Try Kerry Washington’s Studded Black Nails for an Edgy Summer Mani

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Kerry Washington has been promoting her new movie Shadow Force out and about in NYC.
For an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, she paired a her look with a textured black mani.

Kerry Washington has had plenty of fun the last few weeks, but she’s also spent plenty of time in a salon chair. I know how long a manicure takes, let alone a textured or nail art-focused manicure, and she’s had a few of them.

On Wednesday, May 7, Washington continued her Shadow Force press tour with a stop at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. As she talked with her hands through their giggly conversation, we were able to get a good glimpse at her latest nail art, which was both dark and bright as can be.

Kerry Washington’s Glittering Black Manicure

While other celebs have been playing into the return of indie sleaze with short, dark nails, Washington decided to play the trend up. Her moody nails were long and almond-shaped, with some fingers featuring a smooth, glossy finish and others bedazzled with little black gemstones.

Washington first wore the mani for another Shadow Force event over the weekend. This is important to note, because this was *not* the design she chose for the 2025 Met Gala (even though her glittering black after party minidress would’ve matched perfectly).

Perhaps she went the press-on route so she could easily swap… or maybe she loved the nail art so much it was worth another couple of hours in the chair to get it back? Either way, I’m into it.

Kerry Washington’s Met Gala Manicure

While I’m not sure who crafted the sparkling black design, I do know who brightened things up in the middle of its wear time. For the Met on Monday, celebrity nail artist Mo Qin created a custom pale shade using Leaf Gel polish. It was hidden under Washington’s gloves for her first Simkhai look, but made its mark with her mini.