How to Do Chrome Nails at Home?
Can you do chrome nails at home? You betcha! This trendy high-shine manicure with a mirror-like finish is taking the catwalks by storm. Now is the perfect time to learn how to do chrome nails.
Don't worry; it's not that complicated, and you can easily achieve this look with the right tools and technique. Specifically, if you can paint your nails with polish, you can do chrome metallic nails.
Let’s talk about the supplies you need.
What You Need to Do Chrome Nails
It used to be hard to buy chrome powder unless you were a professional. Now, it’s much easier, plus you can get liquid chrome polish that doesn’t even need a nail lamp to cure.
Here’s a list of the basic supplies you’ll need to complete a manicure with chrome nails:
- Manicure tools to trim, shape, and buff your nails plus take care of your cuticles.
- Cuticle oil for after the manicure.
- Liquid chrome kit if you won’t be using chrome powder.
- Set of chrome classic powders with 6 colors that create light or dark effects depending on the color of the polish underneath.
- Double colors solid chrome mirror pigment powder - 06 gold and silver powders with an enchanting holographic rainbow effect.
- Aurora chrome powder gives a pearlescent finish to light colors and a glossy chrome finish on dark shades.
- Gel base and top coats no-wipe gels with a glossy diamond top coat that enhances the metallic sheen.
- Nail art brush or makeup applicator sponge if the chrome powder doesn’t include one.
- Nail brush or old makeup brush to remove excess powder.
- Nail lamp like the one below for curing gel polish.
Lavis UV/LED Nail Lamp
This tool is a game-changer in the world of nail care. It's a powerful nail lamp that's designed to cure gel polish and builder gel faster and more perfectly, saving you valuable time and energy. With its easy-to-use timer settings and motion sensor technology, you can sit back and relax while it does all the hard work for you. The countdown timer on the screen ensures that you never over-cure your nails, while the perfectly placed LEDs and mirror finish guarantee that your nails always look flawless. And the best part? This battery-powered nail lamp is portable, so you can take it with you wherever you go.
How to Do Chrome Nails at Home
Firstly, you need to decide whether you want to use a liquid chrome polish or chrome powder. Both have their advantages, but the powder is easier to control and gives a more intense shine. It works best with gels. However, liquid chrome doesn’t require a nail lamp to dry.
You'll also need a base coat and a top coat whether you use gels or nail lacquer. In the case of lacquer, the base color can be your base coat.
STEP 1: Start by prepping your nails, removing any old polish, and filing them into the desired shape.
STEP 2: Apply a base coat and let it dry (lacquer) or cure it under the UV lamp.
STEP 3: Then pick up a small amount of chrome powder with the applicator and rub it into the nails. You may have to repeat this part a few times until you achieve an even metallic shine.
STEP 4: Sweep off the excess powder with a soft brush.
STEP 5: Brush on a glossy top coat and let it dry or cure it (gel polish).
Tips for the Perfect Chrome Nail Manicure
It's essential to ensure that the nail bed is smooth with each layer. The smoother the surface, the better the chrome shine will be. Use a no-wipe gel polish to avoid any stickiness that could disrupt the flawless finish.
For a more dramatic chrome effect, use black polish or a very dark shade as the base coat under the chrome powder. For a less metallic gleam, use white or a neutral polish shade.
How to Do Chrome Nails with Eyeshadow
It’s no lie – you can do chrome nails with eye shadow, highlighter, or blush. The only requirement is that the makeup needs to look shimmery or metallic, to begin with.
We did an experiment with a clear lacquer and bronze eye shadow. It took several coats of makeup and two coats of top coat and we still weren’t satisfied, but it came close. A fast-drying top coat would have made the manicure go faster. And we discovered that the eye shadow clung to the nail better when the polish was still a little tacky. Unfortunately, this created a slightly bumpy texture that took even more effort to smooth out.
In the instructions above about using chrome powder with gel polish, the suggestion is to use no-wipe gels. If you want to use makeup instead of chrome powder with gels, the recommendation is the same. Although it’s hard to get the makeup to cling to the nail at first, a textured surface will mess up the results. It’s better to fully cure the gel and remove the tacky layer before applying the chrome polish.
Also, you’ll see that the cuticle and skin around the nail will darken because of the makeup. Don’t worry about that because it will wash off after you finish drying or curing the top coat. Just brush off the excess and don’t paint over the cuticles with the top coat.
In summary, if you’re in a hurry to do chrome nails but don’t have powder, try using makeup. But you’ll surely get much better results with professional chrome powder.
What’s in Chrome Powder?
No, chrome powder isn’t actually chrome – that would be toxic. Instead, it’s a blend of metallic pigments and very tiny pieces of glass. The finer the texture of the powder, the easier it is to get the perfect sheen of polished chrome.
Conclusion
Check out what’s new and trending for nails in our new arrivals. We also have great deals that save you money on all your nail care needs. Remember, we offer free shipping on orders over $100!
