The Bella Hadid-Pioneered 'Grandma Nails' Trend Is An Ode To Nostalgic Manicure Classics

Grandmas are known for a certain aesthetic. Even the grandmothers out there who consider themselves still "with it" can't help but wear certain styles, specific colors, and interesting fabrics. Gabardine, one of the most unappealing fabrics ever created, remains a hot commodity among the older generations — something that will hopefully meet its demise once Millennials hit the winter of their lives.

But as questionable as grandma's fashion choices can be, the one place where she certainly excels is when it comes to manicures. Grandmas just inherently know a good color nail when they see it, so they lean into it and usually end up rocking that one shade for the rest of their days. "To me, a grandma nail shade is anything you may have seen yours wear," celebrity manicurist Rita Remark told Who What Wear. "They may have been the first nail polishes you got your hands on. Think frosty corals, dusty roses, pearly neutrals — colors that we may have cringed over in our teens but are nostalgic for and totally in love with now."

So far, 2024 has been chockful of nail color trends, but because this one pays homage to our grandmothers, there's something extra special about it. While some people are choosing to call this trend Bella Hadid nails, the reality is grandma was around first and did it best, so maybe they can share the honor.

There's just something about grandmas and coral. Maybe it's because it makes them think of Boca Raton or some delightful orange, strawberry, and banana daiquiri of their youth. Either way, if you want to truly embrace grandma nails, then there's no other color quite like coral to do just that. Match it with a bold, coral print beach coverup and you're ready to retire in style. 

Similar to coral, pearl-colored manicures are huge in the grandmother community. And we're not just talking about the iridescent nail trend here, but straight-up pearl. Perhaps the reason for this is that every woman of a certain age eventually ends up with a string of pearls. Whether it's a knockoff from Claire's or the real deal from Mikimoto, pearls are the epitome of timeless sophistication, so it makes sense that one might want to match their manicure to such an essential jewelry piece. 

Some grandmas when they reach the white hair stage of their life, aren't having it. While some keep things natural, opting for brown or blonde dye jobs, some actively rebuff all conventions well into their elderly years, and really do it up like Helen Mirren, who rocked gorgeous shades of blue and purple at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023. Even if your grandma isn't Mirren — and she isn't because Mirren remains child-free — there are a lot of grandmothers who end up with some version of blue or purple hair, maybe not on purpose, but it always looks good and deserves a mani to match.

When grandmothers aren't trying to match their nails to their hair, turning their fingertips into a strand of pearls, or leaning into every color under the sun as long as it's iridescent, they're usually dabbling in classic pastels or one of the big trends of the moment, muted pastel nails. Unless your grandmother is Carmela Soprano, there's a good chance your grandma wants to keep things subtle, but colorful. Pastels are the perfect way to do that. 

Frankly, because we're talking grandma nails, we could have easily made this whole piece about all the variations of iridescent shades and colors that exist. But, as much as grandmas loves that type of energy, not all grandmas are the same. While there are plenty of options to get in on this grandma nail trend, if you want to keep it simple and to the point, then pick a color, slap on an iridescent finish, and you've achieved grandma-level perfection.