Mirrored Manicures Aready Everywhere Right Now
With Instagram constantly revising its algorithm (finally, chronological feeds are back!), the one thing I can always rely on is some really fricken’ good nail art hitting my feed. And lately I’ve been seeing nail artists like Eri Ishizu doing mirrored manicures, such as the icy stiletto set she recently gave Lizzo.
For those brave (and talented enough) souls who do their own nails at home, I tapped Ishizu to give some pointers, suggestions, and product recommendations to create the perfect metallic nails.
“If you’re using nonwhite topcoats on gel polish, only cure for about 30 seconds with UV light [for] 15 seconds,” she says. Ishizu advises repeating the application process twice to make sure to get the same coverage of chrome powder with gel. Apres makes an array of gel extension products that Ishizu keeps in her nail kit, like Apres Gel-X long Stiletto nails and the brands’ Non-Wipe Glossy Top Gelcoat.
I can’t help but hop on board a good nail trend, and mirrored manicures will have their chance to shine at my next appointment. Ahead, you’ll find a mood board that ranges from minimalistic to intricate designs. Help me decide which one to pick.
Instagram/@staceymachin1/10Silver Smileys
Going with the French manicure trend, @staceymachin created a silver smiley 3D design that literally pops out at you from every nail. This design is seriously helping my seasonal depression with cheery, iced-out, metallic smiley faces.
Instagram/@theset.bykj2/103D Jewels
Both the gigantic metallic teardrops and the cross on the middle finger have me feeling nostalgic about my rebellious teenage phase when I wore earrings with a similar design for a year straight. While I’ve long wanted to try clear acrylic extensions, I’m wondering what the weight of these jewels must feel like on her nails. Either way, this look goes hard.
Instagram/@basecoatandchill3/10Dripping in Chrome
We’ve all seen it: dripping French manicures in an array of colors. But chrome? Now that’s something new. The design reminds me of a hot summer day holding an ice cream cone as your flavor of choice drips down your knuckles. What’s more, @basecoatandchill crafted an interesting play on color: Depending on where the light hits, the nails shine in different hues of silver.
Instagram/@basecoatstories4/10Rainbow French Manicure
Keeping things chic and simplistic, @basecoatstories created a metallic rainbow of colors across her client’s nails. With a pop of color at the tips, it’s as if each finger was gently dipped into a pot of metallic hues. This delivers a clean and universal design that will have no trouble matching an array of outfits—just as long as it doesn’t chip!
Instagram/@tayocuts5/10Hot Pink Natural Nails
Keeping things classic but with a twist, @tayocuts gave her client an electric pink manicure from top to bottom. The result is so shiny it almost gives off a mirrored effect as her natural, square-shaped nails glisten in the light.
Instagram/@Lizzo6/10Icy Stilettos
Let this be a reminder for us all: Lizzo plays no games when it comes to a pointed nail. Eri Ishizu created an icy sharp stiletto manicure for Lizzo when she appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race, complementing the set of iced-out jewelry wrapped around her fingers. To create these daggers, Ishizu used Apres Gel-X long Stiletto extensions, Apres Non-Wipe Glossy Top Gelcoat, and a Japanese nail brand called Ageha’s MAG Powder to create a mirrored finish.
Instagram/@polishedbylolo7/10Double French Manicure
This gold manicure is like nothing I’ve seen before: @polishedbylolo doubled up on the French manicure, creating a gold line underneath the typical tip of the nail. My olive-toned skin can’t wait to have this color beaming across my nails.
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Instagram/@finesseyourclaws8/10Bedazzled Coffin Manicure
I had to take a few close looks at @wuzg00d‘s nails to fully appreciate all the intricate details. This one took time: @finesseyourclaws glued the chrome jewels on, one by one. I can’t get over how well this look came together (note the matching metallic corset). Each nail is so unique that I’m having a hard time picking out which one’s my favorite.
Instagram/@curedbyjae9/10Rose Gold Tips
Neat and tidy is all I can think of when admiring the freshly trimmed and moisturized cuticles, up to the flawlessly curved French tips. For someone who wouldn’t usually put “rose gold” on their list of polish colors to try next, these metallic tips by @curedbyjae have me feeling some type of way.
Instagram/@deannacoles_10/10Colorful Foil Nails
Remember foil nails? These brought back some memories: In the early 2000s, I recall using a clear topcoat that cracked my polish into pieces along my nails, but @deannacoles_ really did something here. My guess is that the artist used colorful foil papers that separated upon application, and then sealed each paper in with a generous topcoat. Up for the challenge?
This story originally appeared on Allure.
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Mirrored Manicures Are Everywhere Right Now
