The return of autumn can often feel like an excuse for a beauty reset. Windy weather calls for clever low-maintenance hair 'dos that look chic no matter the elements, while the drop in temperature coupled with less daylight hours signals a shift to a deeper, moodier colour palette. It's the reason why this season's very best nail designscount everything from the merlot mani to brown Bambi nails. That said, there's also a case for going against the grain and you can always leave it to Alexa Demie to show us how it's done.
Of late, the Euphoria star, known for her bold, unapologetic, fierce approach to beauty on-screen, has adopted a far more subtle, pared-back, and polished aesthetic IRL. She's walked red carpet premieres with a no make-up make-up look and arrived at the Chanel Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2027 show for Paris Fashion Week looking equally fresh-faced. For the 6th Annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles over the weekend, she stayed true to her new-found love of elevated minimalism – this time with 'naked nails'.
Dressed in top-to-toe Chanel, Demie donned a teal custom Chanel gown with draping and feathered accents. The dreamy look was finished with a full face of Chanel beauty products that included the Sublimage L'Essence de Teint, £143, and Les Beiges Water-Fresh Blush, £46. As for her nails, Chanel nail artist, Betina R. Goldstein, did away with traditional autumn-appropriate designs and instead dialled into the quiet luxury-coded naked manicure trend, which shows no signs of waning.
Glossy, bare and nude, the finish was much like a natural nail, just better. 'It’s a sheer, skin-matched nude on an elegant almond shape, so the nail looks like a natural extension of the hand,' says Daisy Kalnina, founder and CEO of The GelBottle Inc (TGB). 'It reads as healthy and expensive rather than painted, which is exactly why it works with something as statement as a feathered gown. It’s like a skin-match mani.'
The bare nail trend has been bubbling away for sometime, spotted on the likes of Kate Moss, Pamela Anderson and Zoë Kravitz recently. But Demie's look takes that conversation in a new direction.
'It’s the glamorous side of the bare nail rebellion. The rebellion isn’t against manicures, it’s just allowing you to feel like the best version of yourself. It’s like barely-there make-up or when Pamela Anderson steps out with just her skincare on. Alexa's nails still have length and shape, but the colour steps back and lets the natural nail and the outfit do the talking. It’s undone in colour, not in care.'
But why are stripped-back nails on the rise? Kalnina explains, 'a naked mani is the nail equivalent of great skin: it signals health and confidence rather than trend-chasing.' The key to getting it right is choosing a sheer nude with the same undertone as your skin, so it elongates the fingers rather than washing them out. Then it’s all in the prep: immaculate cuticles, a soft almond shape and a smooth, strong base so the nail looks naturally even, which is exactly what BIAB was made for. Finish with a high-shine top coat like TGB's Extreme Shine, £17.50.
How to create naked nails
When whipping up Demie's look, Goldstein relied on her own Chanel Le Vernis concoction. Taking to Instagram to reveal how she created the look, she explains, 'Mix three parts Le Gel Top Coat + three parts Le Vernis Ballerina + 1/2 part Le Vernis Particuliére. Finish off with two coats of Le Gel Top Coat.'
A top tip? Arm yourself with a palette and a nail brush so you can mix the colours to build the perfect finish. We can't believe it's that easy either.
Shop: The naked manicure kit
Chanel Le Vernis Le Gel Coat
Use this in two ways to help mix your final colour and lock in all your hard work.
30
Chanel Le Vernis in Ballerina
The perfect soft pink, this builds the foundation of a skin-like nude.
30
Chanel Le Vernis in Particuliére
Build the correct shade of nude based on your undertone with this. Starting with a little, you can deepen the intensity to find your perfect match.
30
Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia's beauty writer, working across all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral).
Like this? Get more Grazia content straight to your browser. Click here to add Grazia as a preferred source on Google.