Summer is a time for bright, bold manicures. If you prefer more neutral colors, though, you can always add intrigue to your seasonal nail look by simply switching up the finish. That’s where brown chrome nails come into play. “Brown chrome works beautifully with both long and short nail shapes,” says manicurist and Nailing Hollywood CEO Mazz Hanna. “It’s a gorgeous, rich sophisticated look.” It’s also warmer than your typical silver chrome manicures, making it a wonderful nod to the hot days that earmark the end of summer. Suffice to say, we’re all about brown chrome nails for August 2024 and the start of fall—and you might be, too! Ahead, check out over a dozen brown chrome nail ideas worth recreating at your next nail appointment (or at home for all you DIY queens!).
Glossy Copper Chrome Nails
Let’s kick things off with a solid brown chrome nail look. Depending on the products you use, you can achieve a true mirrored chrome finish or more of an ultra-fine velvet glitter effect. According to Hanna, the best way to achieve a brown chrome manicure is by starting with a gel base in the brown shade of your choosing. After curing the polish, use a foam eyeshadow applicator to rub brown chrome powder on each nail. Seal it in with top coat and cure to cement the look.
3D Bronze Swirl Tips
French manicures have always been in style but this summer season, the classic nail art seems to be everywhere. To give it a warm update for the end of summer, Hanna says to opt for brown chrome tips. If you want to really make them stand out, consider adding builder gel to the mix for a 3D effect like the one above.
Brown Chrome Skittle Nails
If you don’t want to rock a full brown chrome nail look, Hanna suggests pairing brown chrome details with complementary nude polishes. In the example above, you can see how ashy neutral tones pair with champagne chrome nail art.
Reddish-Brown Chrome Nails
Remember: Chrome is a trendy keyword in the nail world—you don’t have to be super literal with it. “I feel like the word ‘chrome’ is now being used to describe a shimmery and pearlescent finish on nails,” says nail artist Sigourney Nuñez. “And because of that, we’ve seen a wave of unique finish toppers.” This means that whether you opt for a velvet, cat-eye, or ultra-shimmery glitter polish, you can achieve a similar chrome look at home. Case in point: the reddish-brown chrome mani, above.
Abstract Brown Glitter Swirl Nails
You don’t have to cover your nails in polish from cuticle to tip to create a head-turning brown chrome nail look. Just look at this more minimalist shimmery wave design. You can DIY the look using a fine-lining nail art brush.
Holographic Gold Nails
This brown chrome nail look borders somewhere between black, green, and gold. It’s an intriguing color that works as well for the end of summer as it does peak fall. Halloween nails, anyone?
Iridescent Brown Cat Eye Nails
Here’s another versatile brown chrome nail look. The rich dark brown manicure features a cat-eye polish that shifts from brown to mint to burgundy, giving it a magical effect fit for summer and beyond.
Soft Brown Velvet Nails
Prefer pale shades? This soft brown velvet nail look will make you swoon. DIY the look with a magnetic polish in a similar shade.
Gold Chrome Cartoon Nails
Gold falls in the brown family, so this 24-karat mani is a must in out book. We love the black outline and accents, making for an almost cartoon appearance. Of course, gold chrome looks stunning all on its own.
Chocolate Marble Chrome Nails
Can’t pick a single color? Opt for marbled brown chrome nails. You can get the look with a water marbling technique or by simply painting a few dots of color on each nail and swirling them around with a fine-lining nail art brush.
Burgundy-Brown Holographic Shimmer Nails
Depending on the light, this polish shifts from burgundy to brown, and the ultra-fine glitter finish gives it a chrome effect. It looks decadent, no?
Espresso Velvet Chrome Nails
Meanwhile, this velvet chrome nail look shifts from dark chocolate to amber, making for a rich, sweet end look. While it’s a polish that looks gorgeous on all nail lengths, it looks especially stunning on longer tips, as it offers more space to sparkle in all its gilded glory.
Magnetic Brown Velvet Nails
This brown chrome nail look takes on a textured appeal thanks to how it’s magnetized. Wear it for the end of summer or earmark it for all your fall fun.
Multichrome Brownish-Green Glitter Nails
This multichrome brownish-green manicure nods to the earthy warmth of the end of summer, as well as the cozy ambiance of fall. For a picture-perfect end result, touch up your edges with an angled brush dipped in acetone.
Ombre Gold Chrome Star Nails
We love the look of this ombre gold chrome manicure. The white star nail art makes it look even more magical.
Brown Chrome Almond-Shaped Nails
Take a moment to stop and stare at these holographic brown chrome almond-shaped nails. Where many shade-shifting chrome nails are actually some form of velvet polish, you can recreate these with a multicolor chrome powder atop a mahogany base.
Sandy Brown Velvet Chrome Star Nails
The star inversion of this sandy brown velvet chrome mani stopped us in our tracks. Admittedly, a manicure this detailed will likely require professional skill to recreate. You know the drill: Take this photo as reference for your next nail appointment.
Silver and Gold Chrome Wave Nails
If you’re a sucker for all metallics, don’t feel like you can only lean into brown and gold chrome. Here’s proof that a groovy layered metallic wave mani can look pretty spectacular.
Gingerbread Shimmer Icing Nails
Tired of summer? Count down to Christmas and the festive season with this creative brown chrome gingerbread nail look.
