Sandra Oh
“Sandra wanted a true blush polish that would complement all three of her looks as host of tonight’s show," says celebrity manicurist Christina Aviles. "We opted for Essie’s new Gel Couture Buttoned & Buffed nudes collection in the shade Tailor-made With Love, a creamy pink nude. With Sandra’s multiple outfit changes throughout the evening, this neutral shade makes for the perfect finishing touch."
Emily Blunt
"To pair with her custom Alexander McQueen dress, Emily wanted a manicure that had both color and coverage yet wasn’t too pink or too nude," says celebrity manicurist Jenna Hipp. "We decided on Essie’s new Serene Slate collection in the shade Mind-full Meditation, which is an apricot beige-nude. Sugar Daddy was then layered over top for the perfect sheer finish."
Constance Wu
"We began by filing Constance’s nails into an almond shape for a soft, feminine look," says celebrity manicurist Steph Stone. "When it came to choosing a color, she decided to play off her neutral, fairy-tale-inspired dress by wearing an opaque nude. After swatching several different tones, we ultimately landed on Essie’s Wild Nude, a light tan, as the perfect match."
View this post on Instagram
Lili Reinhart
“Lili chose Essie’s new Gel Couture in Buttoned & Buffed, a beige-toned nude, adding to the romantic feel of her red tulle gown by Khyeli Couture," says Steph Stone. "We enhanced her nail look by adding a single Swarovski stone at the base of each nail bed, playing off her sparkling diamond earrings. The finished look was a perfect neutral nail with a hint of glam!”
Emma Stone
“The gorgeous silver detailing on Emma Stone’s Louis Vuitton gown called for a timeless manicure," says celebrity manicurist Emi Kudo. "We chose Essie’s Gel Couture Buttoned & Buffed nudes collection in the shade Buttoned & Buffed. The creamy nude color played perfectly against her silver tassle embellishments and clutch."
Debra Messing
"Debra is wearing an ombre sequin dress so we wanted to go with a manicure that would have an effect against the dress and not blend in completely," says celebrity nail tech Elle. "The idea was to have her nails look like sequins and really pop." Elle applied two different shades to add dimension, using LeChat Dare to Wear Nights Honor, a gunmetal frost, followed by LeChat Dare to Wear Spectra Stellar Stars, a silver holographic glitter. "It really mimicked her dress with the intense solar effect of the hologram polish having the sparkle of a sequin," says Elle.
Elle applied a real Vero Krew natural round diamond to each of Messing's ring fingers, adhering them using LeChat Nails Gelée Top Coat. "I applied one coat, then added the diamond and cured in under the lamp," she explains. "Next, I used the top coat again to set a prong around the diamond and seal off the nail. By using a gel top coat and curing it, it creates a barrier around the bottom of the diamond so it adheres. With real diamonds, you definitely do not want those to come loose!"
Rachel Weisz
"Rachel’s dress was black and white so we wanted to do a 'mannequin hand' and elongate them with a nude nail," says Elle. "Typically a red would have been chosen but we wanted the look to be trendy, unexpected, and stand on its own. On Rachel I also did my signature application of applying two different shades to create a multi-dimensional look that has added shine." She used LeChat Dare to Wear in Cocoa Kisses, a deep hazel chai with a cream finish, and Innocence, a classic ivory with a cream finish, for a custom nude blend.
Kaley Cuoco
“Essie’s cult-classic shade Ballet Slippers has become a staple for brides everywhere (including the royal family!) so it was only fitting newlywed Kaley Cuoco opted for the pale pink hue too," says celebrity manicurist Jolene Brodeur. "Kaley's elegant manicure perfectly complemented her navy and cream Monique Lhuillier gown."
Anne Hathaway
View this post on Instagram
Celebrity nail tech Tom Bachik used Chanel in Sea Whip and Beige Beige for Anne Hathaway's nails.
Heidi Klum
View this post on Instagram
Bachik applied a touch of vibrant color to Heidi Klum's nails.
Danai Gurira
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
"Danai Gurira's nail look was inspired by her custom Rodarte gown, which has prints of burgundy red in it," says celebrity nail tech Tracylee Percival. "I decided to keep the nails her natural length and shape them soft and rounded. The nail color is OPI's Got the Blues for Red. This color is a burgundy red, with the perfect warmth that looks beautiful next her skin tone."
Rachel Brosnahan
Rachel Brosnahan wears Essie in Ballet Slippers, applied by Desiree Abhiram for Frenchies Nails.
Regina King
Desiree Abhiram for Frenchies Nails applied Essie in Wild Nude for Regina King's red carpet nails.
Patricia Clarkson
Desiree Abhiram used Essie in Mademoiselle for Patricia Clarkson's nails.
Catriona Balfe
Jamie Goette for Frenchies Nails applied Chanel in Profondeur 638 for Catriona Balfe's nail look.
For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click here.