Although it’s been several years since Hailey Bieber’s glazed donut nails first graced our feeds, chrome manicures are still a mainstay when it comes to beauty trends. And this summer, the mirror-like finish is getting a subtle update with soft, pastel-like finishes.

Soft chrome nails are “whimsical, reflective, and have an ethereal effect,” says L.A.-based nail artist Sigourney Nuñez. “Think of it like a fairy dust coating on a manicure.” The finish pairs especially well with sheer nudes, baby pinks, buttery yellows, and other pastel shades.

Ahead, everything you need to know about soft chrome nails, including the prettiest color combinations to try and expert tips from Nuñez on how to achieve the look at your next manicure appointment.

What are soft chrome nails?

Soft chrome nails are a subtle take on the classic chrome manicure. Rather than delivering a bold, mirror-like finish, they create a more pearlescent sheen that’s still reflective without overpowering the polish color.

“The anchor of a soft chrome nail is in the base color,” explains Nuñez. “It's typically something soft and pastel, and the color can lean sheer or really milky,” giving the manicure its dreamy effect.

“I'd say the most popular soft chrome nails are the classic glazed that have a baby pink or sheer nude as a base,” she adds. But the trend also works beautifully over other soft pastel shades for an iridescent finish (more on that, below).

How to achieve soft chrome nails?

For those who prefer to DIY their manicures, “you can top your base color with an effects top coat that has that muted metallic and glaze look,” Nuñez explains. Brands like essie, Londontown, and Olive & June all make top coats that create a chrome-like finish without requiring chrome powder.

If you're using gel polish, whether at home or at the salon, the process is slightly different. Start by applying your chosen pastel or milky base shade. “You'd then top the base color with a non-wipe top coat and dust it with a glaze-type of chrome powder,” says Nuñez. “Then you'd seal it with that top coat again.” The result is a soft-focus, luminous manicure that looks like it's been lightly dusted with fairy shimmer rather than coated in a full metallic chrome.

Soft chrome nails inspo:

Baby Blue

Glossy blue oval nails on a hand against a light background.
@overglowedit
Hands displaying glossy light blue nail polish, wearing a gray sweatshirt and striped pants.
@glossy.studios
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Butter Yellow

Two hands showing long, pointed nails painted in a pale yellow color, with a green plant in the background.
@nailsby_hal
Long, shiny yellow-gold nails displayed against a dark sweater, resting on a table with a book and lamp in the background.
@nailsbysmf

Soft Pink

A hand with long, pointed pink nails wearing multiple gold rings.
@karin.nailedit
A hand with long, shiny pink nails wearing a silver ring, resting on a furry white sleeve against a wooden surface.
@nailsbyzola

Pistachio Green

Hands with green nail polish and a sparkling ring, wearing a cozy cream-colored sweater.
@dndgel
Close-up of a hand with long, glossy, greenish-gray nails and gold rings, wearing a white knit sweater.
@thehotblend

Muted Lilac

Lavender chrome manicure on a hand with elongated nails against a neutral background.
@overglowedit
Lavender nail polish on long, almond-shaped nails, holding a grey sweater against a denim background.
@nailsbysmf

Vanilla Milk

soft chrome vanilla nails
Elegant hands with long, glossy nails and a sparkling ring on the ring finger against a plain white background.
@thehotblend

Meet the Expert

  • Sigourney Nuñez (@nailartbysig) is a Los Angeles-based licensed nail artist and content creator. She’s worked with brands like Pleasing, Olive & June, and more.

Why Trust Cosmopolitan?

Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo who covers all things nails—from the latest polish innovations to trending designs. For this story, she tapped nail artist Sigourney Nuñez for her expertise and insight, and found all the best soft chrome inspo.

Headshot of Jasmine Hyman
Jasmine Hyman

Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.