DND
Fall 2023 has been the season of red. Since the weather started to get colder, weve been painting everything red, from our hair, nails, and lips to our shoes.
We got our first taste of the red obsession this summer with the "Tomato Girl" trend, which introduced us to an affinity for crimson. However, Tomato Girl Summer was just the beginning. As soon as the seasons changed, the color spread like wildfire, and it was suddenly inescapable.
Cowgirl copper hair, Cherry Mocha nails, and cherry red lips are some of the most prolific shades to catch on—but TikTok just crowned an unexpected shade of red as the new queen, at least when it comes to nails. Read on for everything you need to know about TikToks Boston University Red nail polish obsession.
The Trend
On October 17, a TikToker named MK shared a video pointing out how she recently had several women not only compliment her deep red nail polish, but recognize the exact brand and shade name—DNDs Boston University Red ($8)—just by looking at her nails.
The video quickly went viral, amassing over 4.5 million views and over 500k likes. The comments section was full of users professing their love for the shade, and the video caused a surge of popularity for the polish on the app.
This isnt the most surprising of trends to happen in recent memory, especially since other red nail shades have been inescapable in recent months. Just this fall, the aforementioned Cherry Mocha shade, shiny Fire Chrome, red velvet, and plain old dark red have been spotted on everybody from Dolly Parton to Megan Fox and Hailey Bieber.
DND
Named after Boston Universitys actual colors, the shade is a particular polish from DND, which is also the brand behind the trending Cherry Mocha color. Boston University Red is identical to the hue thats on the schools logo and plastered across its campus—a darker red that isnt deep enough to be a maroon, but isnt as bright as a cherry red either. Its somewhere in between, and is both classic and a little edgy, perfect for the cooler weather.
How to Get the Look
There arent any barriers to achieving a Boston University Red look, except getting your hands on the DND polish that bears its name. Truthfully, your best bet is to stick to the original for the highly specific shade, as other reds might not pack the same punch as the viral formula.
With your color secured, its just a matter of following your usual manicure routine.
First, as with any nail look, start by removing any polish you might still have on your nails with nail polish remover. After that, apply some oil to your cuticles to soften, and push them back. Then, cut and file your nails to the desired length before buffing the surface of your beds and applying your favorite base coat.
With your nail prep done, apply two to three coats of the Boston University Red polish and let dry (its available in both regular polish and a gel formula). After its dried, apply a layer of your favorite top coat and a dollop of nail oil for your nails health.
You can stop there, or use the color as a building block for any moody red nail look youve been waiting to try. Make the nails chrome, do a dark-to-darker red ombré like TikToker MK, or use it as an accent nail for festival holiday looks. Whatever you choose, youll be right on trend.