Yep, we know — New York Fashion Week is all about the latest and greatest in the fashion world, but it’s also one of our favorite places to spot emerging beauty trends. Last year, it was all about floating eyeliner, “angel eyes” makeup, and bow detailing, but this year has given us a whole new list of looks to drool over.
A current favorite? Quartz nails. The look was first spotted at Prabal Gurung’s spring/summer 2025 runway show, which was inspired by Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, a Hindu festival celebrating the arrival of spring. To accompany Gurung’s bright, colorful clothing, models wore smoky quartz nails with a nude base.
While chrome manicures were the “it” look of the year for 2023, quartz offers a similar pearlescent finish that’s fresh and new. We have a feeling it may just replace your chrome fixation.
“The nail look created for Prabal was based on the optimism for the future,” manicurist Gina Edwards says in a press release. “The smoky quartz nail is a symbol of spreading light and hope.”
To learn more about the nail trend, including how you can recreate the look at home, keep scrolling.
Experts Featured in This Article
Gina Edwards is a lead manicurist and Kiss brand ambassador. She’s also a member of the PS Council.
What Are Quarts Nails?
Put simply, quartz nails mimic the look of the mineral quartz. They can be done in any shade, from nude to rose, but look great with a neutral palette. Rose quartz, in particular, is often seen as a healing crystal that can aid in emotional healing as well as love and relationships, so if you opt for that tone, your nails will be more than just fun to look at — they can also be a constant symbol of good vibes.
The trend looks good on all nail lengths, from short to long, and it’s perfect for any nail shape.
How to Get Quartz Nails
If you’re looking to recreate the manicure at home, there are a few ways you can do it. For the Prabal Gurung runway show, Edwards started by using the Kiss Bare But Better Nude Drama Press-On Nails ($9), which added length to each model’s nails. (This step is optional, but know that with more surface area, you have more room to add art.) Then, it’s time to add the quartz effect.
“Mix together a nail-art paint in white with your favorite clear top coat to get a soft white consistency,” Edwards says. “With a striper brush, brush a line from the tip halfway up the nail in a ‘S’ motion.” Edwards says to continue this motion until you’ve reached your desired effect, then allow the nails to dry and finish off with a top coat.
Edwards’ design featured a quartz tip on a nude base — a fun take on a french manicure. However, you can opt for more of a quartz-forward design if you’d like. You can also play with different base colors, like tones of blue, green, and yellow.
If you aren’t into creating nail art yourself but still want to DIY the look, we’d suggest purchasing the Kiara Sky Acrylic Press-On Nails in Rose Quartz ($20).
If you want to leave it to the professionals, keep scrolling for some quartz nail inspiration you can bring with you to your next manicure appointment.
