With the 2021 BET Awards in full swing, celebrities are going all out for the big event. The hair and makeup on the red carpet and for performances are all about sleek, '90s-inspired aesthetics, complete with middle parts, ombré lips, and bedazzled baby hairs. No award-show look would be complete without an incredible manicure, though, and the nominees, presenters, and guests in attendance did not disappoint.
Super-long nails were definitely the go-to style for the BET Awards, but so many ways to do long nails were displayed: daring shapes, fun colors, unexpected textures, and finishes — the nail-artist creativity came out in full force. Keep scrolling to check out our favorite manicures of the night.
The gilded accents of Saweetie's red carpet look went from head to tips with her inch-long acrylics with golden appliques and gems galore.
Ballet-pink jelly nails, plus cuticle jewels, equal an enviable BET Awards manicure, courtesy of Summer Walker.
The Lifetime Achievement Award winner prepared for her accepting her trophy by bringing the black-and-white theme of her look down to her matte, mismatched manicure. Some of her nails were even given golden sparkles for some unexpected glitz.
Nothing pairs better with boldly flushed cherry-red cheeks than a sky-blue manicure if you ask us. The beloved musician made the combo sing with a couple of rings.
The Black-ish actor went with lengthy acrylics for the night in a cinnamon-brown shade that reminds us of Olive & June's JJ.
Coi Leray took the Skittles manicure approach to her take on a French. Each nail was given a different theme and color. Sadly, we only got a glimpse at them on the red carpet, but we're wishing we could see the finer details of the playful nail art.
Megan Thee Stallion gave the classic French manicure look a Hot Girl twist with shimmery blue lines down the middle of each nail along with half-moons and a silver rhinestone framing each cuticle.
Although her sister, Halle, couldn't join her, Chloe Bailey accepted Chloe + Halle's award for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist with prismatic nails in tow. The letters of her name were even glued onto her opalescent blue mani with rhinestoned letters.
Bri Steves definitely brought the most fun nail art to the BET Awards with cow print painted onto each of her ultra-long tips. She asked her fans on Instagram how they felt about the new set, and obviously, the majority absolutely approved of it.
Rapper Flo Milli flaunted silver square nails on the red carpet. If you look closely, you'll see the lacquer is made up of finely milled glitter for the glitziest, disco ball-like finish.
Our host for the night, Taraji P. Henson, teamed up her thigh-length hair and sky-high lashes with long nails. Not only do the tips come to a vixenish point, but they are also coated in glitter and golden gems.
Jazmine Sullivan proved coffin nails are still on-trend with her peachy-nude look. For those who are curious if the flat-topped-but-curved-sided shape will work for them, you can easily pop on the Static Nails Hot Girl Summer Coffin fake nails for a week before committing to acrylics.
JT and Yung Miami coordinated their nails with a pretty petal pink polish. However, from there, they added their own twists with JT going with pointed tips and pearl adornments along her cuticles to echo her dress. Yung Miami, on the other hair, topped each of her squared-off nails with different bedazzled decorations.
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