Selena Gomez has brought pierced nail art back into fashion
Manicures featuring small rings on the nails are back in style. This time, Selena Gomez has drawn attention to this unusual trend—renowned nail artist Tom Bachik created this design for her. He combined a rich wine-colored shade with gold accents, making the actress’s nails look almost like jewelry.
If you still associate the word “piercing” only with earrings, nose rings, or lip piercings, it’s time to look at it in a new light. Small rings can be incorporated into a manicure—and this exact design is gaining popularity once again. This trend first appeared in fashion several seasons ago. Now it’s making a comeback, but with a slightly different twist. Instead of an abundance of details, nail artists are increasingly using small, delicate rings that make the nails look like genuine jewelry.
Selena Gomez was one of the first to draw attention to this design. Her manicure was, as usual, created by the famous nail artist Tom Bachik, who has been working with the star for a long time and regularly creates trendy designs for her. This time, Bachik chose a deep wine-red shade for Selena. It has a rich, slightly “vampiric” look and is well-suited for the fall season.
On top of the matte base, the artist added gold accents. But the main detail was the small gold rings attached to the tips of her nails. It is these rings that created the effect of jewelry. The manicure looks unusual, yet quite understated. The gold rings don’t overpower the nail color; they simply add a touch of flair.
Tom Bachik shared the result on his social media. “I love this season’s rich, vampire-inspired colors and the metallic accents that add a touch of edge,” the nail artist wrote. The combination of wine-colored polish and gold truly looks stunning. It’s easy to imagine this manicure as part of an evening look—especially if you add jewelry in the same golden shade.
That said, you don’t have to copy Selena’s design exactly. You can leave the rings on just one or two nails or swap the gold for silver. And for those who prefer a more eye-catching manicure, larger rings or several decorative elements will work well.
How to Do a Pierced Nail Manicure
At first glance, it might seem like you need to pierce your own nail for this manicure. But that’s not the case. The piercing is done not in the natural nail plate, but in artificial material—such as gel, acrylic, or tips. Therefore, if the procedure is performed correctly, the natural nail is not pierced.
To try this trend, simply tell your nail technician that you want a piercing on the free edge of your nail or small decorative rings. The technician will then use a special tool to make a small hole in the material. After that, a small ring or other decorative accessory is inserted into the hole.
The process doesn’t take long, but it’s important to go to a technician who has experience with this type of design. The hole must be made neatly, and the accessory must be securely fastened so it doesn’t catch on clothing or hair. This design looks best on nails that are long enough. You can also use piercing elements on short nails, but the technician will have to choose the placement for the accessory more carefully.
Another plus of this trend is that it can be adapted to any style. Gold rings go well with warm nude or wine-colored manicures, while silver ones complement cool shades. And if you’re looking for a bolder look, you can combine nail rings with dark polish, metallic accents, or an unconventional design. However, there’s also a practical consideration. A ring on your nail can catch on fabric, hair, or accessories. So before work or other activities where the jewelry might get in the way, it’s worth keeping this in mind.
If a real nail piercing isn’t quite your style yet, you can opt for a simpler alternative. For example, you can add small metal charms to your polish or create a ring effect using nail art. And for those who aren’t ready for metal accents, there are plenty of other options this season. One of them is a polka-dot manicure, which has also made a comeback in the fall 2026 trends.
So a piercing-inspired manicure doesn’t have to look daring at all. A single small gold accent can transform an ordinary manicure into an unusual detail of your look—and that’s exactly what Selena Gomez did.
