A pair of sleek black tights can instantly elevate any fall or winter outfit—so why not apply the same look to your manicure? “Sheer tights nails” are trending, and if you’re constantly torn between neutral, moody, and statement nails, they’re the perfect combination.
What are sheer tights nails?
As the name suggests, sheer tights nails mimic the look of see-through nylons. The technique accentuates your natural nail bed without covering it completely—similarly to how your skin shows through sheer stockings. And while the concept can be executed quite simply, you can also bring in as much variety to the design, pattern, and opacity of your sheer tights mani as you’d find in any hosiery aisle.
“The sheer black nails look is that perfect mix of edgy and effortless. It takes something as bold as black and softens it with a translucent finish, kind of like a smoky veil for your nails,” Paris-based nail artist Andréa Barbet tells Glamour. “I think it’s trending because it fits the moment so well, people want something chic and minimal, but with a little attitude. It feels modern, wearable, and a bit mysterious: like quiet luxury, but cooler.”
Barbet was inspired to put a moody, seasonal twist on the fashion-inspired polka dots trend, and created one of the most viral takes on the sheer tights manicure. Below, she walks us through exactly how to get the look.
How to get the sheer tights nail look
For such a polished final look, sheer tights nails are surprisingly easy to DIY. While you can have lots of fun with detail work, Barbet says that the translucent base is the most important part to nail (no pun intended).