irritation, especially if the liquid leaks out. Additionally, failing to produce an airtight seal could invite bacteria, mold, and infections.

If you’re passionate about liquid nails, consider shortening them to reduce the strain. Alternatively, you can even explore this popular nail trend as a standalone art form—not for everyday wear, like this Redditor did.

Extreme Stiletto Nails

She’s an icon, she’s a legend, and she is the moment. She is stiletto nails.

Stiletto nails are another popular nail trend. Daring, edgy, and a bit dramatic, stiletto nails will make your baddie clients feel like “That Girl” every time they leave your salon.

Still, this nail shape trend isn’t for everyone. Parents often pass on stiletto nails to avoid scratching small babies (or even themselves!).

It doesn’t take a scratch to get hurt with these cunning claws. Nail techs should be careful to choose nails that are appropriate for the client’s natural nail length. If the natural nail is too short, stiletto nails can apply excess pressure on the nail bed, making everyday tasks hurt. 

“As a general rule, if I put these nails on a hundred people with short nails, I can pretty much bet you that most of them are going to come back broken: broken apexes, very uncomfortable, ripped nail beds. It’s not going to be pretty,” Nail Career Education explains in her YouTube video. Watch her video for tips to calculating the ideal nail length, and photos of stiletto nails gone wrong.

Meanwhile, the latest manicure trends like stilettos often lack warnings about proper care, cleanliness, and potential side effects. Extra long nails, whether natural or artificial, carry more surface area for bacteria and fungi, experts say. They make it more difficult to properly clean your hands and nails, which increases your risk of nail infections and other infection outbreaks. 

How can nail technicians protect clients from the risks of popular nail styles?

We aren’t saying this to discourage you from experimenting with the latest manicure trends. Our takeaway is this: If you want to keep clients safe while finding your inner Mycah Dior, ask the right questions.

For example, before offering or accepting requests for trending designs, styles, or products, research how safe they are. Find out if they require hazardous chemicals or specialized training. Learn about contraindications. For example, is that product or trend not recommended for your pregnant clients?

Additionally, research how to protect your clients’ nails and skin both during and after their appointments. If you’re offering gel nail polish for the first time, for example, prepping the skin beforehand and removing the gel gently makes a big difference, one nail artist told Buzzfeed. Some techs even put sunscreen on their clients’ hands or recommend fingerless gloves to combat skin cancer and premature aging from UV exposure.

Furthermore, talk to your clients before starting their nails. Discuss their lifestyle and expectations, and ask for inspo pics so you’re on the same page. If the request makes you uncomfortable or their nails look too damaged for the nail art trends they love, don’t be afraid to politely decline. They may need to give their natural nails a break or find a more specialized artist. 

Insurance: Not a Fleeting Nail Art Trend

Just because you can embrace popular nail trends, doesn’t mean you should—not without research and precautions, anyway.

We offer similar advice when it comes to insurance coverage: Just because you can go without insurance, doesn’t mean you should. 

Proper protection and peace of mind isn’t a fleeting trend. It’s a proactive step toward financial security for you and your nail business. Take your first step with our specialized insurance for nail technicians here.