There were many amazing manis at the 2025 Golden Globes, and while scanning for dynamic looks to copy, Viola Davis’ gorgeous custom set caught our eye. She’s the latest to jump on the glitter nails bandwagon, which has taken over in the past few months as a big manicure trend—and we’re obsessed.
“For Viola’s nails, she wanted a look that was striking yet sophisticated. Viola loves chrome and metallic finishes,” says celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec. First, she transformed Davis’ nails from square to almond—a new shape for her that she ended up loving.
Kandalec combined two gel polishes from Aprés Nail to create a custom color for Davis. She blended two parts Aloe You Vera Much ($25) with one part Birnam Wood ($15) for a deep, elegant emerald. “Many people may not consider deep green to be a neutral color, but it definitely can be, and it stunned on her beautiful skin tone.”
To get the sparkly finish, she used Light & Shadow Sheer Gel Couleur in Renewal ($15). Pro tip: “Swipe 3/4 of the color off the brush and apply very lightly to the nail for a sheer wash of micro-white sparkle,” says Kandalec. “After I brushed on her custom emerald shade, the last layer truly made it come to life, making it a surprisingly fresh neutral to wear with all of her looks this weekend.”
