Don’t get me wrong. There’s something timeless about the sheer manicures that are flooding mine and my fellow editors’ Pinterest feeds right now. Between the TikTok-viral soap nails (read: translucent baby pink) and natural-looking hues decorating the fingertips of half the chic New Yorkers I see in a day, there’s no denying the star power of the minimalistic manicure in 2025.
As a lover of all things edgy and unique (and a lucky attendee of New York Fashion Week, where I get a peek behind the curtain at beauty trends that will later trickle into the mainstream), I have my eyes set on an ultramodern trend that’s slowly but surely creeping its way into the public eye. Enter the molten-metal manicure. Not to be confused with the shimmery, metallic nail polishes of the ’90s and aughts, this earthen, ore-inspired style is what you can expect to see detailing the tips of today’s fashion-forward folks in spring 2025.
This expertly welded trend offers a new textured manicure style that’s carefully forging a place in the beauty history books this year, and experts would have to agree.
What Are Molten-Metal Nails?
To put it plainly, the molten-metal manicure is a style of nail art that incorporates elements of natural metallic materials. Celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec previously told Who What Wear that “3D designs in new, organic shapes and chrome layers” would be a rising trend in 2025, and these alloy-inspired styles have me ready to strike while the iron’s hot. (Get it?)
Whether it’s the claws detailed with titanium crests at Kim Shui’s F/W 25 show or droplets of chrome-casted gel emulating melted iron, there are glints of silver and gold flashing on the tips of everyone in the know everywhere I turn.
Why Are They Trending?
Nobody wants to be a carbon copy of someone else in 2025, which might explain why we’re finding inspiration in carbon fiber instead. According to Kandalec, this style of nail art is about individuality and customization at its core—fewer people are reaching for single nail polish shades these days.
“Layering is a trend of its own right now,” says Kandalec, a nod to the varying types of nail art mediums trending nowadays. She explains that since this style of art includes materials like sculpting gel, chrome dust, and other results of human handiwork, each nail will be different from one another, lending itself to the natural nature of this look. “It also piques curiosity because when layering products like 3D gel, chrome, and cat eye, the possibilities are seemingly endless, so it’s a surprise each time,” she adds. From drips of molten metal on shiny French tips to otherworldly wavy designs, there’s no shortage of inspiration when it comes to this trend.
If you’re itching to cast your claws in molten metal, you’re in good company. Megan Fox is a known fan of silver chrome details and organic shapes, and Kate Hudson was one of the latest to wear golden 3D tips during award season.
While this trend is somewhat of a commentary on the fashion and beauty community’s endless search for individuality these days, experts can also agree that this look is just plain fun. “I think this trend is seeing a rise because it’s double eye-catching with the shine of the chrome and textures,” quips Coca Michelle, the purveyor of many of the sculpted silver manicures WWW beauty editors observed during NYFW. It goes to show that no matter how demure the popular manicures of an era may be, there will always be hunger for a little flashiness.
