Glass nails: what are they?
Korean inspiration
Translucent finish, shine, almost liquid-like reflections… Glass nails, also known as "cat eye nails", are to nail beauty what glass skin is to skincare: a pure, fresh, ultra-glowy look, with the reflective sheen of glass. Inspired by Korean beauty, this new manicure trend quickly took over TikTok thanks to famous nail artists like @heygreatnails or @heluviee. It fits right into the clean girl aesthetic, blending sophisticated minimalism with an obsession for detail. After the soap nails trend, glass nails have also been popularised by stars like Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez, who often sport a silky, ultra-shiny manicure that is flawless right down to the fingertips. Mirror shine, smooth texture, subtle reflections: glass becomes the metaphor for next-generation beauty!
by @heygreatnails and @heluviee.
Chrome, cat eye or crystal: glass nail variations
Glass nails come in different versions:
The chrome nail effect: ultra-shiny, metallic, almost mirror-like. You get it using a mirror-effect powder applied over a layer of regular nail polish or gel polish.
The cat eye nails effect: to create this captivating effect, place a magnet close to the still-wet layer of polish. The metallic particles in the polish will then concentrate to create this illusion of depth. A nail art technique mainly practised in salons or by professionals.
The pure glass effect: a single coat of sheer or slightly tinted natural nail polish applied over a smoothing base coat and sealed with an ultra-glossy top coat, for a manicure that is simple yet sophisticated.
The stained glass nails effect: creative nail art inspired by stained-glass windows, with a play of translucent colours and bold combinations. Still niche, but rapidly growing on TikTok!
(@m.o.n.a.j, @heygreatnails)
How to create your glass nails manicure at home?
Good news: you don’t need to be Hailey Bieber’s nail artist to recreate this manicure trend. Follow the guide to achieve this effect at home.
The classic method with polish and mirror powder
Step 1: Start by applying a layer of Green™ Base Coat or Green Flash™ Vitamin Base Coat, depending on your chosen routine.
Step 2: Next, choose your base colour: a nude shade, or something from the pink or white ranges. Our shades Hortencia, Milky White or Snow look great on both short and long nails.
Step 3: Once your coat of polish is dry, dust a veil of Mirror Effect Powder onto the nail using an applicator.
Step 4: Use a dust brush to remove excess powder. Set your new manicure with a finishing coat using Sunshine Top Coat or Green Flash™ Top Coat (depending on the base colour used) to enhance your nails' shine and perfect your chrome manicure.
@m.o.n.a.j.
Manucurist-style Active layering
Thanks to our Active™ treatment polishes, you can strengthen your nails while keeping up with nail art trends. The secret? Try Active Layering: layer different Active™ polishes and combine their effects to create an original manicure with just the right balance of shine and natural look to stay right on trend with minimalist nails! Here are several ways to achieve glass nails in a snap, with no base coat or top coat needed:
- Fall in love with Active Plump: this collagen-infused highlighter care polish creates a glossy, delicately pearlescent volume. With 2 coats of Active Plump, your nails look plumped and dressed in a delicate shade of pink.
- For a more tinted finish, combine Active Glow Grape, a sheer, lilac-tinted gloss-effect polish, and Active Plump, an icing-sugar-style manicure upgrade paired with a regenerating treatment that short and long nails alike will love.
- Apply Active Plump over a coat of Active Smooth, a perfecting CC Polish care treatment available in 4 shades to tailor your manicure to your skin tone. The ultimate combo for an elegant manicure!
(@look8thenails)
Our tips for perfect glass nails
For beautiful nails that truly shine like glass right to your fingertips, here are our expert tips:
Perfectly prepare your nails
The key to an original, glowy and flawless manicure is nail prep.
Start by filing your nails with our natural nail file to shorten them and shape them to your liking. Next, soften your cuticles with a few drops of Cuticle Remover, before gently pushing them back with a cuticle pusher for a clean nail plate and flawless nail contours. Finally, use the prep file, a fantastic tool to open up the nail scales and boost your polish wear time.
Nourish for lasting wear
Finally, remember to nourish and hydrate your nails and cuticles with Green Oil, ideally applied every evening to make the mirror effect last. Alternatively or as a combo: the Perfecting Concentrate, a nourishing and strengthening care pen that is ideal for reinforcing your nails between manicures!
Among all manicure trends, glass nails embody a new idea of beauty, enhancing your nails right to your fingertips. What makes them so popular? Their versatility. You can opt for a minimalist manicure with a range of nude shades or our Active™ care polishes, or embrace a bold manicure with a chrome or cat eye effect. A manicure trend to make your own, reinterpret and experiment with as you wish, always with that clean & glow touch we love 🤩!
