Model and beauty brand founder Hailey Bieber made “glazed donut skin” go viral after introducing the concept in 2021, and now her “glazed donut nails” have become the latest trend inspired by the confection. The star appeared at the Met Gala in May with a minimalist makeup look and shiny, sheer white nails — the so-called glazed donut nails — by LA-based nail artist Zola Ganzorigt, which have become one of the biggest nail trends of the year.
Bieber first brought glazed donut skin into the beauty vernacular after telling Harper’s Bazaar that her skin care routine involves looking like a glazed donut before she goes to bed. Since then, she launched Rhode, a new skin care line focused on supporting the skin barrier and giving smooth, glistening results that resemble a freshly glazed donut.
With glazed donut nails as the latest craze, we spoke to Ganzorigt about how to recreate the trend at home.
Like glazed donut skin, glazed donut nails mimic the sweet treat they’re named after — particularly the slick and smooth layer of glaze that tops the donut. Bieber’s original glazed donut nails similarly boasted a sheer coating of OPI Gel Color in Funny Bunny polish topped with the OPI Chrome Effects in Tin Man Can for a shiny and glistening effect.
“Since it’s really neutral, minimalist and chic, I can definitely see that these nails will be around,” says Ganzorigt.
The nail artist also created several variations of the original sheer white look, including neon chrome and lavender chrome, but she’s currently loving the pink iteration. “My current favorite is the strawberry glazed donut nails, which is the sheer pink version,” Ganzorigt shares.
The products Ganzorigt used to create Bieber’s manicure (which she shared in a tutorial on TikTok) are only sold to professional nail technicians, but she says it’s easy to recreate the look at home with standard polish. Ahead, the nail artist tells us how to do your own glazed donut nail manicure, and we take a look at alternative methods that the internet has been loving.
Nail prep consists of cleaning the nails of old nail polish and dirt, as well as trimming and shaping the nails. Prepping your nail bed will help the polish last longer and get you closer to a salon-worthy manicure, too.
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Remove any old nail polish with an acetone-based nail polish remover and clip and file your nails to the desired shape. After you’re done grooming the nails and cuticles, right before you start applying polish, you’ll also want to wipe the nails with the acetone or rubbing alcohol to ensure that the nails are clear of any oils that may interfere with how well the polish bonds with the nails.
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If needed, soak your fingers in warm water to soften the cuticles or use a cuticle remover (the Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover is an editors’ favorite) to make it easier to push cuticles back with a cuticle pusher and carefully trim away excess skin with a cuticle nipper.
A base coat protects the nail from staining from color polish and will help extend the life of your manicure.
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Ganzorigt recommends the OPI Natural Nail Base Coat. Apply a thin layer and then follow with your color polish.
To get the creamy yet sheer glazed look, start with a thin layer of white, pale pink or nude nail polish.
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For the sheer, creamy glazed donut look, Ganzorigt says to start with a thin layer of white polish, like OPI’s Nail Lacquer in “Funny Bunny” — the same shade she uses for Bieber’s gel manicure but in a regular polish formula.
For the shiny, shimmery finish, Ganzorigt says to mix a pale pearlescent polish with a clear top coat.
$11.49 at Amazon
According to Ganzorigt, the key to recreating the look with regular nail polish is OPI’s Nail Lacquer in “Kyoto Pearl.” The pearlescent white shade gives the same shimmery effect as the chrome powder and gel combo of Bieber’s original manicure. To nail the look (pun intended), Ganzorigt says to mix the “Kyoto Pearl” polish with a clear top coat to get the sheer effect. “If the color isn’t sheer enough, mix it with a clear top coat to thin out the polish,” she says.
To finish the manicure, paint on a chip-resistant top coat for long-lasting wear. Take the same top coat you used to mix with the Kyoto Pearl (make sure to wipe off the brush or use a clean one after mixing the polishes) and apply a thin coat to your nails.
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This TikToker starts with the Essie Smooth-E Base Coat, which is a ridge-filling base coat that will give a smooth and even surface for the color polish.
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For the first layer of color polish, they use Olive & June’s nail polish in “BEB,” a sheer white shade.
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Next, they add a shimmery layer with the frosty iridescent “Iced Out” shade of Essie’s quick-drying top coat.
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On top of the shimmery layer, add on a sheer coat of the Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish in “Sheer Fantasy,” which is a long-wear formula but not an actual gel polish
$7.25 at Amazon
To seal the glazed donut manicure, finish it with the Internet-favorite Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
With regular polish and chrome powder
$15.95 at LeChat
LeChat nails educator Anastasia Totty says, “to create this look at home your best bet is to use a light white or nude nail lacquer.” An alternative to the often-sold-out gel polishes and chrome powder that Ganzorigt has made viral, Totty recommends the LeChat Perfect Match gel polish in cream “Awakening” or pale pink “Babydoll.”
$17.95 at LeChat or $19.99 at Amazon
For the shiny “glazed” effect, the nail artist loves the LeChat Perfect Match gel polish in opalescent “Unicorn Tears.” Plus, LeChat’s Perfect Match polishes come in a set of two — one gel polish and one regular polish in the same shade — so you can create the look at home with a gel or traditional manicure.“You can also use pastel polish colors to add a bit more color to your mani, which will be a bit muted by the pearlescent ‘donut glaze,’” she adds.
$9.99 $6.79 at Amazon
For an even simpler alternative, this TikToker used Sally Hansen Color Therapy Nail Polish in the shade “Fleur-T.” The pearlescent white polish gives the glazed donut nail trend’s signature pale shimmer.
