Ombre nails may not be new, but they’re majorly trending once again thanks, in part, to the popularity of the almond and ballerina-shaped ombre Frenchies that celebs like JLo and Nicola Peltz Beckham have been wearing, and the chrome ombre (or chrombre) nails that have risen as a spin off to the now-iconic glazed donut.
It was only a matter of time before the boom in ‘90s beauty references made its way into nail designs and with airbrush nails and French tips firmly back on the agenda, it makes sense that we’ve seen a merge of the two, in the form of ombre French tips. As for the bolder, brighter and more experimental among us, we’ve also seen ombre design nails in pretty pastels, rainbow shades and jewel tones, proving there’s a way to wear it for everyone.
What are ombre nails?
The ombre nails style sees a smooth transition from one shade to another (e.g. from light to dark), to give a fading effect. In the case of classic French tips, this means a seamless movement from creamy white tips, into a barely-there pink, without the traditional crisp contrast between the two. But we’ve seen neon and fruity shades colour-clashed against each other two, and multiple gradients of the same colour merging into each other.
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What colours are best for ombre nails?
This totally depends on your preference. For a classic French ombre, whites, creams and pinks work beautifully. For a gradient ombre, you could transition through one colour, with various shades (e.g. navy blue, mid blue and light blue). Shade families like pastels, or jewel tones work well, or for something bold you could try clashing ombre colour nails in opposing shades.
How long do ombre nails last?
This depends on the polish you choose. If you’re using regular polish it should last around a week or two, depending on how sturdy your nail are. Gel polish will last longer (around two to three weeks) and acrylic or dip nails will last even longer (around three to four weeks).
Can you refill ombre nails?
Yes for acrylic nail ombre, you can refill around the cuticle with the same shade that you used at the base of your ombre.
Can ombre nails be done with gel?
Yes, the process is similar to regular polish, but gel polish is used and then set with a UV lamp to give a longer-lasting finish. If you’re not confident, it’s best to head to the salon and get your nails done by the pros. If you know what you’re doing, you could always try and at-home gel nail kit.
How do you do ombre dip nails?
For those unfamiliar, dip powder nails fall somewhere between a regular mani and a set of acrylics. It’s similar to a gel in the sense that it’s fusing a coloured substance to your nail. But, instead of using UV rays to seal in your polish after it’s been delicately painted on, the colour comes from a pigmented powder. And this technique works really well with ombre since you can layer up different coloured powders to blend into each other beautifully.