Everyone’s Asking For “Chrome French” Nails — The Chicest Upgrade Yet

There is no nail design more classic than the French manicure. The secret to its enduring success? A nail artist’s ability to reinvent the style time and again, keeping it feeling fresh, modern and universally appealing. Whether it’s the tinted “French glow”, the pared-back invisible French, or the chic French fade, there are so many iterations of this classic style to choose from — and the latest look that’s about to take off is the chrome French. 

Taking the classic white-tipped style and elevating it with a pearlescent sheen, it’s a versatile manicure that we predict will be everywhere this spring. Plus, if understated nails aren’t your thing then the chrome French can be easily adapted with a colourful chrome tip or a tinted top coat.

Ahead, we’ve rounded up 12 of our favourite chrome French nail looks to inspire your next manicure.

If you usually opt for a pared-back manicure but want to step outside your comfort zone, a skinny French tip is the perfect way to go. This creation by nail artist Sofia uses a chrome copper shade for an unexpected pop of colour. Try 17 Magnetic Effect Nail Polish, £5, to recreate the look.

Everything about this French manicure has been beautifully executed by Nails of LA, but the tinted top coat takes the whole look to the next level. Try Essie Special Effects Top Coat in Astral Aura, £8.99, to recreate the iridescent pink shine.

From the squoval shape to the pearly pink base and milky white tips, Amalia Theodora’s delicate French manicure is picture-perfect. 

Make like manicurist Amber Peraino and add a little pixie dust magic to your French nails with a subtly shimmery top coat. Nails Inc. Better On Top Glazed Treatment, £9, is great if you’re doing your own nails.

It looks like summer has arrived early with this yellow French look by Sarah Haidar. We love the contrast between the opaque sunshine tips and the natural, chrome-tinted base of this manicure. 

The key to an expensive-looking manicure? Megawatt shine. Nail artist Sofia’s glowy French manicure certainly delivers in that department. Manicurists will use a chrome powder to get this finish in a salon, but the Collection Spotlight Shine Gel Effect Top Coat, £3.99, will give you a similar gleam at home.

While a classic French manicure uses quite a sheer base coat, choosing something with a little opacity like this look by Anaïs means you can create a softer, creamier aesthetic. Barry M Glazed Nail Paint in Blissful, £4.49, is a beautiful creamy pink with a chrome-effect finish.

We talk a lot about French manicures being a minimalist nail look, but the beauty of French chrome is that you can experiment with different colours and finishes. Victoria’s electric pink tips are so striking and the shimmering chrome top coat on the entire nail adds so much dimension.

So simple yet utterly stunning, this milky chrome manicure by nail artist Kailin proves that the smallest of switches — in this case, a chrome top coat — can take a classic French manicure to another level.

While this classic chrome manicure works for every occasion, the pearlescent finish and almond shape created by Margareth means we think this will be particularly popular during wedding season.

An iridescent top coat is the key to the perfect French chrome manicure, as illustrated by this lustrous look at Dluxe Nails. Choose something like Leighton Denny’s High Performance Nail Polish in Super Wings, £12.50, for a holographic finish that changes colour depending on how it catches the light.

A more maximalist approach to the French chrome look, nail artist Sarah combines an invisible French effect trimmed with metallic gold, a matte peach French tip and a slight dusting of chrome in the centre. More is more.