The celebrities who graced the red carpet at the recently concluded 98th Academy Awards proved that it’s all in the details. From the hem of the dress to the tip of the fingers, the tastemakers of Hollywood left no stone unturned. Depending on whether you want twinkling pink nails or dramatic claws, there is no shortage of inspo we are saving. These are the 5 nail looks we can’t wait to show when we sit in the salon chair again.
Audrey Nuna
K-Pop Demon Hunters’ Audrey Nuna struck gold at the Oscars—literally. Her chrome nails were an extension of her showstopping Thom Browne fit. Created by nail artist Marielle Co, each fingertip was adorned with 3D auric orb hardware. Nuna gave a shoutout to Co and her genius at the red carpet, saying “she ate it!”
In an evening filled with the brightest stars, Nuna’s nails had no difficulty stealing the spotlight. Oh and one more thing, those balls are removable, talk about glam and function.
Rachel McAdams
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@julieknailsnyc
We don’t just wear pink on Wednesdays, we wear it on Oscars Sunday too. Actor and presenter for the night, Rachel McAdams wore a dusky rose, pearlescent manicure with a magnetic finish against her gold Alberta Ferretti dress––and the contrast was intentional. Nail artist Julie Kandalec said “that was the perfect color to stand out just a bit against the gown.”
Marsai Martin
@eriishizu
Skin glowing like molten butterscotch against luscious brown satin, producer and Black-ish star Marsai Martin looked almost too good to touch. Eri Ishizu concocted a brown French-tip manicure with 3D swirls that seemed to mimic dripping chocolate. Dynamic, rich, and irresistible—these nails were the cherry on top of a perfectly decadent number on Hollywood’s biggest night.
Ji-Young Yoo
@chuenails
@chuenails
Ji-Young Yoo arrived at her first Oscars in style—and her nails weren’t just a last-minute addition, they were a major accent for her look. LA-based nail artist Sarah Chue chose a vegan nail polish from Madam Glam in a dreamy blue shade called Morning Sky, lacquered with a top gel coat that matched the muted blue bodice of Yoo’s Carolina Herrera dress.
May Hong
@eriishizu
@eriishizu
May Hong put an obsidian twist on a beloved classic manicure style. The black ombré French tip in a coffin silhouette was made by Eri Ishizu, which softened Hong’s edgy ensemble and hairstyle for the evening. Polished but mysterious, commanding but not overpowering, it was the winning pick for the beloved K-pop Demon Hunters’ cast member.
Frequently Asked Questions
Audrey Nuna wore chrome nails featuring removable 3D gold orb hardware at the 98th Academy Awards. The look was created by nail artist Marielle Co and coordinated with Nuna’s Thom Browne ensemble. The 3D auric orbs were individually applied to each fingertip and designed to be detachable after the event.
Rachel McAdams’ nails for the 2026 Oscars were created by nail artist Julie Kandalec. The look featured a dusky rose, pearlescent manicure with a magnetic finish — chosen specifically to contrast with McAdams’ gold Alberta Ferretti gown. Kandalec noted the color was selected to stand out subtly against the warm metallic of the dress.
A brown French tip manicure replaces the classic white tip with a rich, chocolate-toned alternative — often paired with a neutral or nude base. Marsai Martin wore a version of this style at the 2026 Oscars, created by nail artist Eri Ishizu, with the addition of 3D swirl details that mimicked a dripping chocolate effect.
Ji-Young Yoo wore a muted blue nail polish in the shade Morning Sky by Madam Glam, finished with a top gel coat. The look was created by LA-based nail artist Sarah Chue and was chosen to match the blue bodice of Yoo’s Carolina Herrera gown. Madam Glam is a vegan nail polish brand.
A coffin nail — also called ballerina shape — is a long nail silhouette with a squared-off, flat tip that tapers toward the sides, resembling the shape of a coffin or pointe shoe. May Hong wore a black ombré French tip in a coffin shape at the 2026 Oscars, created by nail artist Eri Ishizu.
