Why Are Long Nails So Controversial?
Nail artists address the internet’s hatred for maximalist nails.
In 2025, the conservative aesthetic has completely changed the way we interact with beauty trends. On TikTok, young women can be found romanticizing the “trad wife” experience and perpetuating the idea that short natural nail trends like princess nails are the only respectable option at the nail salon. As a result of the push to subdued beauty looks, long nails have gained a reputation for being especially “unprofessional” and “unhygienic.”
Evident in the “clean girl” trend and its many iterations, minimalist beauty is beginning to overshadow bold trends like long acrylic nails decked out in charms and designs. In some spaces, long nails have always been subject to negative criticism — but the current beauty landscape has seemingly only further amplified the harsh reviews.
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Whether its Cynthia Erivo walking the Met Gala steps, Sha’Carri Richardson winning gold at the 2024 Olympics or servers doing their job at a local restaurant, TikTokers have showed no restraint when it comes to expressing their disgust for long nails. Although some attempt to disguise their disapproval as a genuine concern for hygiene, conservative creators unapologetically claim long nails are “trashy” and a turn off for men. Despite the growing negative stigma, the maximalist nail movement hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.
Although the internet has a lot to say about long nails, nail artists are still unapologetically dreaming up bold, editorial sets. Nail artist Eily Thams specializes in wearable art, and finds that the negative stigma of maximalist nails is really just thinly veiled racism and classism. “Long, bold nails have always been part of Black and Brown culture. When mainstream society criticizes that, it’s not really about hygiene or professionalism. It’s about discomfort with what doesn’t fit into a narrow, Eurocentric beauty standard,” he tells Hypebae.
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Nail artist and founder of Setgyallery, Chii Paris echoes the same sentiment. She says that the rejection of long nails speaks to a much larger issue.“There are still so many stigmas. Mostly outdated ideas about what’s ‘appropriate’ or ‘professional.’ People have been conditioned to associate long nails with certain stereotypes, without ever questioning where those ideas come from,” she says.
While the “clean girl” movement attempts to steer Gen Z away from loud, culturally-rooted self expression and towards minimalistic beauty ideals, Thams says the rise of conservatism is also an attempt to reinforce ideas about who is and isn’t allowed to take up space. For many Black women and members of the LGBTQ+ community, nails are an outward expression of identity — and while nail sets can always be removed, not everyone can shrink themselves in order to fit the status quo.
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In spite of the trending conservative aesthetic, nail artists are still hopeful that nail art will finally be recognized as a legitimate art form. Because of this, bold nail looks often serve as a way to reject stereotypes and the negative stigma surrounding nails. By nature, over-the-top nails demand attention — which can in turn be extremely empowering. “When you choose sculpted cobalt spikes or a 3D floral cascade, you’re making a statement: that your hands, and by extension, your voice, deserve space and respect. It’s a rejection of invisibility,” celebrity nail artist Dawn Sterling says.
Popularized by Black women in the ’70s, long nails and complex art have always been a symbol of self expression and identity. For this reason, Chii Paris doesn’t see maximalist nails as a symbol of rebellion, but rather an ode to those who came before her, “A lot of the cultural references I draw from have always celebrated bold, dramatic, colorful, jeweled nails. So, for me, it doesn’t feel like rebellion but more so honoring the legacy and refreshing it,” she tells Hypebae.
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Despite the shift in aesthetic standards, maximalist nail designs remain at the forefront of beauty innovations. Whether you’re looking to the red carpet or the runway, you’ll find long, intricate nails nearby. Fortunately, nail artists are still optimistic that nail art will outlive all of the TikTok microtrends currently dictating what’s “acceptable.” Because above all else, nails are meant to emphasize feeling over clicks. “Nails [should be] something people create and wear because it makes them feel alive, not because it fits into a trend. In a world that is moving so fast, I hope we return to slowness, to intention, and to pleasure,” Thams says.
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