Lauren Murdoch-Smith
You’ve seen the chrome and glazed doughnut manicures all over on social media. Now, a new contender is rising in popularity: the glass nails manicure. What is it? Perhaps an inevitable evolution/extension of the glass skin trend. Glass nails capture the essence of clean girl beauty and minimalism, ticking all the right boxes for a fresh, polished look.
“The idea around the glass nails comes from manicurists chasing techniques to achieve the most glossy, reflective finish they can,” explains celebrity nail technician Harriet Westmoreland. “The glass manicure is more subtle than a classic chrome, and the light reflects like glass rather than how a chrome effect looks—this is the next step on from chrome.”
Thought to have originated in Korea, the effect requires more technical prowess than you might think. “The key to a glass nail is correct application,” Westmoreland points out. “You apply the chrome as a base and then a fairly thick apex [nail enhancement] on top—this reflects the light catching the chrome but it’s more subtle, because the chrome is underneath the clear gel, instead of on top.”
To achieve the effect at home, Westmoreland recommends the following layering system:
- Start with cleaning and buffing your nails.
- File and shape them if you need to. Then, begin with a neutral base, chrome, apex clear gel [the smoothing and strengthening layer you apply on top of or underneath a colour or nail design to help it last]
- Then finally, layer on a top coat. Opt for a sheer, nude, or soft pink polish that will give a translucent effect. Apply one or two coats, allowing each layer to dry in between.
- Don’t forget to apply cuticle oil for a polished look.