Polished Perfection! Here Are the Top Nail Trends for 2025
Nail trends are constantly evolving, and 2025 is shaping up to be the year of playful textures, chic finishes, and creative designs. From buttery yellows to shimmering metallics, these nail styles are all about standing out while keeping animals in mind by using cruelty-free and vegan products. Whether you’re into soft gradients, eye-catching patterns, or glossy simplicity, there’s a trend here to match your vibe—and you can highlight your values while rocking them.
The Trend: Moscow Mule Nails
What It Is
Moscow mule nails are a manicure trend inspired by the iconic copper mugs used for the Moscow mule cocktail.
Make It Vegan and Cruelty-Free
Mooncat’s Dark Horse or Holo Taco’s Tax Haven are the perfect hues to get that copper mug look.
The Trend: Aura Nails
What It Is
The signature look of aura nails involves a soft, glowing gradient in which colors blend seamlessly. The center of the nail often features a bright, concentrated “halo” of color that fades outward.
Make It Vegan and Cruelty-Free
Choose any two vegan nail colors. Paint your nails with your chosen base color, and dab a small amount of your aura color onto a makeup sponge. Lightly press the sponge onto the center of the nail to create a soft, diffused spot of color.
The Trend: Tortoiseshell Nails
What It Is
Tortoiseshell nails are a chic and stylish manicure trend inspired by the speckled, marbled pattern of tortoiseshell. This look mimics the rich, layered appearance of traditional tortoiseshell, often featuring warm, earthy tones like amber, brown, and black.
Make It Vegan and Cruelty-Free
Shop any of PETA’s cruelty-free brands for a translucent amber or yellow polish. Apply one or two coats, allowing them to dry between layers. Using a vegan brown polish, create irregular spots or blotches across the nails. Space them out for a natural effect. The spots don’t need to be perfect—irregularity mimics the organic tortoiseshell pattern. Apply a thin layer of the translucent amber or yellow polish over the entire nail to soften and blend the brown spots.
Or try a nail wrap or press-ons!
The Trend: Butter Nails
What It Is
Butter nails are a manicure trend that features a soft, creamy, and slightly translucent yellow resembling the texture and finish of melted vegan butter.
Make It Vegan and Cruelty-Free
Try SpaRitual’s Body Electric and top it with Pacifica’s PLANT MAGIC translucent topper.
The Trend: Mirror Nails
What It Is
Mirror nails are a bold and eye-catching manicure trend that creates a reflective, mirror-like finish on your nails. This trend gives nails a high-shine metallic appearance that mimics the smooth surface of a mirror.
Make It Vegan and Cruelty-Free
Try Nails Inc. Silver Served Mirror Chrome polish, or simplify with press-ons.
The Trend: Glazed Donut Nails
What It Is
Glazed donut nails, aka “Hailey Bieber nails,” are a minimalist, glossy manicure style that gives nails a soft, frosted, and pearl-like shine—resembling the smooth, sugary glaze on a vegan donut. They complement a “clean girl aesthetic,” which emphasizes simplicity and polished looks.
Make It Vegan and Cruelty-Free
The possibilities are endless with a vegan milky white as your base and a pearly topper. Try popular vegan brands such as Pacifica, NCLA, LA Girl, 100% Pure, and Beauty Without Cruelty. Or use a creamy brown for your base color for a chocolate glazed donut look.
Did you know that there are more than 6,000 companies on PETA’s cruelty-free list? With so many fabulous and ethical options to choose from, your next manicure can be a statement of both style and compassion. Whether you’re channeling the warmth of a Moscow mule, the soft elegance of (vegan) butter nails, or the radiant glow of aura nails, there’s a vegan and cruelty-free way to achieve every look. So go ahead—experiment, have fun, and let your nails be your canvas for self-expression.
