Learn How To Do These Trendy Prom Nail Looks At Home (Plus, You Could Win The Ultimate Prom Giveaway!)

If you’re looking forward to dressing to the nines for Prom 2023, don’t forget to plan the finishing details like your manicure! These gorgeous prom nail ideas are trendy, unique, and surprisingly easy to recreate on your own. To keep things extra simple, Aja Walton created all of these looks using shades of Essie’s quick-dry and on-the-fly expressie nail polish that dries down in just about a minute. 

With a few simple techniques anyone can learn, you too can achieve these red carpet-worthy prom nail looks. Keep reading for nail art instructions, styling tips, and product recommendations. 

P.S. Stick around until the end—we’re sharing details on one of our biggest collaborations and giveaways yet!

Lip Gloss Jelly Nails

The lip gloss jelly nail is what you get when you combine two of 2023’s hottest nail trends: Glazed donut nails and lip gloss nails. Glossy, jelly, and glazed? Talk about #nailgoals! 

We created this look by layering shades of pink and topping them with one of Essie’s quick-dry FX top coats designed to elevate the finish of your nail art. Iced Out FX is a frosty duo-chrome top coat with a subtle pearlescent finish. 

You Will Need: 

• • Expressie In the Time Zone quick-dry nail polish
  • Expressie Mall Crawler quick-dry nail polish
  • Expressie Iced Out FX top coat
• On a Roll apricot nail & cuticle oil

Instructions:

1. Apply one coat of ‘In the Time Zone’ to your nails and allow to dry. This will be your base coat.
2. Layer with one coat of ‘Mall Crawler’ and dry.
3. Finish with one coat of ‘Iced Out’ FX top coat and allow your nails to dry fully. The pearlescent effect will become more noticeable as your nails dry.
4. Complete the look by nourishing your cuticles with Essie’s ‘On a Roll’ apricot nail and cuticle oil.

Wear this stunning lip gloss jelly nail look with something iridescent, something pink, or a dress glazed in sequins. 

White Iridescent Sequin One-Shoulder Maxi Dress

Pink Metallic Twist-Front Maxi Dress

Pink Sequin Lace-Up Mermaid Maxi Dress

Pink Satin Backless Maxi Dress

Magenta Sequin Sleeveless Mermaid Maxi Dress

 

Pink Velvet Nails

Velvet nails are back and trendier than ever! Velvet nails mimic the look of crushed velvet, and bring a modern mood to a timeless nail art finish that looks as good as velvet fabric feels! Deceptively easy to pull off, these velvet nails feature a subtle French-tip detail that will make it look like you spent hours at the nail salon. 

You Will Need:

• Expressie Spray It To Say It quick-dry nail polish
• Expressie In the Time Zone quick-dry nail polish
• Expressie Mic Drop-It Low quick-dry nail polish
• Glossy top coat
• Flat, square-tip nail art brush
• Fine liner nail art brush

Instructions:

1. Paint the right half of each nail with ‘Spray It To Say It’ and the right half of each nail with ‘In the Time Zone.’ Allow nails to fully dry before continuing.
2. Put a small amount of all three nail polish colors onto a polish palette. If you don’t have a palette, a plastic lid (like a yogurt lid) is a great substitute!
3. Using your square brush, apply a coat of ‘Mic Drop-It Low’ to the right edge of your nail on top of the ‘Spray It To Say It’ base layer. Apply in a more opaque layer closer to the edge of the nail, then sheer out the polish to blend into the base layer without covering all of the color. You may need to apply multiple coats of ‘Mic Drop-It Low’ to the edge of the nail to achieve an opaque finish. Dry.
4. Dip one half of your square brush into ‘Spray It To Say It’ and the other half into “In the Time Zone.” Drag down the middle of your nail (matching the colors to each side) to blend the two colors, creating a gradient. Repeat until you have the perfect blend, then allow to dry.
5. Using your fine liner brush and ‘In the Time Zone,’ carefully outline a thin French manicure.
6. Working only within the French tip outline, repeat steps 1, 3, and 4 but reversing the colors with ‘Mic Drop-It Low’ to the left and ‘In the Time Zone’ to the right.
7. After allowing the look to dry fully, apply a glossy top coat and dry again.
8. Finish by applying a glossy top coat and ‘On a Roll’ apricot cuticle oil.

To compliment this shifting, crushed velvet nail, we obviously love the idea of wearing this look with a velvet dress. If you’re not into wearing velvet, try wearing a similarly luminous and dynamic fabric like a satin prom dress. We also love leaning into the Barbiecore of it all by wearing this look with a bright pink prom dress!

Pink Velvet Strapless Maxi Dress

Hot Pink Strapless Organza Maxi Dress

Magenta Satin Halter Mermaid Maxi Dress

Pink Lurex Cowl Neck Mermaid Maxi Dress

Magenta Tulle Backless Maxi Dress

Gold & Red Standout Sparkle Nails

You’re an icon, a legend, and an absolute standout, and icons obviously need an iconic mani for prom! Meet your match—a standout sparkle mani to complete your prom look and keep all eyes on you! Inspired by the bedazzled nail trend, we’re obsessed with this luxe take on a classic red nail. 

You Will Need: 

• Clear base coat
• Expressie Send a Message quick-dry nail polish
• Expressie Seize the Minute quick-dry nail polish
• Expressie Misfit Right In quick-dry nail polish
• Glossy top coat
• Thick clear top coat/building polish
• Large dotting tool
• Small dotting tool

Instructions:

1. Apply a clear base coat and allow to dry fully.
2. Apply two coats of ‘Send a Message,’ allowing the polish to dry fully after each layer.
3. Using ‘Seize the Minute’ and the large dotting tool, apply three dots down the center of the nail. Apply two more dots on each side of the nail, staggering them with the center dots.
4. Using ‘Misfit Right In’ and the small dotting tool, apply four dots evenly spaced around each large dot. Allow dots to dry fully.
5. Apply a coat of glossy top coat, and allow to dry.
6. Using a thick clear polish and your dotting tools, apply clear dots over each of the colorful dots to create a raised, bejeweled effect.

Don’t be upstaged by your own nails! Drape yourself in bright reds, luxe fabrics, and sparkly details to complete this standout prom look.

Red Sequin Lace-Up Maxi Dress

Red Sequin Lace-Up Maxi Dress

Red Tulle Strapless Ruched Maxi Dress

Burgundy Backless Maxi Dress

Red Satin Off-the-Shoulder Bustier Maxi Dress

Enter the Lulus x Essie Prom Giveaway

We are so excited to announce a huge giveaway! Essie and Lulus are working together to give four lucky winners the ultimate makeup, nail polish, and fashion bundle to help them get ready for prom 2023! Each winner will receive: 

• A collection of Essie nail polishes, including some of the colors we’ve featured above!
• A selection of Maybelline New York products to create a flawless prom makeup look
• $250 Lulus gift card so you can buy your dream prom dress!

Enter the Lulus x Essie Prom Giveaway

Sweepstakes runs from March 30th at 12:00AM EST to April 30th at 11:59PM EST