• Long nails are the most popular nail style of 2025, with 13.9 million combined posts across TikTok and Instagram. 

• French manicures secured second place with over 9.7 million posts, followed by the short nail style in third, with 7.9 million posts on social media. 

• The insights came from how often these nail trends are being posted on TikTok and Instagram. 

A new study has revealed that long nails are the most popular nail style trend on social media platforms in 2025. From Cynthia Erivo’s well-known long, extravagant nails, especially during her Wicked promotional events to Cardi-B’s famous extra-long, elaborate acrylic nails during her iconic performances, it is unsurprising that long nails emerge as the most popular. 

The research, conducted by the go-to booking app for beauty Fresha, analyzed how often a nail style appeared on TikTok and Instagram posts under the hashtag #[trend] nails. This was used to determine which nail styles are capturing the most attention this year. 

Long nails secured the top position with a total of 13,901,475 posts across both platforms. Instagram contributes to the vast majority with 12,994,161 posts, while TikTok adds 907,314. This represents a significant lead over all other nail styles, showing the enduring appeal of longer nail designs from both celebrity and social media influence. 

Rank	Trend	TikTok Video Count	Instagram Video Count	Total Video Count
1.	Long	907,314	12,994,161	13,901,475
2.	French	611,219	9,126,779	9,737,998
3.	Short	457,435	7,451,583	7,909,018
4.	Almond	384,773	5,195,186	5,579,959
5.	Square	189,654	3,605,159	3,794,813
6.	BIAB	245,217	2,374,181	2,619,398
7.	Minimalist	8,307	126,820	135,127
8.	Red French	6,956	82,654	89,610
9.	Sheer	1,786	38,236	40,022
10.	Soft Square	256	5,193	5,449

French-style nails maintain their classic appeal, ranking second with 9,737,998 total posts. The timeless design shows a strong presence on Instagram with 9,126,779 posts and earns 611,219 appearances on TikTok. Celebrities like Zendaya and Hailey Bieber often opt for a classic French tip paired with subtle nail art accents, inspiring fans to sport the same style. The continuing popularity of this classic style demonstrates that traditional designs remain popular alongside newer trends. 

Short nail style secured the third position, with 7,909,018 posts in total. Short styles appear in 7,451,583 Instagram posts and 457,435 TikTok posts, showing that practical, low-maintenance options remain highly sought-after despite the dominance of longer styles. Anne Hathaway frequently sports shorter nail styles, paired with a soft pastel polish for a subtle yet beautiful effect. 

Almond-shaped nails place fourth and feature in 5,579,959 posts across both platforms. The elegant shape appears in 5,195,186 posts on Instagram and 384,773 on TikTok. Celebrities such as Kylie Jenner and Ariana Grande frequently opt for an almond-style shape. Jenner often pairs the style with bold colors and rhinestones, whereas Grande prefers more pastel shades or glossy nude tones. 

Square nail style ranks fifth with 3,794,813 total posts. This traditional shape features in 3,605,159 Instagram posts and 189,654 TikTok posts, demonstrating the continued preference for versatile, clean lines in nail design, along with practicality. Dua Lipa loves to wear square nails, typically paired with vibrant colors and edgy designs to match her quirky personality. 

BIAB (Builder in a Bottle) nails take sixth place with 2,619,398 posts in total. This strengthening technique appears in 2,374,181 Instagram posts and 245,217 TikTok posts, highlighting the growing interest in natural nail growth as opposed to acrylics. Emma Watson, who is all about nail health, regularly chooses BIAB as her go-to, for a natural and polished finish without the use of acrylic. 

Minimalist nails rank seventh with 135,127 total posts. The subtle style is featured in 126,820 Instagram posts and 8,307 TikTok posts, showcasing a niche yet dedicated following for understated nails. The Princess of Wales is well-known for her minimalist, elegant nail style. She typically chooses a soft nude or pale pink shade with no nail art to complement her refined style. 

Red French tips rank eighth with 89,810 posts. This color variation on the classic French manicure suggests less traditional styles on social media are emerging, combining vintage glam with modern edge. Rihanna is just one superstar to have been spotted sporting the style, which combines her glam and street style perfectly. 

Sheer nail styles secure the ninth position with 40,022 total posts. The transparent look features in 38,236 Instagram posts and 1,786 TikTok posts, suggesting a growing trend toward natural and sleek enhancements. Actresses Lily Collins and Margot Robbie often choose sheer nails to enhance their elegant and classic looks, especially when on the red carpet. 

Soft square nail styles complete the top ten, with just 5,449 total posts. This hybrid shape appears in 5,193 Instagram posts and 256 TikTok posts, indicating it may be an emerging trend rather than an established favourite. Natalie Portman, who loves a simple soft square, often chooses the less dramatic style to add subtle elegance to her polished look. 

A spokesperson from Fresha commented: 

“Social media trends dictate nail salon appointments every season, and since beauty preferences change so quickly, it’s hard for the salons to predict what will be most requested. The significant gap between the top and bottom trends suggests that customers tend to go for a longer nail style as opposed to short, which is still popular but features much less. 

“Celebrities are highly influential, and nails are one of the many ways fans draw inspiration. When the people you admire most share their unique and chic styles online, it inspires many to embrace similar trends for their next manicure. 

“With both long and short nail designs in the top three suggests that clients appreciate variety and are choosing styles that best suit their lifestyle and preferences. Though longer nails may seem more stylish, they’re often unsuitable for certain jobs or impractical for those prone to breakage, making shorter nails a more sensible choice for many.”