We’re dazzled by the best oil slick nails! This futuristic manicure trend is mesmerizing on any nail shape or length. It’s an excellent way to liven up your nails and escape from the same color routine.
The effect resembles the iridescence of oil with a rainbow of shifting shades. Therefore, the possibilities are endless – there are all sorts of oil slick nail designs you can try! Check out our favorites below.
Top 8 Oil Slick Nails
Swirly Oil Slick Nails
First up, let's talk about oil slick nails with a swirly pattern. This captivating design features a kaleidoscope of colors mixing together to create a shimmering oil slick across the entire nail. With a stunning swirl of metallic hues and iridescent glitters, these nails will hypnotize you with their other-worldly beauty! Moreover, this is the easiest look to recreate at home.
Oil Slick Bubble Nails
Bubble nails use actual bubbles to create the signature texture on top. When you do this technique on top of metallic shades or ombré chrome nails, it’s spellbinding! Add a little metallic foil and it goes cyberpunk!
Foil Oil Slick Nails
Speaking of foil, we heart oil slick nails with a trendy distressed look. Using thin metallic foil gives the illusion of depth plus extra shimmer. The iridescence of the “oil” peeks between the leaves.
Almond-shaped Oil Slick Nails
Almond nails are so snatched right now. Give them an oil slick manicure so they are bougee, too!
Marbled Oil Slick
Marbled oil slick nails are another fabulous option. This design upgrades both nail trends by combining them into something even more gorgeous. Then you can up the wow factor by adding gold veins.
What’s the secret behind marbled nails with an oil slick look? We found that blooming gel is a big help.
French Oil Slick Manicure
This is what happens if you edge your nails with an oil slick instead of plain white polish. It’s not an easy look to do at home, but it’s possible with patience and a thin nail brush.
Striped Oil Slick Nails
We love the French oil slick manicure and took it a step further. Which do you prefer: geometric iridescent stripes or swoops, swirls, and dips?
Magnetic Cat Eye Oil Slick Nails
For an extra touch of magic, why not try cat eye oil slick nails? Maybe you’re already familiar with how magnetic particles in cat eye polish create a captivating effect. You can use a magnet to refocus the intensity however you like.
How to Do Oil Slick Nails at Home
Were you thinking that these incredible nail designs are reserved for the pros? Guess what – with a little practice and patience, the oil slick technique can be done at home! What’s more, you can create it with either gel polish or nail lacquer (although gels tend to turn out better).
Here’s what you need for oil slick nails:
- for gel polish: a base coat, a high-gloss top coat, and black polish
- nail lamp to cure the gel polish
- for nail lacquer: black polish and a glossy top coat
- chrome powder in a variety of shades plus an applicator
- fluffy brush
Once you have the supplies, it’s time to prep your nails. Trim them, shape them, and push back those cuticles. Now you’re ready to apply the base coat.
For gels, the base will probably be transparent. For nail lacquer, you can dive right in with black as your base layer.
If you’re not sure which method to try first, may we recommend this polish duo set:
LDS Gel Nail Polish Duo - 074 Black List
Black is the new…well, it’s black. And that’s exactly what you need for oil slick nails. Think about the last time you saw a puddle of oil on black tarmac. That’s what you’re trying to mimic. So this dark shade is perfect as the base color.
Moreover, the set comes with bottles of both gel polish and nail lacquer in the same shade. The LDS lacquer is 9-free without harsh chemicals like phthalates, formaldehyde, or camphor. It’s glossy, durable, and goes on like a dream.
Meanwhile, the LDS gels maintain a high gloss finish for up to 14 days without chipping. They go on smoothly without wrinkling and have great coverage. Plus, they cure in only 60 seconds. Combine the black gel polish with the transparent base and top coats for perfect results.
Once the base color is dry or cured, it’s time to start working with the chrome powders. (You can try to get the same result with metallic polish or even eye shadow.) It’s best to have at least three powder colors to apply. Dab one on and polish it to a chrome-like shine. Then add the next but let them slightly overlap. Once all the colors are in place, use a fluffy brush to remove the excess before you apply the glossy top coat.
Alternatively, here’s how to do oil slick nails with nail lacquer. Dab and swirl metallic nail polish on top of the black base coat. This is where a toothpick comes in handy. It may take a few minutes for the polish to dry so be patient to avoid smudges. Then brush on the glossy top coat and you’re done. All you need now is a healthy dose of cuticle oil to really make those oil slick nails stand out!
24k Gold Nail & Cuticle Oil - Orange - 30ml
Cuticle oil is how the pros give your nails that special sparkle at the end of the manicure. This one is infused with 24-karat gold for extra shine and nourishment. It also features hyaluronic acid, one of the world's best moisturizers.
Conclusion
Without a doubt, oil slick nails make for a mesmerizing manicure! Plus, there are so many different ways to wear them that you can easily make the style your own.
While you’re here, we hope you’ll drop by our new arrivals to see what’s trending in the nail world. Don’t forget, we offer free shipping on orders over $100!