Rihanna is heavily pregnant with her second child, however she isn’t slowing down on public appearances, as this week she was seen at the Louis Vuitton men’s show in Paris and then at the Cannes Lions Festival this week. The star also shared an Instagram video promoting the Fenty Beauty Hella Thicc mascara (which, by the way, is as good as she makes it look) – she didn’t just show off flawless skin and some next-level fluttery eyelashes, but a killer manicure too.
A French manicure on steroids, the singer’s nails were painted a sheer, minimal pink colour – so far, so traditional – while her tips were adorned with 3D gel detailing. Moulded into curved, amorphous shapes, the graphic tips were painted jet black and felt particularly striking against the delicate sheer base colour.
Playing with gel shape and texture is one of the biggest trends in the nail industry right now. Yes, there’s the clean girl nail aesthetic, where nails are given a barely-there, natural finish, but nail artists are also getting ultra creative with fantastical 3D shapes using builder gels, which are bespoke for each individual. Riri (always the maximalist), naturally favours the latter.
She isn’t alone in experimenting with different shapes – everyone from Dua Lipa to Megan Thee Stallion also like a 3D design – but it’s crucial to find a talented nail artist with the expertise to create them. After that, the shape and style you go for is up to you – consider it the ultimate fun-time manicure.
