Open up this article because you need a fresh set to “shell-abrate”. Oyster nails, the maximalist cousins of shell nails, continue making waves with shimmery finishes and pearly accents on sculpted shapes. Some designs dive into hyper-realistic undersea fantasy while others go abstract or dreamy, and they all bring an unexpected taste to the table. These luxe textures, chrome accents, and pearl clusters feel like nail art treasure. If you’re looking for a mani that’s elegant or maybe a little eccentric, crack this article open and scroll through the looks.
Oyster Nails Ideas
Pearls on the Half Shell
Here’s an oyster nails look that meshes with current trends. It starts with a nude base that flatters the natural skin tone. Then it moves on to textured chrome accents and pearls for a futuristic feel. If you’re going to invest this much detail into a manicure, start with durable rubber base gel for a long-lasting look.
LDS Bouncy Blush Collection - Rubber Base Gel
Super Realistic Oyster Nails
Are you familiar with Sojin Oh, also known as sojinails? She created this oyster manicure for Allure Korea. This talented artist is currently based in Los Angeles but is sought out worldwide by fashion houses and celebrities. Her clients include Versace, Rihanna, and Lil Nas X plus many, many more. Many of her most famous manicures reflect her deep love of the natural world.
Iridescent Oyster Nails
It’s time for a little oyster trivia. Did you know that every oyster begins life as a male, but most transition to female when they are around a year old? Each one can produce and fertilize millions of eggs at a time. It only takes six hours for the larvae to develop, then they settle into an oyster bed. This prolific reproduction rate is great news for anyone who loves to eat oysters.
If you’re into producing beautiful nail art, it’s essential to have an assortment of chrome nail powder colors on hand. Browse our store for mesmerizing shades including Aurora chrome powders.
Aurora Chrome Powder
Chrome Oyster Design
There are different shapes and sizes of oyster shells because the oyster bed where they live influences how they grow. So, you could say that oysters are shaped by their communities. Each oyster has an impact on the way the ones around it grow.
You could say the same thing about nail artistry. We scroll through Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration and scan each other’s nails at the salon and the supermarket. Each artist that pushes the boundaries has the potential to shape a new trend.
Abstract Oyster Nails
We had no idea how much of an impact oysters have on how clean the water is. A single oyster can clean 50 gallons of water each day by filtering it through its gills. It consumes bacteria, plankton, ammonia, nitrates, and all sorts of tiny debris that would otherwise discolor and poison the water around it.
This BIAB manicure was inspired by powerful little oysters. The abstract design reminds us of how they filter and create clarity.
Builder Gel
Copper, Gold, and Pearl Oyster Nail Art
You may already know that pearls form inside oysters, but this is actually a very rare event. Fewer than a single oyster in ten thousand manages to produce one. It’s one reason why truly natural pearls formed in the wild are so expensive compared to laboratory-cultivated ones. It feels appropriate that tiny pearls are embedded in liquid gold for this design.
Hashtag Foodnails
Do these oyster nails look good enough to eat? Humans have been dining on oysters for at least 164,000 years. But it wasn’t until the Roman Empire that it became big business to raise oysters in underwater farms. They were considered a delicacy for the aristocracy and the wealthy.
Many centuries later in the 1800s, the tables were turned. Poor people in England ate oysters instead of beef, which they couldn’t afford.
If you’ve always wanted to try sculpting nail art, now’s your chance. Poly gel is the perfect way to get started. Unlike acrylic, it’s odorless and won’t dry until it’s cured in a nail lamp. It comes premixed and ready to use, plus it’s compatible with other nail products and easy to decorate.
Lavis Poly Gel
Hint of Oysters
If you compare shell nails to pearl nails and oyster nails, you can see the differences. Although each one may have an iridescent shine, shell nails resemble their namesake. Meanwhile, pearl nails can be as simple as a coat of pearly polish. But oyster nails tend to combine all of these effects with pearls, too.
The United States farms five species of oysters and each one looks quite different from the next. Large Atlantic oysters look like teardrops compared to small, round Kunamoto oysters. The ones from the East Coast will taste saltier compared to the West Coast’s sweeter, fishier flavor.
Secret Oyster Nail
Pay attention to the rather plain looking index finger. It’s got a marbled pattern with a matte finish. But when you flip it over, there’s a pearl! Wouldn’t this be a conversation starter at your next social event!
When it comes to eating oysters, they make for an excellent nutrient-packed meal. They have lots of vitamins, minerals, and lean protein. If you plan to drink wine with oysters, one chef recommends champagne or fruity white wines from northern Spain or southern Italy.
Elegant Oyster Nails
Give yourself artistic license for a sleek ocean-inspired manicure like this. Add the merest suggestion of the oyster shell with chrome swirls and dab on a few water droplets and pearls.
And once you’ve finished your meal of oysters, keep the shells for your garden. You can grind them into fertilizer to help your veggies, fruits, and flowers thrive.
Opal & Pearl Gel
Conclusion
Now that we’ve explored oyster nails ideas, is there a style that stood out for you? Will you create a textured, futuristic homage to the humble oyster or choose a minimalist approach that hints at the treasure within? Shop our store for the supplies you need to set sail on your next manicure adventure.
Sources:
https://www.oneearth.org/five-astonishing-facts-you-didnt-know-about-oysters/
https://seafoodsociety.hk/blog/10-facts-about-oysters-you-might-not-know/
https://www.thewinechef.com/blog/pearls-of-wisdom-7-facts-about-oysters-and-what-to-drink-with-them
