Meet the Most Polarizing Manicure of the Season: "Tabi Nails" ...Middle East

Fashion lovers, this is not a drill. Tabi shoes - you know, the ones that you either fiercely love or hate with a fiery passion - are now popping up on social media as a nail trend. Yep, you read that right. You're about to see the popular shoe design not just covering people's toes and fingers, and the designs we're seeing are bold with a capital "B."

If you've never seen a Tabi shoe in your life, you're probably wondering what the hell we're talking about. Just roll with us on this one, we promise these nails are a sight to behold. The iconic split-toe Tabi shoes, which resemble an animal hoof, are from the fashion brand Maison Margiela. However, they actually originated in 15th-century Japan as socks and shoes. Maison Margiela created the design in leather, the Tabi boot, but now the style is available in a variety of different looks, like flats and even sneakers.

Fashion people are intense about Tabis. They're either beloved or strongly hated - there really is no in between. And now that the shoe that divided the fashion community is a nail trend, we're predicting they're going to be everywhere this fall, just like the shoes.

Ahead, we chat with a nail expert who breaks down what Tabi nails are, who they work best on, and how you can get the look for yourself. Keep reading to learn more.

Experts Featured in This Article

Ramon Duran is an OPI creator and nail artist.

What Are Tabi Nails?

"Tabi nails are inspired by the Japanese socks and popular shoes characterized by their signature split-toe design," says nail artist Ramon Duran. "They have that, hoof-like toe that's super recognizable in the fashion world."

They're not your run-of-the-mill nail art. "It's very avant-garde, very niche, and definitely a design for the more fashion-forward client who loves those kinds of references."

However, Tabi nails aren't for everyone - your nail length does play into whether or not this trend will work for you. "Tabi nails look best on medium-length, rounded [or] oval nails because you need that extra space for the design to really come through. You can technically do them shorter, but the look feels more elevated with a bit of length."

How to Get Tabi Nails

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Whether you're a DIY nail pro or looking for a step-by-step guide you can share with your nail artist, we've got you covered. If you're looking to add more length so you have more room to play, "I would start with rounded medium length tips, like the

OPI Gelevate Soft Gel Tips ($33) in the round shape," Duran says. Then, he suggests going in with a nude or sheer base to mimic the natural nail bed.

You can paint on the 'shoe' part with any color of your choosing, but Duran suggests using a crisp white like the OPI GelColor in Alpine Snow ($21). Once that's cured, he says you can take a needle bit on your nail drill and carefully carve out a little split at the tip, which gives it that signature Tabi look. "Then I seal everything with a top coat to make sure the edges are smooth and clean."

While Duran suggests doing something more like a French tip (Tabi tip, anyone?), the fun thing about this trend is that you can really make it what you want. Whether you want to do tips, all-over color, or even 3D artwork, the sky's the limit.

If you're interested in trying out the trend for yourself, keep scrolling to see some of our favorite iterations of Tabi nails.

Tabi Nails Inspiration

Hence then, the article about meet the most polarizing manicure of the season tabi nails was published today ( Friday 19/09/2025 - 08:18 PM ) and is available on popsugar ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.

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