2023 was just as much the year of Barbie as it was the year of The Little Mermaid. During the months leading up to Disney’s iconic live-action remake, its star, Halle Bailey, gave us a masterclass in character dressing. Water drop nails, pearl manicures, and aquatic chrome looks were all central to this string of appearances. Now, nearly a year later, she’s reviving one of those looks for awards season.
On March 16, Bailey was in Los Angeles to attend the 55th annual NAACP Image Awards, honoring Black creatives in the entertainment industry. This year, it seemed like the actor or a project she starred in was nominated for every award. She herself was nominated for three awards—Entertainer of the Year, Outstanding Actress, and Outstanding Supporting Actress. However, The Color Purple, which she starred in as a supporting actress, walked away with a handful of awards over the course of the night.
How did she celebrate this huge milestone? By paying homage to one of the roles that got her there with her nail art.
To go with her emerald green Nicole + Felicia Couture gown with a mermaid-esque silhouette, Bailey wore the dewdrop nail look she wore during the press tour—this time with a twist.
When she wore the look in August 2023, Bailey opted for a square shape with the aforementioned dewdrops stacked on top of eachother. This time, however, Bailey’s nails were a medium length and almond-shaped with the dewdrops in a more scattered pattern.
On top of a completely clear, water-like base, each of Bailey’s nails had 3D droplets of multiple sizes cascading down each finger. Some of her nails went lighter on the drops near the cuticles and got busier near the tips, and others were even all the way through. Regardless, the biggest of the droplets usually were off-center in the middle, with smaller droplets forming around them.
Her makeup, done by Christiana Cassell, was a classic glam moment to keep the focus on Bailey’s gorgeous green gown and avant-garde nails. Appearing airbrushed and sculpted, her skin gave a glowing base for her pink-tinged glossy lips to pop. Long, dark, fluttery lashes and a touch of inner corner highlight finished off the look.