Abstract Metallic Nails Are Taking Hollywood By Storm. Here's Why
One of the hottest manicure trends popping up among Hollywood stars is something a little bit different from the classic French manicure: We're talking abstract metallic nail art. Like the abstract swirl designs that have become popular but different enough to add some shine for the holiday season, these nail designs are fun and totally versatile, as Elite Daily points out in its showcase of the trend.
With or without color in addition to the metallics, long or short — the choices are endless, which is likely to give this trend some serious staying power. It was even featured during an August 2022 segment of "TODAY with Hoda & Jenna" (as available to watch on YouTube), showing viewers how easy and exciting it can be to break from their usual manicure routines. Nail artist to the stars Tom Bachik was featured on "TODAY," where he explained about abstract nail art in general, "So, for this look, it's just having fun with your shapes. They don't have to be perfect. They don't have to match."
A celebrity manicurist pioneered the look
Per Elite Daily, manicurist Zola Ganzorigt was the first to get the abstract metallic look trending. As shown in the highlights on her Instagram account, Ganzorigt's clients include Hailey Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, and Sydney Sweeney, the latter of whom was described by Elite Daily as one of the celebrities to have hopped on the abstract metallic manicure trend. Elite Daily also mentions celebrity manicurist Thuy Nguyen as helping to popularize the trend, and Nguyen's Instagram account features some equally fun abstract looks.
Take, for instance, Nguyen's look on actor Lana Condor's nails, as shown via Instagram and pictured above. A hint of gold metallic can be seen brushed onto Condor's nails alongside more prominent brushstrokes of black and white nail polish. Meanwhile, over on Ganzorigt's Instagram account, a manicure on Sydney Sweeney's nails features a gold swirl on her index fingernail that almost makes the blue polish underneath it look like a gemstone.
Recreating the abstract metallic look isn't difficult
There are plenty of ways to make the abstract metallic nail trend work, and that's good news for anyone who wants to recreate the look for themselves. Metallic nail polishes in any variety can be swept on top of other colors, and perfection isn't a must. One nail art tutorial posted to YouTube by OPI Professionals, featuring short brushstrokes of a gold polish in its design, could also provide some inspiration for those looking for a place to start.
Meanwhile, manicurist Britney Boyce has predicted to Bustle that the metallic look will shift to evoke a more punk image as time passes, saying, "It'll evolve to be even more punk and with more texture to it — think spikes and chains." Boyce appears to favor this approach, as shown in an Instagram post of a manicure in which the tips of the nails look similar to the spiked ball on a flail.