5 min read
Nail trends move fast, but a few looks have stayed at the top of the request list all year. Most of them are easier to get than they look: they are finishes and details added to a regular gel set. Here is what is trending at Tiffany Nails and Spa in Chantilly, what to ask for, and what each add-on is listed at on our menu.
Velvet cat eye
Cat eye gel contains tiny magnetic particles. After the color is applied, a magnet pulls the particles into a bright streak or a soft velvet shimmer that shifts as your hand moves. The deep jewel tones (emerald, burgundy, sapphire) are the most requested, and a black cat eye reads as liquid metal under evening light.
Ask for it over a builder gel set for the glossiest result, or as a single accent nail if you want a hint rather than the full effect. Our Add On Cat Eye or Chrome is listed at $20 (20 min) on top of your gel service.
Chrome, from mirror to aura
Chrome powder is rubbed over cured gel to create a mirror finish. Silver and gold mirror chrome are still everywhere, but the softer versions are winning this season: pearl chrome over a milky base, rose gold over nude, and the aura look, where a glow of color sits in the center of each nail and fades to the edge.
Chrome shows every ridge, so a smooth base matters. Builder gel or a well-prepped gel polish gives the best mirror. It is the same $20 add-on as cat eye.
Milky French and the clean look
The French manicure never left, it just softened. The current version uses a sheer milky or blush base with a thin, bright white tip on an almond or soft square shape. It works at any length and goes with everything, which is why it is the most repeated look on our Instagram.
Variations worth asking for: a colored tip (sage, cherry red, chocolate), a double line, or a micro French on short nails. Add On French is listed at $20 (20 min) on any manicure or set.
Short, shaped and glossy
Not every trend is about length. Short almond and short square sets in one perfect nude or a sheer pink are having a moment, especially with builder gel for strength. The trick is in the shaping and the cuticle work, which is where a salon manicure earns its keep. If you are coming from long nails, our Nail Cut Down listing ($10, 15 min) reshapes what you have before the new color goes on.
Small details: dots, hearts and 3D
A little hand-painted detail goes a long way: dots in a contrasting color, tiny hearts on a French tip, a single flower on the ring finger, or a raised 3D drop in clear gel. Our Nail Art Design add-on covers two fingers for $10, which is exactly the amount of art most of these looks need.
How to ask for it
- Bring a photo. A screenshot from Instagram tells us shape, length, finish and color in one go.
- Start from your set: builder gel, Gel-X, dip or a gel polish change, then add the finish you want.
- Say which fingers. Accent nails on the ring finger or thumb look intentional and keep the cost down.
- Ask what will last: your technician will tell you if a finish suits your nail length and daily routine.
Make it last
Chrome and cat eye are sealed under a top coat, so they wear like any gel. Keep cuticles oiled, avoid picking at the edges and book your fill before you see lifting. When you are ready for something new, our take off listings remove gel, dip and Gel-X cleanly so the next trend starts on healthy nails.
Browse Nail Extras and Removal for every add-on with its listed price, and see the latest sets on our Portfolio page.