We’re in that bridge period where bright summer mani colors feel out of season but deep, dark autumnal shades don’t quite hit right either. Call it the Goldilocks season! When such manicure malaise hits, there’s only one color to bridge that gap: classic red. Just ask Selena Gomez, Cardi B, and Jenna Ortega, who are all currently rocking red nails at the moment.
Each woman’s nails are a different facet of red that perfectly suits their personalities and shows off how versatile a long, classic red mani can be. Cardi went for the brightest of the reds with a almond-shaped manicure in a vibrant cherry color that just so happened to match her bra top. It’s a little ’50s retro given the shape and the candy-coated scarlet color—and a lot glamorous. For a similar color, try Best of Beauty-winning Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish in Augmented Red-ality.
Cardi B poses in the mirror wearing a bright red manicure and matching red bra.
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Gomez went a step darker for her red manicure, which made a cameo in an Instagram Story with her boyfriend Benny Blanco. Gomez’s nails were a bit shorter than Cardi’s—but still fairly long—and squared off at the tips, then painted with a rich, true red like Essie’s Forever Yummy. This is the kind of red you’ll wear forever.
Ortega, who is currently promoting her new movie Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, opted for a blood red—fitting, given the theme of the much-anticipated Beetlejuice sequel. The actor’s nails were shaped into long almonds for a luxurious look, then painted with a deep red. Try Londontown’s Vendetta for a similar vibe, then go even darker with a merlot red come fall; it’s one of our biggest polish trends for fall 2024.
While the three manicures may vary ever so slightly in color, each set is long in length, with almond or slightly squared tips. It’s basically as classic as classic can be, and it’s truly the perfect summer-to-fall transition mani to get you from August to September. When in doubt, go red!
