​​"Naked Nails" Are Poised To Dominate Summer Manis — 3 Tips To Master The Trend 

I love an electric polish moment, don't get me wrong, but there's something so ineffably cool and sexy about rocking a totally bare nail. Especially when paired with a full face of makeup and a well-curated outfit, the absence of polish just conveys understated confidence. The "quiet luxury" equivalent of nail care. 

Naked nails are, essentially, bare nails—either truly stripped clean or with just a gloss of sheer polish for a touch more oomph. 

And while I’d argue a bare, healthy nail is always on-trend, it makes sense why the simple aesthetic has skyrocketed in popularity as of late. Summer, after all, begets minimal beauty looks. When it feels sweltering outside, the last thing you want to do is pile on makeup or heavy skin care formulas—and the same goes for mani maintenance.  

Say it with me now: Optimal nail care requires an inside-out approach. "Pay attention to your diet," explains Amy Lin, the founder of sundays—a nail care brand focused on wellness. "Your nails are made of proteins and naturally need a lot of vitamins."

Specifically, your nails consist of keratin, so it's important to make sure you're getting your fill of keratin-building amino acids. Two of the most popular (and widely studied) are biotin and collagen, as they tend to be the most effective in supporting nail health. 

In fact, one study found those who took biotin supplements had 25 percent thicker nail beds1 than the placebo group. And in terms of collagen, another study showed that when patients took collagen daily for 24 weeks, their nail health was better maintained2, including faster growth rates, reduced breakage, and improved appearance. 

Time to send your nails a little T.L.C. Think: nail strengtheners, ridge fillers and the like. Just make sure you choose a strengthening product that doesn't have formaldehyde. (It's what traditional nail strengtheners are made of, as it makes polish dry stiff.)

Do not underestimate the power of a good base coat. Some high-quality options can even double as a nail strengthener, feeding your nail plate with healthy, good-for-you nutrients while filling out any noticeable lines.