Will it become the most elegant manicure trend of 2025? It’s too soon to tell, but we know one thing for sure: when you wear nail crowns, you are revealing your inner queen! This nail style elevates French tips to a royal new level. Moreover, this type of design is completely customizable for any occasion, ensemble, and personality. Let’s take a closer look at nail crowns and get some incredible inspiration for a sassy new look!
Jessica Alba’s Crown Nails by Queenie Nguyen
Sequins, glitter, chrome, and crystals are all legitimate ways to crown your nails. The one thing that crown manicures have in common is a nude base. Other than that, the embellishments are up to you.
Here’s a set created for actor Jessica Alba by artist Queenie Nguyen.
LDS Softly Sheer Collection
Rubber Base Gel Polish Collection
Betina Goldstein’s Diamond Crown Nail Art
About three years earlier, Betina Goldstein created real diamond nail crowns for a jewelry store. The sheer nude base makes the nail beds look healthy and perfect.
Now don’t let these first two examples trick you into thinking that crown nails are short nails. No way! Actual crowns worn by royalty vary from delicate circlets like these tips to massively tall tiaras that must weigh a ton. That means there’s lots of leeway for your imagination when you crown your French tips.
Nail Art Rhinestones
Tips for Stunning Nail Crowns
When you choose the base color for your crown nails, it’s like doing a French manicure. Select a shade that matches your undertone and is slightly lighter than your natural hue. It will give you a clean and elegant start.
Next, nail crowns use crystals, rhinestones, or gems to stud the tips along the smile line or in place of it. Instead of creating a simple curve, you can also follow what artist Julie Kandalec suggests. She says to put the tiniest crystals at the edges with larger gems in the center. This forms a tiara shape that’s more resistant to wear and tear.
Moreover, since nail crowns can involve quite a bit of meticulous detail, it’s wise to complete one fingertip at a time and ensuring it sets before moving to the next. Here are the steps to follow depending on whether you’re using gel or lacquer.
Gel Manicure with Nail Crowns
Brush on the base coat followed by the colored coat if needed, then apply the top coat. Cure each layer along the way. Next, apply another layer of top coat or gel adhesive where you want to secure the stones. While it’s wet, place the decorations with tweezers, then cure it. Finally, take a thin brush and tuck a second layer of gem gel or top coat around the embellishments and cure that also. Avoid brushing it over the top as it may dull the shine.
Lacquer Manicure with Nail Crowns
After the base coat and colored polish have dried, get ready to work fast. Apply a generous layer of top coat and place the decorations with tweezers while the polish is wet. Allow that level to dry completely, then take a narrow brush or dotting tool and add a little more top coat to secure the stones. For even longer lasting results, use nail glue underneath the gems or consider covering them with the top coat as an additional protection. However, test this idea to make sure the polish won’t dull or damage the stones.
Bling French Tips
These gem-encrusted tips make for amazing nail crowns style! From the photo, it’s hard to tell if the artist used a few different colored stones, or just very reflective crystals. The iridescent effect is gorgeous!
It feels like a true labor of love because you can just imagine how long it took to place all those stones!
Square Tipped Crown Nails
Acrylics let you tailor nail crowns down to the last detail including building the jewels from scratch. Imagine all the things you could do with chrome, cat eye, and glitter powder to customize an entirely unique set. Some artists find inspiration browsing images of actual crowns and tiaras worn by nobility throughout the ages.
Pink & White Powder Colors
What Colors and Decorations Can You Use for Nail Crowns?
It’s time to dig through your nail art supplies and go to town! Pull out the gold foil, the silver glitter, and the clear rhinestones for an elegant effect. Alternatively, choose a rainbow of gems because this is your crown, and you are the queen!
It’s fun to use cat eye polish for velvet crown tips as you can adjust the sparkly bits to perfection. You might also explore 3D nail stickers or even take apart old jewelry.
Lavis Crystal Cat Eye Gel - Universal Cat Eye Collection
Black Nail Crowns
Reflective glitter polish comes in a variety of colors including stately black. It’s a quick way to crown your French tips and more practical than rhinestones if you have to use your hands a lot.
Lavis Glitter G05 - 05 - Gel Polish 0.5oz - Champagne Toast Glitter Collection
Square Glitter Tips
We haven’t talked about the best shapes for nail crowns. Overall, for any nail style, oval and almond nails are trending, but square tips are also popular. Stiletto tips are more challenging as the extra pointy types are not very crown-like. In the real world, crowns come in a variety of shapes, some of which would not be very convenient for nail tips! So, if you’re a fan of square, almond, or oval nails, you’re already set to crown them.
Nail Art Glitter
Foil Tips
Soft gel extensions are ideal for making your crown nails more impressive. And if you add holographic foil to translucent tips, the effect is enchanting.
Build Your Own Gel X
Chrome Tips
Chrome finishes are fashionable so ride the wave and make those crown tips shine like mirrors! Add tiny crystals for extra shine.
Chrome Nail Powder
Colorful Crystals
Speaking of crystals, royal crowns typically have various colors of precious jewels like rubies, emeralds, or sapphires, not just diamonds. What colors of gemstones suit your style?
Conclusion
Will nail crowns become the next big trend? Let’s all wear them and see what happens!
If you want nail supplies but don’t have a royal budget, find the discounts you need in our store. We want you to have access to the tools you wish to express yourself and shine like the queen you are!