Expecting a Proposal Soon? These Are the Chicest Engagement Nail Ideas

• Engagement nails are becoming a must-have prep step before proposals, with timeless, elegant styles recommended to complement rings in photos.
• From naked nails and sheer jelly finishes to French tips, chrome, rhinestones, and pastels, there are versatile options to match any style.
• Nail pro Juanita Huber-Millet stresses classic, polished designs that highlight the ring without overshadowing it, ensuring they remain photo-worthy for years.

A rite of passage for fiancés-to-be obviously includes spending hours/days/months looking for the perfect ring, but also finding the best manicure to get ahead of your anticipated proposal. Other than your actual wedding nails, these just might be the most important of your life. And you're going to want to be prepared with a stunning set when the day comes, especially since you'll be showing off your fingers non-stop.

So, I spent hours scrolling through Pinterest, the Instagram accounts of my favorite nail artists, and celebrity manicures to find the best engagement nails. I also spoke with Juanita Huber-Millet, the founder of Townhouse nail salon, for her thoughts on the best pre-engagement manicures. "Engagement nails should always feel timeless and elegant since they’ll live in your photos forever," she says.

From classic pinks to textured nail trends, here are the best engagement nails to prepare for your proposal.

The naked nail trend is perfect for a low-key manicure that lets your ring shine—literally. Achieve the look with one or two coats of sheer white or pink polish, or even by simply layering on a few top coats.

Jelly nails are a glossy, sheer manicure that creates an almost glass-like effect. You can amp up any shade with the sheer wash of color, but pink is especially sweet for the occasion.

A white or pink manicure with a milky finish is exactly what I’ll have on my nails the day I get engaged (but not anytime soon if my dad is reading this). Equal parts translucent and opaque, the look creates a creamy, soft effect.

4. Polka Dot Nails

Polka dot nails are having a major moment, and while you don’t want to overshadow your ring with a busy design, monochrome or glazed dots keep things playful yet chic.

"I love classic French because it enhances the ring without ever competing with it," says Huber-Millet. The simple design works with any nail shape, but I especially love Selena Gomez's post-engagement mani (pictured below).

Sheer pinks are another favorite of Huber-Millet, and the classic light shade has also graced the fingers of our fave celeb fiancés like Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez.

If you want something a little more playful than French tips or simple colors, three-dimensional nails are a fun way to add texture and personality to your manicure. You can keep the manicure timeless by sticking to pastel shades or vintage-inspired designs like floral or lace-esque patterns.

Call them whatever you want—cat-eye nails, glazed nails, reflective nails—but chrome nails are a perf way to elevate any simple shade.

Not that we want to steal the spotlight from the rock on your finger, but adding some dainty rhinestones to a nude nail is a fun way to go all-in on the diamond look.

“A fine micro-French can add a touch of individuality while keeping the look chic,” says Juanita. It’s also a great option for shorter nails, where a traditional white tip might overwhelm the smaller surface area.

Soft colors like lilac, butter yellow, and baby blue are a cute choice, especially if you want a solid shade but aren't the biggest pink person.

• Juanita Huber-Millet is the founder of Townhouse, a chic nail salon founded in London with additional locations in New York City and Los Angeles.
  

Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo, where she writes about all the best nail polishes and trends. For this story, she spent hours looking for the best engagement nails and also consulted Huber-Millet for her favorite designs and manicures.

Jasmine Hyman

Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.