Here are 10 minimalist '90s nail designs that are making a comeback.

Imagine this: you’ve just left the nail salon, J.Lo’s first single is playing on every radio, pastel blue eyeshadow is everywhere, ultra-thin eyebrows are the norm, and your skirt is either super short or your jeans are sitting low on your hips. It’s the ’90s, baby!

Fashion and beauty have always been fascinated with the decade just before the new millennium. And now, with nostalgia at an all-time high, it feels like the perfect time to look back at the nail trends that really defined the ’90s. In ’90s Hollywood, stars like Jennifer Aniston wore fiery reds or dark purples that matched her mini-dresses, while supermodels like Naomi Campbell rocked chocolate brown nails, and Claudia Schiffer loved pastels. If you prefer lighter, more minimalist styles, check out vintage photos of Alicia Silverstone, a very young Lindsay Lohan, and Courteney Cox. They all went for white nail polish and the classic French manicure that’s still super popular today.

Below, find the best trending minimalist ’90s nails to carry you from summer into fall, along with pictures to show your nail artist.

Pastel Blue Nails
Photo: Getty Images
Before “blueberry milk nails,” a specific shade of sky blue nails ruled the ’90s (ah, Hard Candy Sky, I miss you). This milky, tinted polish recently came back into style thanks to TikTok, but Alicia Silverstone was a devoted fan throughout the ’90s. The light blue polish looked cute and perfectly matched when worn by the Clueless star back then.

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OPI Nail Lacquer in It’s a Boy! – $12 on Amazon
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Manucurist Green Nail Polish in Bubble – $14 on Amazon

Pink Nails
Photo: Getty Images
Rosé wine nails had their moment thanks to eternal nail inspiration Hailey Bieber. This light pink shade, with an added layer of sparkle, is ultra feminine and subtle enough for everyday wear or formal events. It’s perfect if you want an understated polish that makes your nails look as sleek and chic as a young Gwyneth Paltrow at the Oscars.

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OPI Nail Lacquer in Big Celebration – $12 on Amazon
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Essie Nail Polish in A Cut Above – $10 ($7, 30% off) on Amazon

French Nails
Photo: Getty Images
While white French nail tips have proven to be a lasting classic, in the ’90s they were usually worn sharp and square. Both J.Lo and a young Lindsay Lohan chose this understated look back then, and since then we’ve seen both original versions and modern twists on the French manicure. Brides have also returned to wearing it when they say “I do.”

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Essie Nail Polish in Snowy White Blanc – $10 ($9, 10% off) on Amazon
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Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Nail Polish in Baby Love – $22 on Amazon

Silver Nails
Photo: Getty Images
Claire Danes at the 1997 Oscars is forever a reference: she wore a Narciso Rodriguez for Cerruti two-piece that matched perfectly with her oval-shaped silver nails and opalescent finish. The metallic polish matched her dress, jewelry, and shoes in a similarly icy color palette, creating a timeless monochromatic look. Don’t hesitate to go for chrome-like shades from summer into fall.

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Essie Nail Polish in Cosmic Chrome – $13 ($9, 31% off) on Amazon
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Zoya Nail Polish in Trixie – $12 on Amazon

White Nails
Photo: Steve Granitz
Milky white nails got their start in the ’90s. Both Friends co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox wore them casually and on the red carpet, keeping their nails short with slightly rounded tips. White is an ideal summer color—perfect with a golden tan while it lasts—and feels classic and understated for getting back into the swing of things in September.

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Londontown Lakur Nail Polish in Duchess – $16 on Amazon
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MGreen Nail Polish in Milky White
$14 at AMAZON

Glazed Nails
Photo: Getty Images

The inspiration for glazed nails? It’s not Hailey Bieber—it was Jennifer Lopez at the Puerto Rican Day fashion show in New York, sporting what we now call glazed donut nails. That pearly finish, made with chrome powder, is pure ’90s style. Feeling extra nostalgic? Go for square-tipped acrylic nails.