If there’s one thing nails are telling us right now, it’s that there are no rules, only vibes. On one hand (literally), there are the maximalists. The bold, dedicated women whose fingertips double as miniature canvases. They’re the ones sitting under salon lamps for hours, transforming their nails into glitter-dipped, chrome-tipped, sticker-adorned works of art. Their nails have personalities, sometimes seasonal ones – red, white, and green for Christmas, anyone?

On the other hand we have the minimalists, the opt-outs, the women for whom less really is more. They wear their nails bare, buffed, but cared for, to perfection. No polish, no fuss, though ironically, maintaining that effortless look requires a curated stash of cuticle oils, nail buffers, and glass files, since there’s no shellac to hide behind.

Then there’s the third hand, the middle ground. The women who pick a single shade and stick with it: a signature red, a pinky-beige that goes with everything, or whatever on-trend colour suits their current mood. It’s simple, chic, and quietly confident, because they do care, just not too much.

Nails have never been more subjective or more revealing. Like fashion, they’ve become a subtle form of self-expression, a tiny but powerful extension of personal style. Whether you see your nails as an art project, an act of maintenance, or another item on the self-care to-do list, they tell the world something about you. The point isn’t what’s on your nails, it’s that they’re yours to do (or not do) exactly as you please.