Personalised nail art and texture: Expressive designs for 2025
According to WGSN’s senior strategist for buying, Jessica Seddon, trends were too saturated in the market between 2023 and 2024, resulting in a shift.
“It wasn’t sustainable, in terms of the environment but also personal spending. Consumers’ spending power isn’t strong enough to keep up with all the changing trends, so it has driven them to return to personal style and more considered consumption,” she says.
This behaviour is something Keen has observed with her clients, sharing: “The clean-girl aesthetic, which encompasses milky pinks and sheer finishes, is still thriving – as is the classic French.”
However, many clients see their nails as an outlet for personal expression, so it’s unlikely that experimental techniques are going to disappear.
“Nail art is always in demand,” asserts Monika Ferreira, Gelish master educator and nail art award winner. “However, lately we’ve seen more requests for bespoke art based on personal interests – such as the latest Disney film, or holiday-themed art.”
In fact, Keen also notes that she’s been seeing more clients than ever stepping out of their comfort zone with intricate layered designs, textured finishes and 3D embellishments.
With so many talented techs sharing their work on social media, it’s easy for clients to hear about new techniques and trends.
“Pinterest and Instagram are still the most popular client mood boards that get presented to me in a consultation, and chrome is certainly making a comeback,” explains Ferreira. However, instead of soft cottage-core tones with an ethereal glow, Parkins is predicting a grunge revival, with silver and pewter tones favoured over the more feminine gold.
Meanwhile, much like Sandhu’s makeup predictions for the upcoming season, Osei is dialled in on texture: “Whether it’s swirls of velvet finishes with builder gel, or even a matte topcoat, clients will be ready to experiment.”
What to remember about this season’s nail trends…
Whether your clients are drawn to the calming tones of matcha nails, the timeless appeal of brown manicures, or the playful glow of butter yellow and warm custard, autumn/winter 2025 nail trends offer endless opportunities for creativity.
From layering textures to experimenting with chrome, or curating colour menus inspired by seasonal drinks, the key to success this season lies in personalisation and storytelling.
As clients seek more meaningful, expressive designs, nail pros who embrace individuality – while staying ahead of emerging colour trends – will be best placed to make every manicure feel truly bespoke.
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