20 '90s Nail Ideas For Your Next Retro Manicure

If you're anything like us, you're all about the 1990s trends resurgence. From the return of 90's beauty trends, to re-popularized retro sitcom star haircuts, to the renaissance of classic lower back tattoos (really), the decade that brought us the Spice Girls, low-rise denim, and Tamagotchis is finally hot again. And one of the most fun ways to show our allegiance to the '90s is with a retro manicure.

There are so many ways to pile on the nostalgia — or, if you're Gen Z, familiarize yourself — with '90s-inspired nails. Whether your favorite mani style is dark and moody a la "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," or chic and feminine like "Clueless"' beauty Cher Horowitz, we've got the fly looks that'll have you feeling totally cool for your weekly trip to Blockbuster or a night at Chuck E. Cheese. Booyah!

Remember jelly shoes? The plastic footwear was everywhere in the '90s — and there's a way to bring the once-popular aesthetic into your manicure. Ask your nail tech to create a juicy jelly nail look, which usually involves clear tips, hard gel, and a see-through polish to create a sheer, glossy, gel-like finish. Hot pink is perfect for this aesthetic, but silver was also a common jelly shoe color back in the '90s, as were neon green and blue. You could even add glitter as a nod to the sparkly version of the footwear that had everyone jealous (us included).

The '90s was all about glitter, and the more the merrier. We had it in our hair, on our body, and all over our clothing — which makes chunky rainbow polish perfect for recreating the era's maximalist vibe. Choose a glitter polish with a range of shapes, sizes, and colors (multi-colored, holographic sparkles will really capture the decade) or layer on different loose glitters and polishes and seal them in with a clear top coat for a similar effect. Just make sure your sparkles are cosmetic grade.

Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time" music video was one of the most memorable of the decade, and her innocent pink pigtail pompoms inspired a whole generation. Match your mani to the light pink shade for a cohesive look, and attach a puff accessory to your ring finger using nail glue to pack a real punch. It may not be the most practical, but "Sometimes" you've just gotta have fun. Plus, it's totally fabulous and oh so '90s.

No other band defined the '90s like the Spice Girls, so if you "Wannabe" the ultimate nail icon, channel the British girl band via their signature aesthetics. Get Sporty with a pastel blue with athletic white stripes, be Baby with hot pink and sparkles, and pick Posh with a simple and glossy black polish. For Ginger Spice, recreate her notorious Union Jack dress, and finally, get loud with Scary Spice's signature leopard-print.

Tamagotchi e-pets were huge, and incorporating them into your manicure will give an authentic vintage vibe with a technological twist. Put your art skills to the test with a flat, colorful design, using lacquers in bright shades such as blues, pinks, and yellows to frame a simple, black-and-white, 2D character (the more primitive and boxy, the better). If you're feeling bold and creative, use clear builder gel to create a 3D version of the novelty toy that stands out. Literally.

Diana, Princess of Wales, was one of the most beloved and notable stars of the '90s, and she was almost as famous for her royal rule-breaking outfits as her kind nature. One of her most famous yet risqué looks was the iconic black Christina Stambolian revenge dress she wore in 1994 that had the whole world talking. Recreate the look (and feel) on your fingertips with a sheer, black powder or light lacquer as a nod to the late royal's glam gown and see-through hosiery.

"Saved by the Bell," co-starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Mario Lopez, had a huge influence on fashion, and, because it debuted in 1989, popularized a lot of early '90s looks with an '80s twist. Use the teen sitcom's quirky title cards as inspo and paint each finger a muted purple. Then add long, white triangles to your talons and dot or crosshatch a black polish over each. Using deeper purple, yellow, and blue polishes, add wavy lines, small and large circles, and triangles for the ultimate retro pattern.

As if we could talk about '90s nails and not mention "Clueless." Alicia Silverstone's character of Cher Horowitz is synonymous with the decade — and so is her fashion. Cher's yellow, plaid jacket-and-skirt two piece is one of most notable outfits of the 90s, and it makes a fun and surprisingly easy mani. Paint two fingertips with a matte yellow, then bring in some dimension with thin black lines and a lighter yellow or white to mimic Cher's plaid outfit. Use a matte pink polish on the other three nails, and if you really want to go above and beyond, add Cher's famous quips, such as "Ugh," "As if," or "Full-on Monet."

"Buffy The Vampire Slayer" viewers will remember infamous villain Drusilla's dark and sultry aesthetic. Spike's girlfriend rocked a sassy twist on the traditional French manicure, with a dark base and white tips. And her out of the box look is super each to achieve. Paint your nails a deep maroon shade (or reclaim black nail polish as an adult staple), then use a French manicure stamp (like Saviland's French Tip Nail Stamp or Modelones' French Tip Tool) to add opaque white tips.

One of the most shocking yet iconic looks of the '90s was Lil' Kim's risqué purple jumpsuit at the 1999 MTV Music Video Awards. Your nails can be just as fab using the fierce one-piece as inspo. First, paint three nails fully lilac. For the rest of your fingers, use the lilac polish on the bottom two-thirds of the nail and add a clear gel infused with holographic glitter to the ends. You can also use shiny butterflies, stars, or hearts for an extra dose of nostalgia. This looks works best using press-ons for a clear base.

If you were alive in the '90s, you'll remember the original iteration of Troll Dolls, before the Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake movies. The quirky toys were invented before the 90s, but they still had a strong hold on us during the decade with various Troll-inspired TV shows and video games. Get creative by drawing the classic character over a holographic pink and blue gradient base on two or more nails. On your other talons, add holographic rainbow hearts, moons, and stars to mimic the shiny sticker trends of the decade.

"Rugrats" was another major TV series many '90s babies grew up on. Embody the show by painting the likes of Angelica, Chuckie, and Tommy on your nails using intricate brushes (such as MelodySusie's Nail Art Brush Set or Artdone's Nail Art Pens). Don't be afraid to use the "Rugrats" title card as inspiration too, and create a fun cow print with pink and yellow polishes. You'll need a steady hand and plenty of space, so we'd recommend using extra-long press-ons or trusting a talented nail tech.

Before Y2K, CDs reigned supreme — streaming, who? For a simple way to get a CD-inspired look on your nails, use a silver holographic lacquer, foil, or powder all over your talons for the super shiny, rainbow-esque effect. This look nods toward the technological advances of the '90s without being too on the nose or difficult to achieve.

The '90s was all about tie dye fashion (which had a resurgence in 2023). This trippy trend appeared in the wardrobes of the casts of every big show, from the likes of "Clarissa Explains It All" to "Friends," and it's easier than you think to incorporate into your manicure. One of the easiest methods is to place multiple circles of gel or standard lacquer on each finger, then use a nail art dotting tool to swirl the polishes together. Use contrasting shades for a bold aesthetic, such as neons. 

In 1999, Mariah Carey released her "Rainbow" album and, coincidentally, gave us one of the easiest '90s-inspired nail looks. On the album cover, the star posed in white with a rainbow spray painted on her body and onto the wall behind her. To recreate the aesthetic, start with a white base and use a medium brush to paint a pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet rainbow. Because Carey's design was made to look like spray-paint, your lines and lacquer intensity don't have to be perfect, so it's great for beginners.

Denim nails were a massive trend in winter 2023, and the resurgence of the '90s means the manicure look is still hot in 2024. For an authentic vibe, create a denim look with a darker base, then dab a lighter blue over the top using a sponge for a blurry, distressed effect. Add rhinestones and 3D silver embellishments for the gawdy, in-your-face jeans aesthetic that was very of the time.

If you were a kid in the '90s, chances are you cut up a magazine or catalog (remember those?) to create a mood board at least once. Relish that memory by recreating cut-out letters on your nails. Paint a square box on each talon and add one letter to each finger to spell words like "Love" or "Peace." Remember to change up the color and letter case for a truly jumbled, purposely mismatched vibe.

Another way to reference Britney Spears in your '90s mani is to take inspiration from one of her most vintage outfits. In 1999, Spears stepped out in a metallic pink crop top and baggy, white pants with matching knee patches. Paint a white lacquer on your nails (go opalescent for an extra dose of the decade), then use a thin brush to draw a series of black semi circles. Fill in the negative space around the semi-circles with a black lacquer and dust a pink chrome powder over the top.

The classic children's show "Teletubbies" debuted in 1997 and the adorable tubby characters make for a seriously fun manicure. To keep things easy and simple, paint the gang's unique antennas over a white background. Po is red with a ring, Laa-Laa is yellow with a curl, Dipsy is green with a straight up antenna, and Tinky Winky is purple with a triangle on his head. On your thumb, paint a rainbow or the sun that watched over the rotund characters.

"Friends" defined a generation and is one of the best representations of the '90s. To celebrate the sitcom's legendary impact, use the instantly recognisable lavender shade of Monica and Rachel's apartment on each nail except the thumb. On the ring finger, use yellow and orange lacquers to create the frame that hangs over the door's peephole (plus a white and black dot for the hole). On the thumb, apply a matte black and recreate the show's logo with red, yellow, and blue dots in between each white letter of "Friends." Seriously, could it be anymore '90s?