For far too long, conversations surrounding celebrity nail looks [3] only encompassed women. Over the last few years, though, this has begun to shift, with people like Harry Styles [4], Lil Nas X, and Tyler the Creator [5] challenging the status quo when it comes to who can wear nail polish. Another person who has been a central figure in the "menicure" movement [6]? Machine Gun Kelly.
Though Kelly launched his nail polish brand Un/Dn Laqr in December of 2021, the musician had been wearing nail polish for years throughout his career. He flashed a red manicure with white lettering at a Republic Records Grammy After Party in 2020, wore metallic chrome nails at the Balmain show during Paris Fashion week a few days prior, and has worn black polish for more performances than we can count. Needless to say, Kelly is true to this — not new to this.
In the last year or so, the artist has upped the ante with his nail art and has been seen in everything from intricate designs to a stiletto acrylic nails that chained him to his fiancée, Megan Fox [7]. The amount of manicure inspiration he's provided over the years is nothing short of awe-inspiring, so if you're looking for ideas for your next salon appointment, Kelly's rolodex of designs is a perfect place to start.
Take a closer look at some of the Machine Gun Kelly's best nail-art looks of all time.
Machine Gun Kelly’s Black Glam Nails
At a 2019 concert in Stockholm, Kelly showed off a black glam manicure featuring multiple trends at once: negative-space nails [8] and brushstroke nail art [9]. The final result was a look that was minimal but still packed a punch.
Machine Gun Kelly’s “Sad” Manicure
In 2020, Kelly wore a bright red manicure to the Republic Records Grammy After Party, where he was spotted with a friend. His nail art spelled the word "sad" with each letter landing on a different finger.
Machine Gun Kelly’s Chrome Nails
Kelly wore a pale gold chrome manicure while attending the Balmain Menswear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 show during Paris Fashion Week in 2020. The look was void of nail art but matched perfectly with his cosy teddy coat.
Machine Gun Kelly’s Chain Nails with Megan Fox
You didn't think we'd skip over the epic pierced-chain nail did you? In December of 2021, Kelly and his fiancée Megan Fox [11] arrived at the launch party for Un/Dn Laqr, where they were chained together by their pinky nails. The look saw Kelly wearing a long stiletto-shape on his left finger, similar to the ones that Fox wore on her right.