Charli XCX’s Red Carpet Manicure Is the Ultimate Summer Neutral

Charli XCX has never been one to fade into the background. Her fashion leans into the "brat," party-girl persona she’s so cleverly crafted—think micro-minis, latex, lip gloss, and the album's iconic neon green color. But at the 2025 Kering Women In Motion Awards during the 78th Annual Cannes Film Festival, the singer flipped the script.

Arriving in a lavender gown that felt equal parts ethereal and subversive, Charli traded her usual edge for elegance—though not without a wink. The dress clung in all the right places, pooling into soft drapes with a delicate feathered shawl tossed over her shoulders. It was old Hollywood, filtered through Charli’s unapologetically modern lens.
And then there were the nails—surprisingly subtle, impossibly chic, and arguably the most versatile detail of the entire look. She wore them short, softly rounded, and finished with a sheer nude polish so effortless it was almost defiant. In a moment where maximalist manicures tend to dominate the red carpet, Charli’s understated choice made a statement of its own. A manicure like this doesn’t scream for attention, but it works with everything—gowns, club looks, convenience store runs at 3 a.m., you name it. It’s the ultimate brat-girl neutral.

Want to know how to copy Charli's style? Read on below for what to tell your manicurist at your next appointment.

How to Get The Look
Charli’s manicure wasn’t flashy—but that’s exactly what made it so chic. Her short, sheer pink nails were pristine, polished, and impossibly clean, bringing the whole look into sharp focus without competing with the lavender gown or feathered shawl. Celebrity manicurist and Sally Hansen Global Nail Partner, Steph Stone calls it what it is: a classic. “Since this look is timeless, I wouldn’t even call it a ‘trend’—it’s minimalism, enhances your look as a whole, and exudes 90’s supermodel chic.”
To recreate the look, it’s all about precision. “The details for Charli’s mani are all in the prep work and perfectionism,” Stone explains. Start by shaping your nails short and natural, following the curve of your nail bed. Then comes cuticle care. This step is essential for making a minimal manicure look clean and intentional. The key is to gently soften and push back any dead skin around the nail bed without irritating the live skin.

Stone emphasizes that this part of the process is what takes the look from basic to polished. A good cuticle remover like the Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover helps loosen buildup, making it easier to tidy things up without overdoing it. Once you’ve cleaned everything up, swipe your nail beds with rubbing alcohol to remove residue and reveal any hidden hangnails - clip those with care, then clean again.

For the polish, stick to sheer. Stone recommends applying two coats of your favorite sheer pink - Charlie uses Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish in Sheer Fantasy—to get that fresh, see-through finish, then locking it in with a high-gloss topcoat. The final step? Hydration. It’s what keeps the manicure looking polished long after the red carpet is rolled up. The result is understated, elevated, and endlessly wearable—just like Charli’s Cannes moment.