Smoky Nails Are The Edgiest (& Easiest) Way To Rival The Look Of Gels

Jelly nails, lip gloss nails, glazed donut nails—whatever you decide to call them, these sheer, slick tips aren't going anywhere. The look entails a thin, glossy film of color that looks just like jelly, and while you can use any pigment you please, it tends to work best with rich jewel tones. A washed-out peach, coral, or even cobalt blue looks equal parts elevated and neutral, perfect for those craving some subtle color. 

To me, smoky nails are the jelly version of a darker, moodier polish (namely gray but charcoal or brown work too). The sheer, glossy finish makes the nails appear even shinier, and the finished product rivals the look of gels, Choi tells me, which is a difficult feat for regular polish alone. 

It also makes the polish experience way more forgiving for the at-home manicurist, as darker hues tend to betray even the tiniest errant strokes—but sheering them out helps those mistakes fly under the radar. 

"A jelly finish is really popular in the spring and summer," Choi says, when brighter hues and pastels have their moment in the sun (pun intended). But there's something even edgier about a sheer, understated wine, gray, or espresso. 

She tells me this backstage at the Helmut Lang Fall/Winter 2024 show during New York Fashion Week, in which models' nails are coated with JINSoon's Serenity, a new sheer smoke shade launching in the fall. So we're hopscotching a bit into the future here, but I find myself craving a smoky nail long after our chat. 

We may have to wait for Choi's smoky polish to hit the market, but you can certainly DIY the process for the perfect set of sheer jellies. 

Simply grab your shade du jour (some favorite gray hues below!) and mix it with a glossy clear polish or top coat. If using the latter, make sure you choose one that has a high gloss finish, not matte or satin. You want the final look to appear understated yet shiny—that's how you achieve the jellylike finish. 

In a separate dish, mix the pigment and clear coat together until well combined, then apply a very thin layer to your nails. If the color looks too sheer, simply add more pigment to the dish. Not translucent enough? Add more top coat. You're the alchemist!