Shimmery nails will never go out of style—they just keep getting better. Simple glitter nails gave way to glimmering lacquers, magnetic velvet polishes, and iridescent chrome powders. Now, these styles have evolved beyond monochromatic looks to technicolored finishes. And when you combine a shimmery base with a rainbow of hues, you’re left with a holographic nail look.
“Holo nails are created using either a holographic powder or polish,” says celebrity manicurist Fleury Rose. “It may be layered over different colors for various shimmering effects.”
Unlike other similarly dynamic designs, holographic nails allow you to get a dimensional look with very little effort. "It’s trendy because it’s a quick, and easy way to upgrade your mani when you want eye-catching shine," says Rose.
Ahead, you can shop all the different ways to get a holographic manicure at home.
Holographic Laquer
Holographic lacquer, or regular air-dry nail polish, is one of the most straightforward ways to achieve a this look. “Mooncat Polish has amazing holo polish,” says Rose. It has 15 holographic polishes in a range of base colors and three polish sets. KB Shimmer also carries a holographic top coat that “can be layered over any color which makes it very versatile when experimenting with this trend,” says Rose.
Holographic Press-Ons
Press-ons are undoubtedly the easiest way to try out this trend. And with so many brands like Chillhouse, Glamnetic, and Olive & June upping the press-on game with so many chic styles, the options are endless.
Holographic Gel
Gel polishes take the holographic look to the next level using velvet, aka cat eye polishes. These are polishes that contain magnetic glitter, so that when you hold a magnet over uncured polish, you can move the glitter to create a super dimensional finish.
Holographic Powder
Remember holographic stickers? Holographic powder is the way to get a look closet to that nostalgic memory. "With a gel manicure, usually a holo powder is rubbed into a special top coat, much like a chrome nail," says Rose. To get the look, apply your base color of choice, cure, add topcoat, and cure for exactly 30 seconds. Then, rub on your powder, use a fluffy brush to remove the excess powder, add another coat of top coat, and cure for 60 seconds.