The Olive Nail Trend Whispers Luxury—See Photos

olive nail trend three short nail manicures Courtesy of @oshababyrosalba, @geminailsbybeca, @stephb.nailsSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this story

This season, our favorite cocktail garnish is inspiring manicures so elevated, we can’t help but raise a glass. The olive nail trend is back, whether as an all-over coat of deep, slightly yellow-green polish or in nail art that looks like it should be stirring an extra-dirty martini.

According to Spate, a trend-forecasting company, interest in "olive nails" and "olive green nails" is up year-over-year by 19.7% and 50.3%, respectively, across Google, TikTok, and Instagram. Meagan Good and Lili Reinhart were recently spotted wearing the trend. Good wore a solid olive-green manicure, while Reinhart's had chrome embellishments and 3D olives, a nod to her character in the film The Love Hypothesis. The color also appeared on runways with Bottega Veneta, Valentino, and Ferragamo incorporating it into their fall/winter 2026 collections.

The experts we interviewed for our fall nail trend reports predicted that olive would make its return. “It’s a warm autumn color we naturally gravitate toward as the weather gets cooler,” Andrea Forero, a Barcelona-based manicurist, previously told Allure. Miss Pop, a New York City nail artist, adds it’s the perfect manicure for the festivities that come with the end of the year. “We're going into holiday party season. Why not have martini nails?!”

Los Angeles-based nail artist Bana Jajour says that the appeal of the olive trend has to do with its overall vibe. It exudes that feeling you get when you’re sitting in the back of a candlelit bar, cheersing with your best friend. “You picture a girl with oval nails and olive color,” says Jarjour. “She's holding her martini glass, posing cute, and posting her pictures.” It’s the ultimate, highly photogenic, cold-weather accessory.

How to get olive nails at home

Choose your nail shape

A nail shape can make or (literally) break your look. The one you choose is your personal preference, of course, but our nail experts unanimously agree that an oval shape works best with this trend. But Sarah Chue, a Los Angeles manicurist, adds that the richness and depth of olive polish can also flatter square or stiletto nails.

Solid, olive-green nails

The easiest way to join in on the trend is by sweeping on a solid coat of olive-green polish. (Just look at how Selena Gomez wore it back in 2022.) Jajour has six in her kit, noting that polishes that complement your skin’s undertone keep your skin from looking flat and tired.

Jajour recommends The GelBottle Inc. in Khaki for those with light and medium complexions that have cool undertones; Gel by Essie in Totally Plaid works best for warm undertones. For deeper complexions with cooler undertones, she suggests OPI Nail Lacquer in Suzi First Lady of Nails, and The GelBottle in Mini Bar if you have warm undertones.

Olive nail art

Whether you’re into sleek, simple manicures or designs with more flair, there’s no shortage of olive nail inspiration on the internet. The motif is often combined with trending looks like cat-eye nails and French manicures. For a simple take on nail art, might we suggest a lone red rhinestone atop a solid coat of olive polish. Miss Pop advises you to use a rhinestone-friendly adhesive and topcoat (like the Vettsy 5-1 Top Coat) to prolong the life of this manicure.

If you’re a nail art enthusiast who loves a challenge, try hand-painting the garnish’s fine details. Miss Pop has some pro tips: Have nail-dotting tools or bobby pins on hand. To make the base of your olive, gently apply a dark green dot with your tool. Place a smaller dot of opaque white polish (like OPI Nail Lacquer in Alpine Snow) at the top of your olive, where you want the pimento to go. This keeps the pimento from appearing muddy against the green. Then pop an orangey-red polish (like Essie Nail Polish in Geranium) on top of it.

Be sure to allow each layer to dry for about 10 minutes between coats. When applying details, don’t press too hard with your dotting tools. You don’t want any donut-shaped dents.

Below are a few ways to wear the olive nail trend.

Olive Nail Inspiration

Solid olive-green nails Fall Nail Trend 2026 earthy green Courtesy of @avrnailswatchesCourtesy of @thecolornookOlive nails with glitter Olive nail trend Short single toned olive nails with glitter Courtesy of @isionailsOlive nails with 3D pimento Olive nail trend short nails with 3D pimento nail art Courtesy of @cre8withcassCourtesy of @oshababyrosalbaCourtesy of @nails.by.mickk Olive nail trebd short nails with 3D pimento nail art Courtesy of @nailsbyheather.erringtonOlive nails with chrome finish Olive nail trend green chrome polish on short fingernails Courtesy of @ncbeautydublinCourtesy of @byjasminerosepOlive cat-eye nails Olive nail trend cat eye nail polish on short fingernails Courtesy of @isionails olive nail trend closeup of solid cat eye nails Courtesy of @nailswithonenOlive French manicure Olive nail trend olive french tip nails Courtesy of @stephb.nailsCourtesy of @_theblushbar Olive nail trend french tip nails with 3D nail art Courtesy of @geminailsbybecaMaximalist olive nails Olive nail trend Long nails with 3D olive and martini nail art Courtesy of @dglamorous.nails.jpgCourtesy of @kimchisnailsCourtesy of @blessednailsssCourtesy of @danisabsolutenailsCourtesy of @beautybysaraiCourtesy of @nailsbykimsCourtesy of @amys.clients