Like Them or Not, Pierced Nails Are Back

It's hard to put into words the hold that '90s beauty trends have on us. It might be 2023, but sometimes we can't help but reminisce about the good old days. From grungy, "marinated" makeup to money-piece highlights and french manicures, we've already resurrected quite a few iconic trends from the early aughts, but now, you can add the unforgettable pierced-nails trend to that list.

Whether you like them, pierced nails are back and even better than they were 30 years ago. For those of you scratching your heads in confusion about combining "pierced" and "nails" in the same sentence, allow us to quickly refresh your memory of this intriguing nail trend. Pierced manicures were catapulted into the spotlight back in the '90s when Janet Jackson notably rocked them in the music video for "What's It Gonna Be?!" alongside Busta Rhymes. The trend seemingly fizzled into the background during the early 2000s — until now, thanks to a handful of stars (Kylie Jenner, Lizzo, Megan Thee Stallion, Billie Eilish, Cardi B, Kim Petras . . . we could go on).

But if you need further convincing, a quick browse through Instagram reveals that yes, they are, in fact, back with a vengeance. Though nail piercings may look impractical for everyday wear, the throngs of mani enthusiasts currently wearing them (and showing them off) have us thinking quite the contrary.

When it comes to pierced nails, the options are truly endless. Sometimes they're just small, simple hoops punctured through the tip of acrylic nails, but other pierced manicures have pendants and jewels hanging from them.

Read on to catch a glimpse of some of the coolest nail piercings we've seen so far.