✨ Top Celebrity Nail Trends of 2025 Shimmery Finishes: How Emily Blunt to Create a Glamorous, Red-Carpet-Ready Sparkle

Two of Emily Blunt's recent red carpet nail looks created by celebrity nail artist Julie Kandalec.

When it comes to special events or evening looks, high-shine metallic manicures are a powerful way to elevate your appearance. Red carpets are a seasonal source of beauty inspiration, with A-listers modeling interpretations of trends from hair bows to nude lipstick looks and variations of varnish on their fingertips. The custom gowns you see on the carpets of awards shows are more aspirational than attainable for everyday wear. But beauty looks, like this year’s red carpet nail trends — sheer pinks, glittery metallics, and reflective reds — are easy to emulate at home, with the creatives behind the looks sharing the polishes and techniques they use for the celebrity nail looks.

A closer look at Emily Blunt’s Golden Globes manicure, which Kandalec created to go high-glam with her gown.

Celebrity nail trends are extending beyond colors, with textures and finishes becoming trends in and of themselves. “Trends are definitely going sparkly, glitter, metallic, lots of flash,” says Kandalec. For the Golden Globes, Kandalec painted a glittery rose gold Gel Bottle gel nail polish on Blunt’s fingertips, aligning with the reflective embroidery on her Alexander McQueen gown. “Emily and I don’t normally do sparkle, so this was something fun for us and the red carpet,” Kandalec explains.

Below is a complete expert-level breakdown for achieving this refined, radiant look.

⭐ Why Metallic Shimmer Nails Dominate Evening Style

Light-reflective surfaces create a diamond-like sparkle under spotlights
Brightens skin tone and enhances hand contours
Pairs universally with formalwear, especially nude, silver, and gold tones
Adds luxury and sophistication without needing bold nail art

Shimmer nails serve as jewelry for the fingertips—subtle yet powerful.

💅 Types of Shimmer Used in Professional Manicures

Shimmer Category	Key Features	Best For
Classic glitter	Higher texture, bold shine	Maximum visual impact
Monotone metallic shimmer	Sleek, uniform shine	Elegant and clean looks
Two-tone or color-shift shimmer	Changes color under movement	Unique artistic style
Reflective shimmer	Extremely bright in low light	Night events, parties

The type of shimmer directly influences the finished luxury effect.

Classic finishes versus new dazzling finishes.

🔍 How to Make Shimmer Nails Look Extra Polished & High-End

To achieve the refined finish seen in the image, follow these key principles:

1️⃣ Fine-grain shimmer

Delivers a smoother, jewel-like sparkle without chunky texture.

2️⃣ Thin application

Thick glitter layers = uneven surface. Let reflectivity, not thickness, create the shine.

3️⃣ Well-defined nail shape

Short square or natural round = cleaner, elevated finish.

4️⃣ Styling harmony

Match shimmer tone to outfit details: Silver → cooler tones | Gold → warm tones Color coordination = luxury perception

These shades tell their own story: Utopia warms, Poison intrigues, Disco dazzles.

🛠 At-Home Application Tips for a Professional Result

Since shimmer formulas naturally have more texture, a strong top coat routine is essential:

Step	Technique & Purpose
Gentle surface prep	Improves adhesion and smoothness
Thin base coat	Avoids bulk and curing issues
Pat on shimmer polish	Prevents glitter buildup
Use 1–2 thicker top coats	Smooths texture and enhances gloss
Seal edges	Increases durability and prevents lifting

💡 Pro Tip: For extra smoothness, lightly buff the first top coat then add a second one.