Fruit Skin Nails Are the New K-Beauty Trend to Try

Fruity manicures have all but taken over Instagram feeds this summer. For months, juicy looks ranging from citrus to cherries have ruled manicure trends. But fall is coming soon, and a new wave of fruity looks is poised to take over. Fruit skin nails, a trend focused on the outside, not the inside of the fruit, is gaining popularity within the creator community, and it’s no accident. According to celebrity manicurist Kim Truong, fruit skin nails are trending because they tap into the fun foodie aesthetic that beauty lovers are gravitating toward right now. As with many of our favorite trends right now fruit skin nails can be traced back to K-beauty. Ready to test drive the look? Ahead, Truong shares how to DIY the trend for a delicious and realistic manicure.

What are fruit skin nails?

“Fruit skin nails are designed to mimic the glossy texture and natural look of fruit skins,” says Truong. From shiny apples to rich, glossy cherries and zesty orange rinds, they’re an instant mood booster that plays into the fruity aesthetic trending within the nail community. It’s no secret that food is thriving in beauty and fashion. This trend simply draws on that popularity with a playful twist. While the focus is on the skin’s texture, Truong notes that highlighting the juicy nature of the fruit is just as important.

How to do fruit skin nails

Nail trends are often challenging to recreate. Some require an artistic touch and skillful eye, but the beauty of this trend is that it’s open to interpretation. Once you’ve chosen a fruit for inspiration, you can get creative with how you’d like to represent it. “Start with a sheer or milky polish that mimics the inner tones of the fruit, such as a light pink undercoat for strawberries or a soft yellow for lemons. This will be the base, and you can build from there,” says Truong. From there, layer on polishes to add texture. Matte, shimmer, glossy and jelly polishes are all ideal for this trend, as fruit has many different textures. Dotting tools and tiny brushes can be used to add fine details such as seeds and subtle gradients in the rinds. The final step to creating a realistic fruit skin manicure is the high shine finish. “Don’t skip this step, the gloss is what makes the manicure pop and give it that freshly washed fruit look,” she says.

Fruit skin nail inspiration

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Grape

This may be one of the easiest looks to pull off. With a few layers of sheer purple polishes, you can replicate the texture and beauty of red grapes. To get the full effect, Truong suggests sheering out the colors with good base coat for dimension and a realistic look.

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Apple

Apple nails are the perfect manicure for fall. Layering is essential for this fruit skin look. Apre’s Pour Decisions creates a deep, apple-red flush, ideal for the base of an apple skin manicure  ,” says Truong. Just be sure to finish with a generous layer of top coat. “This seals everything in with a glass-like shine,” she adds.

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Watermelon

Soak up the last of summer with this sweet watermelon manicure. The details of this look are impeccable but easy to replicate. For the seeds, a simple dotting tool or toothpick works best, while clear gel can be used to form the water droplets on the rind.

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Strawberry

Can’t decide between fruity nails and fruit skin nails? With this manicure, you won’t have to. It combines both looks and showcases the juicy and vibrant flesh of strawberries.

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Guava

This fruit skin manicure is perfect for an understated approach to the trend. The key to bringing it to life is the brilliant colors and an ultra-shiny topcoat to create glass nail level shine.