4 Golden Globes 2026 Celebrity Nails & How to Nail Them
This year’s Golden Globes red carpet confirmed that the ‘Quiet Luxury’ nail is evolving. Moving away from the clean girl sheer pinks of last year, we saw a shift toward intentional minimalism: rich, curated bordeaux tones and your-nails-but-better nudes with high-fashion embellishments.
The GelBottle Inc. was behind some of the night's most talked-about hands. From Emily Blunt's 'just right' red to Ayo Edebiri's crystal-adorned nude, here's the breakdown of how the industry's top celebrity manicurists created these award-winning looks.
1. The Grown-Up Nude: Ayo Edebiri by Eri Ishizu
To complement Ayo's black Chanel gown, Eri created a simple and chic look delivering timeless elegance with a subtle, expensive sparkle on classic nude nails.
"We wanted to complement Ayo's stunning black Chanel gown with something timeless and elegant. We chose a soft nude gel from The GelBottle Inc. and added some Swarovski crystals for a subtle touch of sparkle. It's simple and chic." — Eri Ishizu
Get the Look:
Products You'll Need:
- Swarovski rhinestones
Application Steps:
- Prep: Clean and push back cuticles using the ProPrep cuticle pusher, shape the natural nail to desired length, and lightly buff the nail surface using the TGB Buffer 180/240 grit. Cleanse and dehydrate nail beds thoroughly, try using TGB Acetone.
- Base: Apply a thin layer of TGB Rubber Base to each nail, capping the free edge. Cure for 60 seconds in an LED gel nail lamp.
- Build: Apply a thin, even layer of TGB 19 Hard BIAB™ and cure for 60 seconds. This creates a strengthened, natural-looking nude base.
- Detail: Using TGB Clear Gel, carefully place Swarovski rhinestones in your desired pattern. Cure for 60 seconds to secure.
- Finish: Apply TGB Extreme Shine Top Coat, ensuring you cap the free edge. Cure for 60 seconds. Massage TGB’s cuticle oil into the cuticles and surrounding skin.
2. The Colour-Corrected Manicure: Zoe Kravitz by Betina Goldstein
Known for her meticulous detail and avant-garde editorial eye, Betina opted for a hyper-polished, perfected natural look for Zoe to achieve a flawless, effortless finish with a modern cloudy French twist.
"[We wanted to go for] soft natural nails with a touch of cloudy French." — Betina Goldstein
Get the Look:
Products You'll Need:
Application Steps:
- Prep: Prepare the natural nail by cleansing with TGB ProPrep.
- Base: Apply one thin coat of TGB 2-In-1 Base Coat to each nail. Cure for 99 seconds on Low Heat Mode using TGB’s gel nail lamp.
- Colour: Apply one thin, even coat of TGB Chiffon BIAB™ over the entire nail. Cure fully.
- Correction: Apply one thin coat of TGB Milky BIAB™ just on the tips of the nails to create a subtle colour-correction effect and that coveted cloudy French finish. Cure fully.
- Finish: Seal everything with one coat of TGB Extreme Shine Top Coat for a glass-like finish. Finish with TGB’s cuticle oil.
3. The 'Just Right' Merlot: Emily Blunt by Julie Kandalec
Julie searched for a shade that wasn't too pink, too purple, or too bright for The Smashing Machine nominee. TGB's Merlot was the winner, offering a deep, sophisticated wine that grounds a high-glamour look with refined elegance.
"We wanted a shade that was the 'Goldilocks' of colors: not too red, not too pink; not too dark, not too bright; not too purple, not too orange. The GelBottle 'Merlot' was that girl!" — Julie Kandalec
Get the Look:
Products You'll Need:
Application Steps:
- Prep: Prepare nails with TGB ProPrep to ensure optimal adhesion.
- Base: Apply your preferred TGB Base Coat (Rubber Base for added strength or 2-in-1 Base Coat for efficiency). Cure fully.
- Colour: Apply TGB Merlot in thin, even coats. For optimal coverage and depth, apply two coats, curing between each layer.
- Finish: Seal with your chosen TGB Top Coat or Extreme Shine Top Coat for a runway-ready finish. Cure, and nourish with TGB’s cuticle oil.
4. The Rich Bordeaux: Wunmi Mosaku by Sarah Chue
Sarah opted for a deep, velvety finish using TGB's Arabian Night over a Clear BIAB™ base for maximum strength and shine. The look delivered sultry, high-gloss gothic glamour that perfectly anchored the bold yellow of Wunmi's custom Matthew Reisman gown.
"To get this rich, deep burgundy, I used TGB's Clear All-In-One BIAB™ and 'Arabian Night' for a finish that felt both strong and high-fashion." — Sarah Chue
Get the Look:
Products You'll Need:
Application Steps:
- Prep: Cleanse, then prep the nail plate with TGB ProPrep.
- Strength: Apply TGB Clear All-In-One BIAB™ to build strength and structure. This creates the perfect foundation for rich colour payoff. Cure fully.
- Colour: Apply TGB Arabian Night in thin, even layers. For maximum depth and opacity, apply two coats, curing between applications.
- Finish: Seal with TGB Extreme Shine Top Coat for that covetable high-gloss finish. Cure and complete the service with TGB Cuticle Oil.
Celebrity Nails & The New Natural Nail Trend
This year's Golden Globes proved that Quiet Luxury isn't about playing it safe. It's about precision, intentionality, and investing in products that deliver a flawless, high-fashion finish. Whether you're perfecting a barely-there nude or committing to a sultry bordeaux hue, The GelBottle Inc. has the exact professional-grade formulas to recreate these red carpet moments in your salon.