Tony Tjan doesn’t wear cleats, but he’s preparing for his team of MiniLuxe Nail Designers to step onto the sports field. The founder of MiniLuxe, a Boston-based beauty brand known for its meticulously clean nail studios and high-design sensibility, has long believed that nail care is about more than aesthetics. It's a cultural signal. And now, as nail art finds its footing in the world of professional athletics, Tjan sees a wide-open lane. "We’re witnessing something remarkable," Tjan says. "Athletes are embracing nail art not as a sideline indulgence, but as a key part of how they show up, how they perform, and how they connect with fans. It’s personal branding at your fingertips—literally." The trend isn’t limited to the locker room. MiniLuxe clients across Boston are now requesting nail designs in Celtics green, Bruins black and gold, and even the bold hues of the newly launched Legacy FC. When Boston Legacy FC dropped their season opener campaign—featuring a close-up of game-day nails wrapped around a soccer ball—it wasn’t just a marketing play; it was a mirror of what’s happening in nail studios across the city. "This is a cultural movement," Tjan says. "And we’re here for it." Photo Courtesy of Boston Legacy FC From Cleats to Cuticles Nail art in sports isn’t new—Venus Williams was serving bold manicures back in the early 2000s, and Florence Griffith-Joyner famously made acrylic claws a finishing-line fixture in the late '80s. But what was once the domain of a few bold women is now exploding into a full-on cultural moment, driven by athletes who see nail design as an essential form of self-expression within the otherwise uniform world of team sports. The visual impact is unmistakable. Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson’s flame-colored talons. Soccer phenom Trinity Rodman’s chrome-tipped claws. And now, thanks to the Paris Olympics and TikTok’s close-up obsession, fans are just as likely to zoom in on post-goal nail flicks as they are on the highlight reel. "Uniforms flatten personality. Nail art reinflates it," Tjan says. "We see nails as a storytelling canvas. Whether you’re on a runway, at a board meeting, or about to take a corner kick, your nails can say what your jersey can’t." Men Get in on the Manicure Perhaps the most surprising twist? The movement is crossing gender lines. From NBA tunnel walks to NFL pregame rituals, male athletes are joining the nail wave—and not just with a coat of clear polish. Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers rocked alternating black and white designs last season. British diver Tom Daley often sports pastel hues that match his knitting projects. The UFC's Israel Adesanya painted his nails ahead of a championship bout, saying it helped him channel “focused energy.” And then there’s Caleb Williams—the freshly minted quarterback for the Chicago Bears and an investor in Boston Legacy FC—who has become something of a poster child for nail-forward masculinity. Known for painting messages like “Fight On” or “Let’s Work” on his nails during his USC days, Williams now considers nail art an extension of his identity. Photo Courtesy of US Weekly "It started as a personal ritual. Now it’s just part of who I am," Williams told GQ Sports in 2022. "People remember it. It’s a conversation starter. And yeah, it throws people off—but that’s kind of the point." As traditional notions of masculinity evolve—especially within younger generations of athletes—nail art has become another frontier for breaking stereotypes. And the leagues are catching on. The League-Approved Flex What began as locker room individuality is becoming league-sanctioned branding. Teams like Boston Legacy FC are incorporating nail art into their promotional campaigns, understanding that athletes' off-field personas now carry as much marketing value as their on-field stats. MiniLuxe sees this as just the beginning. Tjan envisions a world where team-themed sets, branded polish collections, and pre-game manicure rituals become as standard as taping ankles or reviewing plays. "Nails are the new tunnel walk," Tjan quips. "They’re front-facing, intimate, and a powerful medium for personal branding." Style, Strategy, and Subtext In a way, this trend is about more than polish. It’s about power. Nail art gives athletes agency over how they show up—visually, emotionally, symbolically. And as sports marketing becomes increasingly personality-driven, every painted detail matters. "We’re finally realizing that sports and style aren’t separate universes," says Tjan. "Athletes have always been style icons. Now, with social media and shifting norms around gender and identity, the manicure is just the next step in that evolution." Whether it’s a nod to the team, a tribute to a cause, or just a favorite shade of chartreuse, the new era of nail art in sports is less about glam and more about intention.