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A manicure made for long, sunny days and specifically golden hour, gold nail art is the look your fingertips are waiting for. “The trick to making this look work is to keep it minimal,” says manicurist Michelle Humphrey. “The gold should be an accent. Think of it as an accessory to your manicure.”
Whether you opt for a French tip, half moon, ombre, swirls, stars or abstract shapes, the idea is to make your gold accent the jewel in your (metaphorical) manicure crown, rather than painting the whole nail a full-on gold shade. If you are doing it yourself, Humphrey’s top tip is to find a shade that’s not too yellow or glittery (we love CND Vinylux in Get That Gold), and that offers a gold chrome finish rather than anything metallic, which often results in unwanted brush lines on the nail. Pair it with a contrasting but neutral shade, like nude, black or white. “Gold will always look effective on a negative space, which is where the natural nail hue is incorporated into the manicure,” says Humphrey.
Application is key, too. “Be sure to buff the nail plate before you apply, and use a ridge-filling base coat to help smooth the nail plate if you need it,” she advises. “Shimmering shades highlight an uneven surface, so apply just one coat of gold and avoid using anything that has gone thick and gloopy.”
As for those who will be flocking to a salon when the time comes, “This trend was made for you”, says Humphrey, who recommends requesting a gold chrome powder. Nail professionals can really make a trend like this one shine – it’s their expertise that can really take the look to the next level. A salon appointment will involve an application of chrome pigment to nails, creating a mirror-effect finish. “It’s then burnished into a special top coat and buffed to a high shine,” explains Humphrey. “You can also opt for gold leaf or a foil manicure. Your nail professional will apply [either one], and encapsulate it into the gel.”
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This article was originally published on Vogue
