First, there were velvet nails for fall and winter. Then there were jelly nails for spring and summer. Now, the two trendy nail finishes have joined forces, bringing the head-turning velvet glass nail manicure to the forefront for 2025. Even if you don’t know what they are from the name alone, chances are, you’ve seen the luxurious high-shine manicures filling your feed—they’re everywhere. Thanks to their widespread popularity and universal appeal, we’re dubbing the velvet glass nail look the must-try manicure to kickstart 2025. Whether you want to lean into DIY or maintain your monthly mani appointment, learn everything there is to know about velvet glass nails below.
What Are Velvet Glass Nails
“Velvet glass nails combine two of the most mesmerizing nail trends into one—shimmery, magnetic velvet polish and a glossy, glass-like finish,” says Nailing Hollywood CEO Mazz Hanna. “The velvet effect creates a soft, glowing shimmer that shifts with the light, while the glassy top layer adds a smooth and reflective finish.”
While many nail polishes feature a glossy finish, Olive & June Mani Trend Expert Olivia Van Iderstine says that a sheer coat of color is key to achieving this trendy look. “Velvet glass nails are a special effect mani that combines a magnetic effect with a translucent coat of color on top,” she explains. “The sheer topper lets you see into the velvet layer below, giving the illusion of velvet glass. The result is shimmery, sophisticated, and has major depth that you can't stop staring at. It is also super dynamic—as you turn your hand, the effect shifts in the most gorgeous way.”
How to Get the Look
You have two options: Go to the salon or stock up on products to DIY.
“Velvet glass nails are typically achieved in a salon using magnetic velvet gel polish layered under a clear builder gel,” Hanna reveals. “The builder gel gives the nails its glossy, glass-like effect and adds durability. While it’s possible to recreate a version of this look at home, the salon version offers the best results because of the professional-grade products and techniques used.”
That’s not to say you can’t try to master glass velvet nails at home—the results just might not last as long. “Getting the velvet glass effect is so much easier than you think,” Van Iderstine exclaims. “You can go the polish route or the press-on route.” If you opt for polish, Van Iderstine says to start with a magnetic formula, use a magnet to manipulate it, add a layer of sheer color, and finish with top coat. If you’re in a rush, grab a pack of glass velvet press-ons (like the Olive & June Velvet Press-On Set or Chillhouse Emerald Tower Press-Ons) and call it a day.
Now that you know how to get glass velvet nails, it’s time to pick a color. Check out 11 of our favorite examples below.
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Emerald Green
How mesmerizing is this emerald green velvet glass mani? Believe it it or not, it took less than 10 minutes to perfect thanks to Chillhouse press-on nails. Consider this a quick and easy route to achieving the trend with no skill required.
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Dark Red
Red nails are a forever fave and, dare we say, we love them even more with a luxurious velvet glass finish. Craft them with any red magnetic polish of your choice–just don't forget that extra shiny top coat as a finishing touch.
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Baby Pink
Excuse us while we sprint to the nail salon to bring these beautiful baby pink velvet glass nails to life. They're soft, feminine, and icy all at once, making them a must-try for winter and beyond.
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Pale Lilac
Going a smidge cooler in tone, we love this pale lilac velvet glass mani. Nail artist Mutsa opted for a creamy lavender polish in between pops of lilac velvet glass to create an abstract French manicure design.
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Cherry Cola
While many velvet glass manicures are crafted with ultra-subtle magnetic shimmer polish, slightly more textured-looking iterations exist, too. Check out this cherry cola velvet glass mani that looks sweet as can be.
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Amber
For a deeper, darker velvet glass nail look, consider a play on 2025's brown nail polish trend. Start with a magnetic aura base using dark brown and amber tones. Manipulate the particles and finish with clear builder gel.
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Cool-Toned Mix-n-Match
We're always into Skittle manis. Instead of ultra-bright spring and summer shades, keep it muted and cool with velvet glass pastels. The colors may vary from nail to nail but the uniform finish keeps the look cohesive.
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Nude
FYI: Velvet glass nails are often a decadent nail look, but they can be neutral, too. Simply start with a magnetic nude or champagne-toned polish, and finish with a glossy clear or sheer nude topper.
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Dark Teal
For a magical velvet glass nail look, look to the sky. This dark teal velvet glass nail idea reminds us of the awe-inspiring colors found in the aurora borealis.
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Purple
Purple polish has been picking up traction and, you guessed it, it looks fabulous with a velvet glass effect. Whether you go with lavender or eggplant, a purple glass velvet mani is bound to turn heads.
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Magenta
The same goes for hot pink. Start with a magenta or fuchsia magnetic velvet base and top it off with builder gel or ultra-glossy sheer polish in a coordinating hue. The best part about this nail trend is that it works on every nail shape, even short almond nails, as seen above.
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Article taken from Byrdie
Article written by Rebecca Norris
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