Neutral Chrome Manicures Are The Nail Trend For Everyone In 2024
Just like liquid chrome consumes everything it touches, chrome has overtaken Hollywood — and our social feeds — just in time for a new year of beauty trends. The chrome nail trend isn't new — it popped up throughout 2023 — but it looks to be bigger than ever in 2024 if our For You pages are anything to go by. What makes this trend so special is its versatility. Chrome manicures are more about their shiny, sparkly finish than anything, meaning any nail color can be chrome-ified. Black chrome? Stunning. Classic silver chrome? Effortlessly cool. Rainbow chrome? Even better!
However, just because chrome can be any color doesn't mean it will be in 2024. The predominant mani movement this year is all about neutrals, which may be a side effect of folks reigning in their fashion and beauty. In fact, astrologer Susan Miller's exclusive style forecast for Glam predicts that Jupiter being in Taurus for half of 2024 will mean that looks will become more grounded and less experimental. With that in the stars, you can't go wrong with a neutral chrome mani, and the good news is that "neutral" doesn't inhibit creativity. There are still plenty of ways to have fun with your nails in this
Go for gold with your chrome mani
You may typically of silver when you envision chrome, but chrome manis can be nearly any color, with the nails' finish being the biggest factor of this trend. As such, why not go for gold with stunning, rich-looking French tips? These nails are classy because the rest of the nail uses clear polish — or you could try a pale pink or other neutral shade — but the gold tips offer mystical beauty.
Subtle chrome can be super cute
If you want to go for traditional chrome — as in the silver liquid that conforms to everything it touches — then you can't go wrong with chrome tips or simple chrome nail art. Chrome stars, dots, and other small details go a long way, especially on simple neutral nails since they're allowed to unabashedly stand out. Here, our best tip is to search for chrome nail stickers so that you can achieve this look without spending hours juggling cotton swabs and nail polish bottles.
Literal chrome is classy, too
While you can go subtle with chrome, you may want to go more literal with it other times, and we can attest that this is a breathtaking manicure idea. Chrome is slimy in a super intriguing way, so why not have it snake up your nails as if it were enveloping them? Of course, you'll want to keep the lines pretty clean so that it doesn't look messy, but this look can be done on any nail shape, even if stiletto ones are super striking, so feel free to adapt it to your taste.
Yellow gold is the new rose gold
Rose gold is one of our favorite colors in the beauty world, but 2024 might be the time for yellow gold to have its moment to shine. This look is lighter than traditional gold, leaning closer to paler yellow apples than something darker, like pineapples or sunflowers. This shade is light enough that it's pretty neutral and can go with anything in your wardrobe. Plus, any level of chrome finish — aka shininess — works with this color, so you can be as understated or glitzy as you like.
Light polish exudes elegance
Finally, for a neutral manicure that will truly look good on anyone, opt for super subtle polishes that highlight natural nails with a perfect amount of shine. This is the easiest look on our list to recreate at home, as you simply need your nails (or a set of press-ons in your favorite shade, though we prefer almond for this look) and a sheer polish that offers shine and light coverage. You still want to be able your nail through the polish, as this look is all about enhancing what you have.