This shimmering take on the French manicure looks so luxe - and is set to be everywhere in 2024

While neutrals are proving to be very popular in 2024, there's still room for a shimmering manicure in our rotation, which we plan to fill with this rather glamorous French nail look.

Of course, when one thinks of classic French tip nails, often nude tones and milky white tips come to mind. This latest trend, however, is giving the iconic design a glittering makeover, by taking inspiration from a certain fabric, often synonymous with its silky feel and party appeal.

So, for anyone seeking a change from their natural-looking manicures or BIAB nails by embracing a pop of shimmer, here's one of the stylish 2024 nail trends currently gaining traction...

The velvet French nails everyone's loving for 2024

The chic look in question is, of course, the "Velvet" French tip manicure that is designed to mimic the molten, crushed look of velvet, with a glitter nail polish. It's no ordinary glitter varnish that creates this expensive-looking mani though, but rather a magnetic one, which gives the design that iridescent quality. That being said, a similar effect can also be created with a normal, sparkly varnish and can be easily adapted to suit short French tip nail designs - if you're not a lover of longer, more statement talons.

Rather than covering the whole nail in this glittering finish - which was popular in 2023 - this trend offers a slightly more understated option, with just the tips of your talons adorned with "velvet."

Colour-wise, the options are limitless, though shades of red, burgundy, pink and gold seem to be the most popular. If you're a neutral nail lover though, you could also opt for a nude or cream.

How to get Velvet nails at home

So, now we've shown you the trending look, how does one go about recreating it at home? For the best results, we would recommend leaving this design to your nail artist, however, if you feel you're up to the task, there are a few ways you can do it.

To recreate a neat tip, we'd recommend a French nail stamper (at Amazon), as you can simply dot your chosen polish onto the centre of the cushion and press the edge of your nail into it - yes, it's that simple.

As mentioned, if you want to achieve that velvety finish by doing your gel nails at home, you will need to invest in gel polishes with magnetized particles - also known as "cat eye gel", which react to the push and pull of a magnet (like this magnetic tool from Mylee, at Amazon)  to create that shimmery dimension.

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Alternatively, you can also find non-gel cat eye polishes, which work in tandem with a magnet or simply use a normal glitter polish that offers a similar, metallic look. For the latter, apply two to three coats, before finishing with a glossy top coat. While it may not look exactly the same, it is a more straightforward option and will be less damaging to your nails than gels.