The chrome nail trend is still going strong, and one of the chicest combos has arrived through @thehotblend: vanilla chrome nails. Pairing a soft off-white shade with chrome gives an updated, elegant look to the classic glazed design. Here, I did mismatched chrome French tips with a sprinkling of flower accents for a look that’s perfect for everyday casual, wedding season, or special date nights.
Evolving from the glazed doughnut nails trend, vanilla chrome uses white chrome powder over off-white nail polish. The result? A versatile neutral nail color that’s anything but basic. Scroll on to see how you can recreate this creamy, dreamy nail art yourself.
Vanilla Chrome Nails
Supplies:
- Gel base coat
- Neutral gel polish for the french tip base
- Off-white/beige nail polish
- No-wipe gel top coat
- White chrome powder
- White gel polish
- Gold gel polish
- Dotting tool
- Thin nail art liner brush
- Gel lamp (for curing)
Instructions:
- Nail prep is a critical first step to ensure a clean base for your design and a long-lasting manicure. Take the time to clean up any dry skin from the nail beds, push back the cuticles, and lastly, wipe the nail plate clean of residue and oils so the gel will adhere properly.
- Apply a thin layer of base coat and cure.
- Apply 2-3 coats of a neutral shade to the pointer and middle fingers.
- Apply 2-3 coats of an off-white shade to the remaining fingers and cure.
- Using the off-white shade, create your French tip on the pointer and middle fingers and cure.
- Apply a thin layer of no-wipe gel top coat to the entire hand and cure.
- Using a white chrome powder and applicator of choice, rub a small amount of powder onto each nail. If you want a stronger chrome effect, go in with a thin second layer of powder.
- Using a soft brush, brush away any excess powder from the nail. You can also use a cotton pad and some alcohol to remove any excess powder from around the nail. (An alternative option is using peel-off latex around the nail prior to chrome application.)
- Now, going in with your dotting tool and the white gel polish on your middle finger, place 3 dots in a semicircle towards the lower right base of your nail, and a small dot in the middle of all of them to serve as the center of your flower.
- To create the petals, draw a line from one side of a dot to the center of the flower using a thin nail art liner brush, and repeat on the other side of the same dot so both lines connect. Repeat this process to complete the petals.
- Moving to your ring finger, you’ll create two flowers towards the top of the nail. The process is similar to the previous flower – first place 5 dots in a circle for the start of the petals, and another flower that will be to the left of your initial dot placements (this flower won’t have all 5 petals). Draw in the petals so they all meet at your center dots. Once all flowers are complete, cure.
- To finish off the flowers, use a gold gel polish and a dotting tool to place 3 dots, one in the center of each flower, and cure.
- Finish with a gel top coat and cure.
Did you try this manicure? Show us your vanilla chrome nails on Instagram or TikTok @lulus–and head to our White Edit for more creamy, dreamy styles!
Melanie Graves is a self-taught nail art enthusiast who creates colorful, easy DIY designs for the fellow home manicurist.
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