We Tried TikTok's Viral Velvet Nails Trend & Instantly Fell In Love With Its Cute Coquette Look

Your manicure's finish can make all the difference. Whether you choose a mirror-like gloss or 3D gummy nails, playing with texture can instantly breathe new life into just about any nail polish color, and if you ever need a dose of nailspiration for your next set's effect, look no further than your social media apps. The latest mani trend making waves with beauty fans from TikTok to YouTube is none other than velvet nails. This aesthetically pleasing polish variety includes microglitter and metallic pigments, mimicking the look of plush velvet fabric. But while they may appear soft and cozy enough to cuddle up to, velvet nails feel slick to the touch. To further amplify their shine, you can even transform many velvet polishes using the pull of a magnet for a glimmering cat eye mani.

After seeing so many gorgeous velvet sets on our feeds, we knew we had to give 2024's latest hot nail trend a try. The magnetically charged finish is available in regular or gel lacquers. We opted for the latter, using the help of Red Carpet Manicure's Velvet Magnet Special Effect Polish, which retails for $10 at Ulta. Now, without further ado, we'll show you how to quickly make the switch to luxurious velvet nails at home.

To get the velvet nail effect, you'll need the proper polish. You can never go wrong with quiet luxury nails, so we went with a basic manicure for our initial test run. If you'd like to use a traditional lacquer formula, ones like Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in The Queens Velvet, which costs just $6, should suffice. Otherwise, you can try a gel polish like Red Carpet Manicure's Velvet Magnet Special Effect Polish.

We purchased the brand's Velvet Magnet Special Effect Polish in Feeling Electric, a sumptuous rose gold shade. If desired, you can use Red Carpet Manicure's gel base coat as a first step for better adherence to your nails. Either way, you'll definitely want to finish the look with the line's LED Gel Curing Light to fully cure (dry) your gel polish.

True to its name, Red Carpet Manicure's Velvet Magnet polish comes with a magnet, complete with a tiny wand for building beautiful cat-eye designs in a flash. We loved how opaque and rich Feeling Electric looked as we painted on our first coat. We're used to shimmery nail polishes being quite sheer, but that wasn't the case at all with Red Carpet Manicure's Velvet Magnet line. We were left with beautiful, even coverage that felt and looked absolutely perfect, making us fall in love with this trend instantly.

Velvet nails look radiant enough on their own, but some of us like to go the extra mile with our manis. So, if you're looking for a surefire way to make your nails stand out from the crowd, why not try some coquettish cabochons or 3D nail decals? Feeling Electric's pinkish-gold hue provides the perfect backdrop for sweet charms and pearls, though you can experiment with any color velvet polish you'd like.

For a balletcore or coquette-inspired mani, we suggest sticking with cream or white-colored pearls. You can shop these flatback charms in classic rounded shapes or look for pearly 3D designs like hearts, stars, or moons. If you're adhering gems or pearls to regular nail polish, like Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri, we suggest using a thick topcoat like China Glaze's For Rhinestones Only. But don't let this product's name fool you — the heavy-duty sealant and adhesive can affix just about anything to your nails, and its staying power proved beyond impressive. 

Our favorite way to wear velvet nails was hands-down with pastel French tips. Getting the look with a gel formula is slightly trickier than your run-of-the-mill nail polish, but it's certainly doable. After your nails have cured, select a gel polish in a pastel, cream, or white shade and paint a crisp, clean line along the tip of each nail. We chose a peachy beige pastel to complement the rosy tones of Feeling Electric, but you can even experiment with contrasting colors for an exciting new look.

For those using standard polish instead of gel, simply wait for the nails to set completely before attempting a French mani design. We know how boring it is to watch paint dry, so be sure to pop on a favorite show or YouTube channel to pass the time while you wait. Next, pick your French tip color — for a jewel-toned berry shade like Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri in The Queens Velvet, we'd suggest a magenta, hot pink, or crimson accent. With your new nails painted to reflective perfection, all that's left to do is find a velvety accessory to match. Then, you'll be just as smitten with this trend as we are.