Future Chrome was everywhere in the late 90s and early 00s, from Basta Rymes and Janet Jackson’s “What’s It’s It Gonna” music videos to Britney Spears’ teen photo shoots. Perhaps it was the excitement of a new millennium approaching. Perhaps it was all the clever techniques that came out. (Did you mention Britney posing with a robot dog?) And our claws didn’t spare from the shiny silver trend.
My obsession with Chrome Nails began when I saw the poker scene in the kin trap. It was Annie (Lindsay Lohan) vs Harry (Lohan), the latter with blue lacquer with nail finish. To quote another Rohan masterpiece (average girl), I was the woman I owned. I spent about 80% of my time trying to hunt down that exact, hard candy polish in my small hometown of Greenville, Mississippi. The other 20% of the time I prayed someone would bottle the exact effect held by the foil on the back of the Dentein Ice Gum Packet.
Brands like Sally Hansen have launched Chrome Nail Makeup Lackers, which were recruited for salon techniques and red carpet events. “Chrom Nail has a very editorial vibe like liquid metal at the fingertips,” says Jin-sung manuscript and founder Jin-Chen. “This look is about its ultra-reflective, mirror-like finish.
By 2011, the Minx Nail Laps worn by Beyoncé in the 2013 “Drunk in Love” video hurt a chrome itch that I couldn’t shake. However, what was left to my own devices (hair dryers, nail files, orange wood sticks) was rarely as refined as if there was a set applied by a professional. Over a decade later, Chrome Nails is back so much, my nostalgic mind sings towards the songs on my repeated Y2K playlists.
Haley Bieber may have provided a gateway to molten metal territory by popularizing glazed doughnut claws in 2022, but celebrities like Addison Ray and Lisa have been using chrome accents, and DIY methods continue to flood #Nailtok. “At the time you had the classic silver chrome or gold, but now you have a variety of chrome powder shades,” says Sarachu, a Los Angeles-based nail artist. “And it was only applied to the entire surface of the nail. Now, chrome powder is used for the French language, which shines on the tip of the nail, on top of 3D art, and as an ombré.”
Today’s chrome nails are much easier to maintain than the 2000 nails. “When Chrome first came out, preventing chipping for some nail technologies was a challenge,” says Garinda Zimenez, manicurist and global education manager for OPI. “Because of this, many technicians have avoided using it. It was frustrating to see a dissatisfied client coming back with Chip Chrome.” However, thanks to the improvements in Poland and topcoat formula, it’s easier than ever to jump on the trend. We’ve come a long way, baby.
What colours do I need to choose for my Chrome nail polish?
Chrome is the equivalent of plain white tee. It’s flattering when paired with most colors. “Even things like butter yellow or bright orange can look unexpected and fun,” says Sojin Oh, a 3D nail artist based in Los Angeles. “Chrome has a way of turning colors into something impressive in dimensions.”
