Oil-Slick Nails Are The Dramatic, Iridescent Manicure Trend Of The Moment

Oil-slick manicures are taking the internet by storm with their bold, shifting colors and unique shine. You can channel your inner trendsetter with the nail colors poised to rule 2023 with hundreds of oil-slick techniques and combine the new look with other manicure trends. Sometimes also called oil-spill nails, this look can be captured many different ways, each as captivating as the last. Getting on board with this fad while it's popular on social media platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok, can give your fresh set its 15 minutes of fame, but what really matters is that you're going to fall in love with this trend the second you try it out.

Keep an eye out for your favorite celebrities rocking this cutting-edge look as well as your local nail salon's incoming polishes and foils so you can rock this look with confidence. With so many different ways to wear the oil-slick style, you may feel a little overwhelmed by the choices, but we've got your back. Here are 25 great oil-slick looks to show your nail technician so you can get a set as beautiful as you are. Can't pick just one? Try combining styles for an infinitely distinctive manicure that your friends are absolutely going to drool over.  

If the heat signature nails weren't hot enough for you, these oil-slick flames will certainly do the trick. The way the oil-slick shifts colors just as real fire does is simply mesmerizing, and the clear gloss on top makes it all shine. Try this style in different colors to really capture that flame look, or try a contrasting base color to make the oil-slick pop. This style also works in reverse if you're not into the faux French-tip look; start the flames at your cuticles and have them fan down the nail instead. This especially works for almond-shaped nails. 

This pearl-slick look captures the oyster, ocean, and pearl all together in a gorgeous swirl of color. Look closely and find that a glitter polish is thrown into the mix to help the whole thing shine. For a more pearlescent look, tone down the colors or add more cream and pale pink. The oil-slick application will give your nails the chromatic shine that real pearls dazzle with, so it's the perfect way to capture your favorite ocean accessory. To glam it up a little, add 3D pearls to an accent nail or two to tie the set together. 

These fall-themed sparkling oil-slick nails are hard to pin down as one color or the other. Are they green? Orange? Something in between? Whatever color they are, they're beautiful, and you certainly don't need to wait until autumn to try them out. Oil-slicks are perfectly complemented by heavy applications of sparkle, so don't be afraid to go all-out with the glam. These nails will wow you whenever you move your hand, as they change color depending on how you look at them, stunning you time and time again. 

Applying black lines to an oil-slick look gives the image of beautifully cracked stained-glass windows. This look toes an edgier line in sharp contrast to the typical soft look that stained glass offers. If you're looking for bold without getting too complicated, this is perfect for you. Glam it up a bit with a few crystal appliques, or add a top coat of shiny clear gloss to make the look appear more glass-like. Or, to make this look less bold, try silver lines instead of black — or do gold to play more into the stained-glass window vibe. 

If you thought the wet stripes of an oil-slick ombré were beautiful, try the entire nail and make wet droplets that trap twilight dewdrops in time. The 3D clear gloss truly brings out the shifting night-sky colors in the oil-slick for a look that's as ethereal as it is unique. Tone it down by applying it to one or two accent nails, or take it a step further by adding a shimmering gloss over the matte base. This look pairs perfectly with silver rings and bracelets, definitely something to try. You're likely to be wowed by the results.

We've got plenty of reptile-inspired oil-slick nails, so don't worry, because there's more to come. Madagascar's Be Nosy panther chameleon is described as having hints of vibrant blues, purples, and greens, making the nails the perfect imitation of the famed reptile. These chameleon nails are certainly as much of a show-stopper as their namesake with shimmering hints of green, gold, and purple. For an even more reptilian look, try a spiral design like that of a coiled chameleon tail or even a hint of scales. 

Strawberry milk nails are the pastel pink manicure trend that's perfect for spring, and adding the shimmer of an oil slick to the look only makes it that much more desirable. The pink base coat brings out the shimmer of an oil-slick, highlighting blues, golds, and purples. To elevate this look, try some gold or silver flakes or a few gems. If that's too much, this look also pairs perfectly with a white French tip or a mix of cream colors. Best of all, it matches perfectly with both gold and silver jewelry, making this look super versatile.

To add some extra wow factor to your oil-slick nails, try stars. This mixes up the wet droplet look with a collection of stars and glitter preserved in a clear acrylic nail, tying in perfectly with the small gems on the ring finger. This combination style heavily highlights the blue tones in each nail while subtly bringing out the green hues in the oil-slick. If this look is a little much, take out the drip effect and the gems; a matte oil-slick accent nail is a treat in itself and will stun all on its own. 

An oil-slick drip is a look with edge, craft, and fun. The nearly 3D application of the polish here makes your nails look wet and alive, while the nude base keeps them from being overwhelmingly dark. Much like with the oil-slick flame look, changing up the colors here can completely change the way this manicure looks, so don't be afraid to experiment. An ombré base can also give this set an even greater set of movement, depending on how you apply it.

If the dragon's egg look isn't exactly what you had in mind for your dark fantasy-inspired nails, these dragon claws may do just the trick. The 3D matte black is an edgy look you'll want to try out, but if the full set is a little too much for you, take some inspiration from the dragon's egg style and try a bejeweled accent nail. This works great with a green oil-slick base, but if you want to lean a little heavier into goth style, a black oil-slick base will do just the trick. 

Finding whimsy in everyday life can sometimes be difficult. Do you remember being at the carwash as a kid and watching the oily, soapy water float by on the asphalt and feeling a sense of magic? Bring that to your adult life with these foil-chip oil-slick nails, which perfectly encapsulate that enchanting childhood moment with elegance and charm. The matte nude base brings out the rainbow shine of the oil-slick foil, while the chipped look gives the impression you're peeling back the everyday veneer of the real world to reveal the fantasy of a dream lingering just beneath.

In a still photo, these aurora borealis oil-slick nails look almost too pretty to be real. However, with movement, their true charm comes out. When these nails aren't hitting the light, those chips of iridescent color look completely clear. As soon as any sort of light hits them, however, they light up in brilliant color. This manicure really is a fairytale brought to life, and it pairs perfectly with any accessory. While these nails may fly under the radar at first glance, they're sure to elicit gasps as soon as they're in motion.