 Rotten and grotesque: the rise of purposefully disgusting nail art

Julia Fox said ‘ugly is in’ last year, calling unclean chicks the new it-girls.

[{"selector":"#anim-140e7a1b-4106-4ab9-a7ac-938df85b59d5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-515f55c9-ed6a-4e39-8917-7e2acbe10d47 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-15.063775298212425%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

The macabre twist in nail art trends suggests her beauty prophecies are coming true.

[{"selector":"#anim-82e61592-c43a-40a1-8ee5-fdf290c03ea7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b052a96c-a093-4db3-9b8c-39228eef1588 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.4210854715202004e-14%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Nail art that resembles decaying teeth, fungus, and rotting flies is replacing maximalist manicures on our explore pages.

[{"selector":"#anim-821e55c3-7007-436b-9467-59197c17f5fc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7d48a71b-230e-4dc8-8c75-1871272b35b4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.223591435361254%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

These talented nail painters can create a grimy microcosm on a nail bed where the horrific meets the elegant.

[{"selector":"#anim-3b6407f3-3f80-4267-af59-ca1202c7d1be [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(21.874999829338595%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

Grotesque nails are intentionally disgusting shapes that resemble fungal nail infection or iron deficiency brittle nails.

[{"selector":"#anim-2f97803d-4c4e-4fc4-a6eb-64c8a2189d47","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e769db70-f5b9-437b-81b6-cb777805da03 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(2.732856676000385e-15%, -15.25878990911597%) scale(1.3846153846153846)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Their controlled grossness is the antithesis of the “clean girl” style, rejecting 90s-inspired motifs and blueberry milk nails.

[{"selector":"#anim-e8619cbb-4400-42f7-b179-6d0bdea8dc87","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-76c229d2-ac66-4a9f-ba3f-31da4ed33393 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

[{"selector":"#anim-7bb1c992-bb44-4c4b-954f-11a187dea422","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52a21e05-3722-4191-886a-e0e1e5f06707 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(15.886506725328507%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Russian nail artists Varvara (@corrosion.nails) and Diana (@raw.nailsss) are pioneering the trend by drawing inspiration from the unusual.

One style simulates a chain smoker's discolored patina, with piss-colored nails.

[{"selector":"#anim-4e399432-add9-4dc1-a589-8c0b5ba99238","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b2ba655a-217e-48ff-80ee-4a67a11e4092 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Thanks For Watching

[{"selector":"#anim-bfc7f0b8-3f3a-41b7-9322-a06613cde3df","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-41bc2d2a-04a0-4dd8-b72c-44f4bc81730c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Luis Fonsi Tried to Get Ariana Grande on ‘Despacito’ Before Justin Bieber Learn more