Held on June 8, the 78th Tony Awards celebrated and honored excellence in theatre over the past year. This year's award's ceremony was bigger than ever, with the ceremony bringing in its largest broadcast audience since 2019. It's no surprise, with Broadway seeing its highest grossing season ever. The 2024-2025 season concluded with a record-setting $1.89 billion in gross revenue — a 23% increase from the previous season and surpassing the pre-pandemic 2018-2019 record of $1.83 billion. With Broadway booming, there was plenty of stars out to celebrate! To help provide the perfect finishing touches to their red carpet looks, celebrity nail techs were hard at work! From sculptural florals to clean-girl manis, this year’s standout nail designs offered a masterclass in creativity, craftsmanship and red carpet versatility. Here, we share five of our favorite looks straight from the nail artists who created them, so you can bring these award-worthy designs directly to your salon chair.
Held on June 8, the 78th Tony Awards celebrated and honored excellence in theatre over the past year. This year's award's ceremony was bigger than ever, with the ceremony bringing in its largest broadcast audience since 2019. It's no surprise, with Broadway seeing its highest grossing season ever. The 2024-2025 season concluded with a record-setting $1.89 billion in gross revenue — a 23% increase from the previous season and surpassing the pre-pandemic 2018-2019 record of $1.83 billion. With Broadway booming, there was plenty of stars out to celebrate! To help provide the perfect finishing touches to their red carpet looks, celebrity nail techs were hard at work! From sculptural florals to clean-girl manis, this year’s standout nail designs offered a masterclass in creativity, craftsmanship and red carpet versatility. Here, we share five of our favorite looks straight from the nail artists who created them, so you can bring these award-worthy designs directly to your salon chair.
1. Cynthia Erivo's Hand-Sculpted Orchid Nails
We always hold space for Broadway and "Wicked" star Cynthia Erivo's nails on the red carpet, and the Tony Awards were no exception! As the host of this year's awards, Erivo's nails had to dazzle, and it's no surprise they did. To pair with Erivo's pearl gray velvet Schiaparelli gown, 19-year-old celebrity nail artist Mycah Dior (@clawzbydior_) created an embellished red, French tip nail design that featured hand sculpted orchids.
Here's how she created the look:
How-To:
- Mix a red and maroon colored polish of your choice, and draw French tips using the mixture.
- Take a lavender color of your choice, and airbrush an aura effect on two nails.
- Sculpt orchids or flowers on the airbrushed nails. Add highlights using dark purple and lavender polishes in the center of the flower.
- Add embellishments of your choice (rhinestones, charms, jewels, etc.) and chrome details on the remaining fingers.
- Apply a non-wipe, glossy top coat to finish.
2. Cole Escola's Bedazzled Nails
Cole Escola is taking Broadway by storm, winning the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for their portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln in "Oh, Mary!" For the big night, Escola paid homage to Bernadette Peters' 1999 Tony Awards look, complete with a curly red updo and a custom Cinderella-blue beaded gown by Wiederhoeft. To cap off the ensemble, nail artist Naomi Yasuda (@naominailsnyc) created bedazzled nails with bow charms for a perfect pop of sparkle.
3. Jordan Roth's Nude Nails and Hand Piece
As a seven-time Tony Award winner and president of Jujamcyn Theaters, Jordan Roth knows how to make a statement. For this year's awards, Roth wore Look 10 from Lee McQueen's final collection, Angels and Demons. To pair with his daring attire, nail artist Elle Gerstein (@enamelle) opted for stiletto, nude nails. To finish off the look, Roth sported a custom crystal hand piece by Philipp Kern.
4. Amal Clooney's Full Coverage Manicure
Amal Clooney attended the Tony Awards alongside her husband George Clooney, who was nominated for Best Lead Actor in a Play for his portrayal of Edward R. Murrow in "Good Night, and Good Luck." The play has broken records, bringing in $4.2 million in box-office grosses in a single week.
To celebrate the show's success alongside her husband, Amal wore a white, strapless Tamara Ralph gown covered in beading. Celebrity nail artist and educator Julie Kandalec (@julieknailsnyc) created a full-coverage manicure to pair with the shimmering look.
How-To:
- Start with a manicure, and file the natural nails into a soft, square shape in a medium length for maximum impact.
- After a hand massage, prep the nail using 91% isopropyl alcohol.
- Apply two coats of full-coverage white polish with a hint of pink for a softened look.
- Apply a single coat of top coast, capping the free edge for a long-lasting manicure.
- After drying, apply cuticle oil for a hydrated finish.
5. Sarah Paulson's Clean Girl Manicure
As last year's winner of Best Lead Actress in a Play for her portrayal of Antoinette 'Toni' Lafayette in "Appropriate," Sarah Paulson returned to the Tony Awards in full force. She donned a Schiaparelli ball gown with a black velvet top and satin floral embroidered butter yellow skirt. So, her nail look wouldn't compete with her dress, nail artist Alex Jachno (@ajax_jachno) opted for a simple, clean girl manicure to keep natural nails looking sleek and finished.
How-To:
- Prep the nails with non-acidic primer, followed by a base coat gel.
- For strength and shine without adding color, use a clear builder gel of your choice.
