Move Aside, Milky Manicures—19 More Interesting Ways to Wear Glazed Nails in 2026
Chrome dust and shimmery nail polishes continue to dominate.
If you’ve been on the internet in the last three years, you probably associate the words “glazed donut” more with a manicure than a bakery item. We can thank Hailey Bieber for coining this prismatic finish that elevates any nail color, shape, or design with its icy shine.
“Glazed nails, also known as Hailey Bieber nails, have that soft, shiny glow that’s just like a fresh glazed doughnut,” explains celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec. The process, popularized by Bieber’s nail artist, Zola Ganzorigt, involves gel nail polish and chrome dust to achieve that dimensional finish. “A pearly shimmer over a neutral base instantly makes even the simplest manicure feel special,” Kandalec adds. “They’re the kind of nails that never go out of style and always look sweet and effortlessly pretty when the light hits them.”
With the right finish, these nail art ideas are endless. Scroll on for 19 celebrity-inspired glazed nail designs to screenshot before your next appointment (plus ways to achieve this glassy look at home).
19 Glazed Nail Ideas
Glazed Donut
We can’t possibly talk about glazed nails without mentioning the mouthpiece for this manicure movement. Bieber’s candyfloss nails swept the internet a couple of years back, inspiring beauty lovers all over the world to shellac their nails in gel and chrome dust powder—her combo famously revealed by Ganzorigt via TikTok as OPI’s GelColor in Funny Bunny topped with salon-only chrome powder (OPI Tin Man Can).
While the salon technique requires gel and chrome dust, you can still re-create this look at home. “CND makes a color called Negligee that is sheer and iridescent,” says celebrity manicurist Vanessa McCullough. “If you apply a coat of this color over a shade, it will give a chrome-like, glazed effect to the nails.”
Sunny French
The butter-yellow craze is so not over. If you want to add a touch of sunshine to your tips, try this “sunny French” manicure with an eye-catching chrome powder or top coat. “Many brands now make topcoats for regular polish [with] different finishes that can imitate a chrome finish, but the look is best achieved with chrome powder,” McCullough explains. This final layer takes a classic, colorful French to the next level.
Engagement Glaze
Have an inkling that your partner is about to ask a particular question? Just in case, save this opalescent, daintily stoned set for your next salon visit. You can achieve this pearly shade with two coats of the Londontown Lakur in Powder, gems optional. (Though we love the thought of matching your new bling.)
Kylie Khrome
Kylie Jenner was another celeb to embrace the glazed donut trend after Bieber set things in motion. Ganzorigt created a vacation-ready version on Jenner using a velvety, glazed base coat before coating each nail in a different color of the chrome dust rainbow.
Polka-Dot Prisma Glass
Polka dots have been taking over the fashion scene for quite some time, so it’s natural that they made their way to onto the manicures of Sabrina Carpenter and Dua Lipa. “With the rising trend of polka dots, I love the look of small white polka dots over a glazed nail,” notes Kandalec. Copy this chic strawberry glazed set with pink gel, a dotting tool dipped in white polish, and white chrome dust.
Chrome Seashell
One of the most modern iterations of this trend is glazed accents. Instead of coating the whole nail in reflective chrome powder, ask your nail tech to paint the details with shimmery polish onto a regular coat.
Glazed French
“I’ve been loving a classic French tip underneath a glaze—it’s subtle but adds that ‘double take' moment,” says celebrity nail artist Queenie Nguyen. Seal your manicure with a topcoat (and make sure it’s dry!) before rubbing white chrome dust over the entire nail for a dreamy, elevated finish. If you want to go the natural polish route instead, Nguyen recommends Orly’s shimmery white shade Sea Spray.
Mother of Pearl
The 3D nail trend isn't going anywhere, and we love the trend-stacking happening with this ethereal set. Glazed nails look especially cool under organic builder gel shapes, like Nguyen’s glamorous set above.
Galactic Glaze
We’re not exaggerating when we say that this set is out of this world. Start with a navy blue nail polish base, like Essie’s Caviar Bar, and rub turquoise chrome dust on top to get this icy green-blue hue. If you want to take things to the stratosphere, paint a few swirls with a silver gel liner to achieve this artistically alien set.
Summer Sunshine
A sweeter take on the sunny French, this set plays with three different elements: fully painted nails, French tips, and dainty nail art. We love how chrome looks when it's used sparingly—only detailing the fully shellacked nails. Kandalec recommends the Lights Lacquer Wedding Veil Aurora Nail Powder “for that classic pearly glow.”
Icy Blues
We can’t stop thinking about this ice-blue set. This combo gives tropical vacation and holiday vibes all at the same time, making this baby blue a solid choice year-round. To get this exact look, layer The GelBottle Inc. polish in Double Denim and Iced Chrome.
Glazed Pedi
Though glazed nails are most associated with lengthy manicures (thanks, Mrs. Bieber!), this trend is equally as chic on your toes. This exact prismatic polish (Chanel’s Longwear Nail Color in Songe D’été) is available in stores only, but you can add this pink version (shade Dazzling Artist) to your basket right now.
Mod Chrome
This mod nail art takes the polka-dot trend to a whole new level. While the base and green polka dots are painted with regular polish, the golden polka dots are the reigning chrome details. If you don’t want to go full glaze, this is a great (and unique!) way to try this trend.
Champagne Gloss
Glazed nails speak for themselves. You don’t need to don a bright base color to make a statement, so try layering nude chrome polish or white chrome dust over your favorite neutral for a touch of elegance that works for everyday. To elevate this look for fall, try Nguyen recommends swapping a light neutral base for “deep chocolate nails with a champagne glaze.”
Natural Glaze
Signature manicure, anyone? This neutral shade looks extra pretty with a candy glaze on top. To re-create this look, apply two layers of the Manucurist Quick-Dry Nail Polish in Hortencia and dust chrome powder on top. We love how this elevates natural, short nails, but it looks equally stunning on almond extensions, too.
Marriage Material
For a more classic iteration of the rhinestone and pearl-dripping engagement nails above, try this gorgeous white glaze. Achievable with thin layers of a chrome-finish polish (think OPI’s Glazed n’ Amused), this elegant shade is a great contender for the day you say “I do.”
3D Glaze
This futuristic green chrome look from celebrity manicurist Sabrina Gayle is an eye-catcher. To get this bright beetle hue, paint your nails with dark green gel and rub a lime chrome powder on top. If you want to get extra fancy, re-create Gayle’s 3D accents with sculpting gel and an LED curing lamp.
Candy Cane Coating
Okay, so they’re not technically candy canes, but don’t these glazed nails make you crave the holidays? Paint your nails with festive accent colors, and maybe even a few ribbons and bows, to dress up this chrome set for the snowy season ahead.
Emerald Ice
“Glazed nails can be transformed into any seasonal nails or trendy colors just by changing the base color,” says Kandalec. Try layering a deep green polish, like Essie’s Off Tropic, with white or gold chrome powder to re-create the metallic sheen of this limited-edition (and now-discontinued) emerald elixir from OPI’s Wicked collection, Ozitively Elphaba.
How to Do Glazed Nails
- In the salon: "Nail artists usually start with a smooth, neutral base, anything from sheer pinks to soft nudes, then layer a fine, white chrome powder over the top," says Nguyen. "The trick is buffing it in so it melts into the polish instead of looking grainy and then sealing it with a high-gloss topcoat."
- At home: "You can try the same technique if you have gel tools and a no-wipe topcoat, or you can opt for a chrome-effect polish for an easier alternative," Kandalec recommends. "The look works beautifully over nude and pink bases, but you can use any color you like for a personalized twist."
Shop Essentials for Glazed Nails
Who's Who
- Julie Kandalec is a celebrity nail artist who has worked with Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain, Selena Gomez, and more.
- Zola Ganzorigt is a celebrity nail artist who helped popularize the glazed donut nail trend, with clients that include Hailey Bieber, Kylie Jenner, and Nicola Peltz Beckham.
- Vanessa McCullough is a celebrity manicurist who has worked with the likes of Kristen Wiig, Lupita Nyong'o, and Natasha Lyonne.
