Tate McRae is the moment. With the release of her new album, So Close to What, and her single “Sports Car” dominating TikTok, plus a fresh makeup routine reveal and a Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon appearance, the 21-year-old performer is everywhere—in the best way. Also worth noting: she’s inspiring our next manicure, thanks to her latest set from celebrity manicurist Elle Gerstein, a natural-meets-glam look that nails her aesthetic perfectly.
McRae’s latest nail look was specifically for her Tonight Show appearance, as revealed on Gerstein’s Instagram grid. The nail pro shared an up-close shot of her client’s fresh set and the full breakdown of the look. As seen in the pic, the dancer opted for a long, glossy, stiletto-shaped manicure in an opaque beige hue. While the color might fall into the trend affectionately known as “boring nails,” the ultra-sharp shape makes sure there’s nothing actually boring about it.
“T8 @tatemcrae stunned us not only with her new music but with her flawless opaque manicure!” Gerstein captioned the post. “The perfect balance of chic and edgy.” The pro broke down every step of the look, explaining that she prepped the nails with Aprés Gel-X Natural Stiletto Medium Box of Tips 2.0 ($34) before applying Aprés Gel Couleur 308 Kana Believe It ($15) and curing her gel nails under an LED lamp for 30 seconds, finishing with the Après Non-Wipe Top Gelcoat ($13).
If you’re eyeing McRae’s manicure for your next winter—or even spring—nail refresh, be sure to screenshot it for your next salon visit. And if you’ve mastered the art of the DIY gel manicure, you can shop the exact essentials below.
Shop Tate McRae’s Cool-Girl Manicure
