Earlier this year, we told you all about metallic makeup – the cool-girl makeup trend that has exploded since. Now, for all you metal heads out there, metallic nail designs have begun to blow up too.
It’s not difficult to see why, with the sunshine (hopefully) here to stay, metallic nails are the perfect manicure designs for catching the light and bringing compliments with every glint. Whether you’re going for a subtle shimmer or you’re after full chrome drama, there’s more than one way to get into metallic nails.
11 pearl nail designs for an ethereal summer mani
Gallery11 Photos
By Grace McCarty
Minimal mani lovers will be most interested in cat-eye nails – particularly in classic metallic shades like gold, silver or platinum – or DIY at home with shimmery finish nail polishes like Chanel Le Vernis – Phénix or Manucurist Green Nail Polish – Utopia for a luxe feel that will catch eyes with every flourish of your hands. You might also decide to keep things simple, using a classic metallic nail polish like Essie Gel Couture – Glazed Chrome.
Speaking of chrome, chrome powder can be used to elevate any nail polish and create an unexpected iridescent effect – this works best with contrasting colours like gold nail polish combined with a blue chrome finish.
If you’re after a more maximalist manicure, molten metallic nails are the meeting point of punk and chic, as if you’ve dipped your nails into liquid silver or gold before heading out the house. You might also like to play with different metals for a striking two-tone effect, which works particularly well mixing mediums like cat-eye and chrome.
Interested in dipping into the metallic nail trend? Here are some of our favourite nail polishes to try.
Chanel Le Vernis – Phénix
Nailberry L’Oxygéné Oxygenated Nail Lacquer – Glamazon
Manucurist Green Nail Polish – Utopia
Essie Gel Couture – Glazed Chrome
Manucurist Green Nail Polish – Metallic
Nailberry L’Oxygéné Oxygenated Nail Polish – On Cloud Nine
Essie Nail Lacquer – Ethereal Escape
If you’re after some more inspiration, we’ve rounded up our fave metallic nail designs below to save before your next nail appointment.