Hailey Bieber’s glazed donut trend is sliding onto your nails

If there’s one beauty aesthetic that’s hotter than the sun right now, it’s Hailey Bieber’s ‘glazed donut’ glow. The viral moment, which began as a skincare trend championing a clean, dewy texture, has moved onto our fingertips with the introduction of glazed donut nails. 

Originally spotted on Bieber at this year’s Met Gala, the subtle iridescent tips were created by her manicurist, Zola Ganzorigt. When Ganzorigt shared a glazed donut nail tutorial in a TikTok video recently, it racked up some 1.1 million views (and counting). 

Upgrading from a simple nude, the glazed donut nail perfectly hits the brief for a slightly more playful yet equally grown-up look that can even be flavoured – strawberry glaze is Bieber’s current favourite.

Celebrities including Vanessa Hudgens and Sydney Sweeney are already fans, as is celebrity manicurist Harriet Westmoreland, who told Soho House: ‘I think it’s the perfect combination of natural nails with a hint of glam.’

But is the ‘glaze craze’ here to stay, or have we reached its shimmering peak? Scroll through social media, which is full of dewy-faced #skingoals and Bieber-inspired memes captioned: ‘if I’m not getting into bed looking like a glazed donut then I’m not doing it right’ and you’ll quickly discover that it’s set to hang around.

It’s hard to believe there was a time before the dawn of illuminating highlighters, vitamin-packed serums and glassy lip glosses when high shine wasn’t a thing. Pressed powders, blotting paper and a heavily contoured complexion encouraged us to conceal, cover and mask our skin – a look that couldn’t be further from today’s shift towards a more ‘naturally’ glossy aesthetic. 

In 2021, Pinterest reported that searches for ‘how to get naturally glowing skin’ had quadrupled year-on-year, and that was before Bieber launched Rhode – her very own skincare range promising dewy, glazed skin – in June 2022.

With a steadfast trajectory for all things glazed since then – those nails just being the latest example – our collective obsession with shine shows no signs of letting up anytime soon, much of it thanks to TikTok and its ‘That Girl’ phenomenon. In much the same way that waking up early to meditate and apply our collagen sheet mask has become shorthand for having your life together, a radiant complexion is the ultimate status symbol. 

Should your life be a little less ‘perfect’, TikTok is awash with hacks on how to recreate it at home. Even better, ahead of her pop-up in Soho House New York this September, Westmoreland has given us her top tips on perfecting the glazed look. Because, let’s face it, nothing says ‘I meditate, journal and drink chia water’ better than a slick face and a sparkling set of nails. 

Step one: prep the nail
‘Prepping is key, as it helps the manicure last longer. Next, apply a base coat, followed by a layer of non-wipe top coat.’

Step two: apply chrome
‘Gently work the chrome powder over the nail plate until it turns chrome and covers the surface. I use my finger to apply it, and only the tiniest amount of powder is needed to keep the finish sheer, achieving a natural look. Wipe any excess powder away with a soft brush.’ 

Step three: seal it with a top coat
‘Finish with a good layer of top coat. My usual go-to is Bio Sculpture or OPI.’