Mother-of-Pearl Nails Are Bringing Mermaidcore to Your Fingertips

Mermaidcore has been making a splash on the red carpet. Now the same aesthetic has trickled down to our fingertips with mother-of-pearl nails. The iridescent mani, which mimics the shimmer of seashells, is currently going viral on TikTok—so much so that “mother of pearl nails” has more than 70 million views.

There are several iterations of mother-of-pearl nails, ranging from nail artist Kim Truong's 3D interpretation of the inside of an oyster shell to a dialed-down dichromatic shimmer that changes depending on how the light hits. 

The trend is exactly as it sounds: a pearlescent finish that is subtly glowy with a multicolored effect similar to that of moonstone or opal gemstones. Mother-of-pearl nails sit somewhere between a glazed-donut nail and sheer sparkle nails, both of which are viral mani trends. 

Also cool: Not only is the mother-of-pearl nail trend in the spotlight now, but the fall 2023 catwalks cemented its status as a manicure of the moment. On the Annie’s Ibiza runway, the models' nails were adorned with Essie’s Mademoiselle Nail Polish and topped with Feel the Fizzle for a nail strobing effect that mirrored the highlighter on their cheekbones and mother-of-pearl.

As for how to re-create the look at home, opt for a creamy white, sheer nude, or rosé shade of nail polish, then apply an iridescent topcoat as the finishing touch. If you're going down the chrome nail polish route for your base, do the opposite and apply a matte topcoat instead for a milky finish that stops the look from straying into metallic territory. 

Keep scrolling for our favorite ways to wear mother-of-pearl nails.

High-gloss mother-of-pearl nails

Sheer mother-of-pearl nails

Chrome mother-of-pearl nails

Abstract mother-of-pearl nails

Lip-gloss mother-of-pearl nails

Stiletto mother-of-peal nails

Oystershell mother-of-pearl nails

Opalescent mother-of-pearl nails

This story originally appeared on Glamour UK.