White nails are a common—make that, classic—choice for summer. If you’re looking for ways to modernize the recurring manicure trend for 2024, though, we have news: Silver has joined the chat. White and silver nails are trending on social media, with dozens of different ways to rock the look.
Whether you prefer subtle or bold nail looks, iridescent or glittery manis, ahead, find over a dozen white and silver nail ideas worth trying out in the weeks and months to come.
Stars and Hearts Nails
For a less glittery silver and white nail look, consider an iridescent pale gray base paired with white nail art. Nailing Hollywood nail artist Hang Nguyen created this emoji-inspired mani. To recreate the design, Nailing Hollywood nail artist and CEO Mazz Hanna suggests using Gelcare’s Daisy Nail Polish ($19). “It’s a beautiful bright white gel polish,” she says. “Dazzle Dry is the best for at home manicures since it applies and removes like regular polish but wears similar to a gel. It can last anywhere from seven to 14 days.”
Simple Silver Flower Nails
If, on the other hand, you’re craving all the glitter, opt for a silver velvet manicure, like this one by Nailing Hollywood artist LaTara Haye. While she didn’t share the exact polish she used for the look, Hanna says you can score a similar mani with the Gelcare UV Gel Nail Polish ($22) in the shade Silver Velvet. “Magnetic polishes are a great way to add some depth to your manicure,” she says.
Bedazzled Celestial French Tips
How pretty are these glossy white almond-shaped French tips? The silver celestial gems take the mani to the next level, don’t you think? Of course, the key to such a striking French mani is to achieve crisp tips. To do so, try the Orly Half Moon Nail Guides ($6).
Speckle Glitter White Nails
For a simple silver and white mani, start with a white base and top it off with holographic glitter. Or, opt for a polish that does it all. This look was created with the ILNP Boutique Nail Polish ($10) in the shade Cake Pop.
Pearl-Dotted Silver Velvet French Tips
We also love the idea of silver French tips with a classic sheer pink base. To incorporate white into the mix, add pearl accents to the equation. Nail artist Dayanna I. Sapiens created this head-turning look using the Lights Lacquer 3D Pearl Nail Art Stickers ($7).
Chrome Swirl Tip Nails
Hoping for a futuristic silver and white French mani? Consider a sheer milky white mani with elevated chrome swirl tips, like this one designed by Nailing Hollywood artist Rachel Joseph.
(Psst: Hanna says the Gelcare UV Gel Nail Polish ($20) in the shade Coconut Milk will get you a similar base look. “Gelcare Coconut Milk would work well as a base under silver chrome nail art,” she says. “It’s a sheer ivory shade designed to enhance the beauty of your natural nails. The sheerness of Coconut Milk would balance out the pop of chrome, making it a perfectly balanced sleek and futuristic manicure.”)
Silvery White Glazed Donut Nails
Glazed donut manicures continue to be a popular request at salons near and far. To create the look at home, start with a sheer white gel base and top it off with chrome powder, like the Sulily White Pearl Chrome Nail Powder ($8).
Silver Foil Outline French Tips
If you’re looking for a way to accentuate plain white nails, try a high-contrast grape outline French tip filled with silver foil polish. This mani was created using OPI Nail Lacquer ($12) in the shade Funny Bunny, paired with Zoya Professional Lacquer ($12) in the shade Becca and Holo Taco’s Lunar Unicorn Skin ($13).
White and Nude Hourglass Nails
How stunning is this Art Deco-inspired silver and white mani? You can DIY this look with a fine-lining nail art brush and Bio Seaweed Gel ($18) in the shades Jellybean and Snow White. Complete the look with a rhinestone at each cuticle.
Chrome Mushroom Nails
For a funky silver and white nail look, consider copying celebrity nail artist Betina Goldstein‘s chrome mushroom mani. She painted this creative nail look by hand using an ultra-fine nail art brush.
Chrome Flame Heart Nails
Edgy, Harley-inspired street style seems to be popping up on sidewalks left and right. Match your mani to the trend by opting for a milky white base topped off with silver chrome flame heart nail art. ICYWW, Joseph used Bio Seaweed Gel ($18) in the shade Milkshake for the base.
Iridescent Silver Gemstone Nails
Feeling like a pretty, pretty princess? Match your mani to your mood by requesting an iridescent silver gemstone nail look at your next salon appointment.
Milky White Silver Crystal Nails
Here we have a simple silver and white mani that’s bejeweled yet easy to DIY. Start with a sheer white base—here, Linen ($13) by Cirque Colors is at play. Once your base is dry, use nail glue to adhere a stack of five rhinestones from the cuticle up toward the tip of each nail. Finish with top coat.
Bedazzled Opalescent French Tips
For a more ethereal DIY silver and white mani, opt for an opalescent base with white tips. Then, glue tiny silver rhinestones at will.
Silver, White, and Nude Daisy Nails
For a subtle silver and white statement, accentuate a nude skittle mani with daisy nail art in these hues. While the flower centers look silver at first glance, Sapiens actually created them with the Lights Lacquer Das Expensive Nail Polish ($12), which is a blend of silver and gold flecks.
Chrome Flame Nails
If you likes the Harley-inspired silver chrome nail art but want to nix the cutesy heart details, here’s an example of how it can look. Pretty fierce, no?
Ethereal Black Star Nails
We love how this mani pairs a lazy-girl sheer silver swatch base with more intricate nail art. FYI: You can use a dotting tool to create the stars. Create a dot or two on each nail, then drag four points out of each. Finish with white dots.
3D Chrome Bow French Tips
If you love the coquette trend as much as you love the egdy early-aughts resurgence, you’ll want to take a peek at these silver chrome bow French tips. No doubt, this eye-catching mani will require professional skill to recreate.
