Blind your enemies with some shiny metallic nail polish! Chrome nails have taken over the Internet with their glamorous high shine and futuristic vibe. The trend refers to either shiny base nail polish flecked with a metric ton of shimmer for metallic nails, or a more uniformly shiny polish that gives mirror nails – nails so shiny and silvery that they look like little mirrors.
Whether you’re aiming for mirror nails or a more textured metallic look, we’ve got you covered. These are the best metallic nail polishes on the market, with formulas that dry quickly and take ages to chip.
1. Nails Inc. Foiling In Love Nail Polish in Space Space Baby
This chrome nail polish is inspired by the cosmos. It is highly pigmented and extremely saturated, for total coverage in just two coats, and has a subtle lilac shift that is impossible to resist. The brush hugs the nail completely, for a quick application. Buy it from Sephora!
2. Essie Gorge-ous Geodes Nail Polish in Of-Quartz
If the idea of holographic nails strikes your fancy, this is a great metallic nail polish to buy. Of-Quartz is a blindingly shimmery metallic tone that leans towards gold with a pink and blue shift. As you move your hand in the light the color changes, making for a mesmerizing effect. The formula is long-wearing, with a thick brush that makes applications easy. You can get it at Ulta.
3. Christian Louboutin Beauty Metalinudes Nail Color in Irisa
This is guaranteed to be the most dramatic nail polish bottle you will have on your nightstand. The shade ‘Irisa’ is a metallic nail polish color that matches the stiletto-inspired cap of the polish perfectly, making for a memorable combination. The shade is glamorous, but note that it goes more silvery once applied to the nails. One swipe is all you need with this saturated formula. Order it from Net-a-Porter!
4. Essie Mirror Metallics Nail Polish in No Place Like Chrome
If you’re aiming for the mirror nails effect, this is the chrome nail polish to pick up. It’s a perfectly silver shade that goes on smooth for maximum reflectiveness. This polish is quick-drying and long-lasting, with a chip-resistant formula. Find it at Ulta!
5. Nails Inc. Sweet Almond Nail Polish Powered By Matcha in Mayfair Market
Warm metallic nails can feel more glamorous in some instances. Mayfair Market is a stunning rose gold perfect for spring nail art that is extra flattering for those with warm skin tones. The formula is chip-resistant and reinforced with matcha green tea and almond oil to strengthen and protect the nails. It is available at Sephora.
6. Orly Breathable Treatment + Color in Soul Sister
If your nails need TLC, this is the chrome nail polish to pick. It has a nail-fortifying formula that doesn’t require a base or top coat. This Orly nail polish is reinforced with argan oil and vitamins to fortify the nails while ensuring that they are not too constricted. The shade itself is a pinky metallic that has a mirrored effect in certain lights. Shop it at Ulta!
7. Smith & Cult Nail Polish in Ceremony of Secrets
This gorgeous, chip-resistant metallic nail polish combines vintage vibes with high-intensity shimmer. The shade is an antique rose flecked with micro-fine silver sparkles that feels timeless and feminine. The formula is very fuss-free, with amazing opacity. Purchase it online from Net-a-Porter!
8. Deborah Lippmann Leave A Light On Gel Lab Pro Polish in I Like It Like That
If you love the look of a gel polish, opt for this cream chrome nail polish formula. It’s an easy alternative that protects the nails and stays put for days on end. This shade, in particular, is an iridescent turquoise with a violet and pale blue shift for the days when you want to feel like a mermaid. It is quite sheer, so you can wear it alone or layered over a more saturated polish. Pick it up from Sephora!
9. Sally Hansen Color Therapy Nail Polish in Burnished Bronze
This ultra-nourishing metallic nail polish formula will reinforce your nails with a blend of strengthening oils and proteins. It is a non-fading polish in a gorgeous bronze shade that gives a warm and romantic effect. It is also a great choice for autumn manicures. It is sold at Ulta.
10. Ella + Mila Dream Nail Polish in Mirror Mirror
This vegan nail polish is free of a few of the often-vilified typical nail polish ingredients, so it’s great if you have sensitive skin or a preference for natural products. Mirror Mirror is the ideal shade for mirror nails, giving a smooth, silvery sheen, in which you can almost see your reflection. You can grab it from Ulta.
11. Marc Jacobs Beauty Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Polish in 110 Gatsby
This luxurious chrome nail polish from Marc Jacobs is a champagne metallic tone that exudes glamour. It’s the kind of metallic nail polish that would fly under the radar in more professional environments, while still offering the shimmer and intensity you crave. The shade retains a wet look even once dry, thanks to patented bonding agents. Get it at Sephora!
12. OPI Nail Polish in Worth a Pretty Penny
Of course, we had to include at least one OPI shade in here! This is the perfect copper color, as it looks just like a shiny, brand-new penny. It goes on soft, with a bit of a gold shift, so it’s great for romantic looks or for autumn. This chrome nail polish is nice in manicures that also include pinks or rose tones. Like all OPI formulas, it is chip-resistant and non-fading. Buy it from Ulta!
13. Essie Nail Polish in For the Twill of It
Feeling a little edgy? This is a dark chrome nail polish that makes the nails positively lethal. At first glance it looks like a gunmetal gray, but as you move it in the light it shifts to showcase green and purple nail polish tones. The formula is exceptional, going on the nail very opaque even in one coat, and lasting without chips for at least a few days. It’s available at Ulta.
14. Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Game of Chromes
If you’re a sucker for pop-culture relevant nails then you have to pick up this metallic chrome nail polish. It is a neutral golden tone that really captures the shine and opulence of the metal, with a silver shift that’s hard to look away from. This best-selling polish has a gel-like formula that is very long-lasting. You can find it at Ulta.
15. China Glaze Nail Lacquer with Hardeners in Rainbow
If your nails are a little delicate, choose this chrome nail polish because it is infused with nail hardeners. Rainbow, in particular, is a sheer metallic shade that has a beautiful iridescence. Use it in your metallic manicures for a pearly vibe. It is quite chip-resistant, and would work well both as a top coat and on its own. It is sold at Ulta.
Photos via Ulta, Nordstrom