Winter may be the time to hunker down, but the season’s latest nail trend is giving us major incentive to get dressed up and go out. Caviar nails are the ultrashiny luxury manicure all our favorite cool girls are wearing, with Selena Gomez leading the pack at the 2026 Golden Globes. Best of all? The nail look goes with pretty much everything in your closet and makeup bag.
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What are caviar nails?
When you think of caviar, the first thing that likely comes to mind are two words: expensive and luxurious. Well, the caviar manicure brings those same vibe to your hands. Mimicking the dark color and high shine of caviar pearls, caviar nails use a reflective cat-eye finish for the same look.
In addition to positioning the look as the perfect transitional manicure after the holidays, caviar nails are extremely versatile, making them ideal for everyday wear as well as special occasions. Cat-eye nails use fine metallic particles activated by a magnet to create a magical reflective quality. The result is a design that plays with light and changes according to the angle, creating a hypnotic finish.
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As for the shades, you can opt for a deep black with touches of golden shimmer for a bold and sophisticated look, or if you prefer something a little softer, it is best to choose from the range of dark browns or greens with amber or golden accents.
Brown is one of the trendy colors of the season, and it’s easy to understand why. It’s a super-wearable shade and instantly adds warmth to any look. Although the brown family ranges from lighter café au lait shades to deeper, more intense espresso tones, it’s still an easily wearable neutral nail look.
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How to get the caviar nails look
Because caviar nails can be worn in so many different ways, you can completely customize the trend to suit your mood and style. Cat eye, aura effect, ombré, and chrome are some of the favorite options. If you’re looking for something more personalized, you can also easily combine nail art with some signature caviar nail elements: For example, on a simple base, add one or two caviar nails, or incorporate them into a modernized French manicure.
To get the look, apply two coats of a rich brown polish as a base; from there you can choose your own adventure by opting for one of the possible finishing options. And since caviar can also be black or gray, or even have a dark greenish-gray hue, you can include these shades in your manicure. You can even add pearls or other types of appliqués to achieve the perfect caviar effect.
