Posted by Tran Khue
on March 10, 2025
So, what is this dirty martini nails trend that Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber have worn? Is it just a revival of green nails or something more? Just as important, what are some unique ways to wear dirty martini nails? Because honestly, we think everyone should try this!
Selena Gomez’s Green Nails
Some say it began when Tom Bachik posted about fall mani colors and shared a photo of Selena Gomez’s olive green ballerina nails from 2022. He had created a custom blend of brown, green, and yellow just for her. Not surprisingly, olive had also showed up in fashion shows previewing fall fashion for 2026.
Dirty Martini-Inspired Nails
Fans of green nails took this inspiration and ran with it. Soon, social media was filling up with photos of sage and moss-colored manicures with related hashtags. But as you may know, a dirty martini isn’t as green as the olive garnishing the glass. It’s made from vermouth and olive brine for a savory edge. That’s why the yellowish liquid looks cloudy or “dirty”. Instead of solid green, this marbled look seems more accurate, although definitely darker than a glass of the cocktail.
3D Dirty Martini Nails
By November 2024, celebrity nail artist Betina Goldstein had come up with a hyper realistic version of dirty martini nails that included miniature Spanish olives. She explained she came up with the idea while pregnant earlier in the fall when she was craving the cocktail (which had to wait). Thanks to a social media tutorial, we now know how to achieve a similar look.
First, the artist combined CND Shellac color Olive Grove with the base coat to give the diluted shade a cloudy effect. Then she added the matte top coat to make it seem like we’re viewing the beverage through a frosted glass. Next, she coated the free nail edges with black polish followed by silver chrome powder as if they were the rims of the cocktail glasses.
After that, it gets tricky. She handcrafted the tiny olives with hard gel and painted them with the original green color, undiluted. With a tiny brush, she added the red pimento parts. Finally, everything she sealed everything with top coat.
Must Dirty Martini Nails Be Green?
Around the same time, Zola Ganzorigt created a 2D version of martini nails for Hailey Bieber. Instead of a milky olive base, they are baby blue with tiny painted olives to match the real ones in the glass.
Moreover, we’ve seen martini nails with a nude base. This set even has a hand-painted martini cocktail. But we’re wandering off course! Perhaps it was one too many drinks!
LDS Rubber Base
A Black Dress Affair
Now we’re back with a dirty martini manicure suitable for a formal event. The black French tips dress up the edges of a milky nude base while small sculpted olives decorate accent nails. We feel safe calling these “dirty martini nails” because they have that cloudy look, and they resemble the cocktail at least a little bit.
Chrome Martini Nails
Is it necessary to have a milky base to call your set “dirty martini nails”? Let’s just say you can’t rely on Instagram hashtags. Think about French tips – there are several versions that all fit under the same umbrella. So, let’s not get too critical and just have a good time!
Here’s a milky nude base speckled with bright green olives complete with red gems for the pimentos. The surrounding nails are sparkling green chrome that leans toward the yellow side of the color wheel. Let’s call it olive.
What we haven’t mentioned is the conundrum people with cool undertones face when it comes to olive nails. The yellow hue clashes with their complexion. How can you resolve this situation when it comes to dirty martini nails?
One solution is following Hailey Bieber’s lead by choosing a cool-toned base color and making the olive green fruit smaller. Another option would be to go with a milky white base that flatters the skin and making sure the tiny pimento parts are a cool-toned red.
Lavis Reflective R05 - 13 - Gel Polish 0.5 oz - Neon Lights Reflective Collection
Dirty Martini Nails are Still Going Strong in 2026
Like every nail trend, this unique style has been adapted and reimagined over time. Here’s a recent design tagged with “dirty martini nails.” There are sculpted olives and olive green vibes thanks to the aura nails effect. But we’re also noticing hints of tortoiseshell and luxurious touches with gold nail charms.
What would you include in a dirty martini nails look right now? Current popular trends include minimalist nude styles like mannequin nails and maximalist manicures with metallics and three-dimensional texture. Both sides offer a lot of room for innovation.
Dirty Martini Nails in a Hurry
We keep hearing James Bond stating, “shaken, not stirred”. Once you’ve completed a French tip manicure, it only takes a little longer to emphasize the smile line with a thin band of olive green. Then earn second glances by covering half the nail with the same shade.
Even simpler is to spruce up your nails with olive green cat eye polish and add an extra layer of top coat or builder gel for extra glossy depth. It’s a hypnotic effect like you’re viewing the cocktail through glass. For more realism, choose a light yellowish-green shade of cat eye gel so that it resembles the beverage.
Conclusion
Any excuse will do to try out something new. Give yourself permission to have fun with dirty martini nails! We’d love to see how creative you get, so please tag us on social media. Let’s have a toast to beautiful manicures!
If you need a reason to stock up on supplies, check out our sales and bulk by offers. Find your favorite green shades in our store, then save money with free shipping. We want to support you in reaching your nail goals!
