The "Cube Nails" Trend Is Here to Mix Things Up This Summer
Image Source: Darrel Hunter
Nail trends are constantly changing, and thinking outside the box is no longer merely a useful skill but a requirement in the beauty industry. Just ask Doechii's nail artist, Rachel Sun, who is constantly innovating for the Grammy Award-winning rapper. Sun has created crocodile claw-like nails for Doechii in honor of her "Alligator Bites Never Heal" album and encapsulated actual moss in a set of extensions for her music video for the song "Anxiety." And along with the moss, Sun created a new nail shape that's likely going to be a big trend for summer: "cube" nails.
If you're having trouble picturing exactly what cube nails are, you're not alone. While this nail shape might not be the most practical (first, you have to find a nail artist who can actually create them), there's no doubt that they're breaking the mold of traditional looks. Cube nails are sure to be a conversation starter, especially if you go the Doechii route and get something encapsulated inside them.
Read on to discover more about cube nails and, of course, some seriously daring inspiration pics.
What Are Cube Nails?
Not to be confused with ice cube nails, where heavy layers of gel are piled onto the nail bed to get an ice-shine effect, cube nails shape your nails into actual cubes, creating a unique, 3D effect.
Cube nails are one of Sun's biggest predictions for 2025 nail trends. "Cube nails are 3D, but they're shaped in a rectangular prism," says Sun. That means the entire cube shape runs from the nail bed to the tip, making it easy to encapsulate things inside, such as the moss. Cube nails are the same thickness throughout, she notes.
What to Ask For
If it sounds complicated, that's because it is. We recommend going to the professionals for this type of set, and beyond that, we recommend calling ahead to see if the technician in your area can achieve this from their salon. Since the nail does have a 3D effect where it rises into a cube off your nail bed, there might be some confusion, but bringing photos is helpful. More and more nail artists are trying out this technique as it becomes more popular.
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Just be prepared to spend quite a bit of time in the salon chair. Nail artists like London-based Andreea Simona Ignat report taking over five hours to fit cube nails on their clients.
Brittany Leitner (she/her) is a New York-based contributing beauty writer at PS. She has over 10 years of experience working in beauty, health, wellness, travel, and celebrity news. Brittany holds a degree in magazine journalism from Syracuse University and previously held editorial positions at Elite Daily and "The Dr. Oz Show" before working as a freelance journalist for the past three years.
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