12 Gold Nail Ideas That Look Expensive
Gold nail ideas that look expensive: gold chrome, gold French tips, champagne shimmer, gold foil, gold on black and subtle gold accents.
The palette
Gold is the easiest way to make a manicure look expensive. A thin line or a few flakes is often enough, and a full chrome set feels like jewellery.
Here are twelve gold looks, from soft champagne to full liquid gold.
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1. Liquid Gold Chrome
A full mirror gold finish, like a ring on every nail.
- Shape
- Almond
- Length
- Medium
- Finish
- Chrome
- Shade
- Gold chrome
- Salon level
- Moderate
Would you wear this?
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2. Gold French Tips
A thin gold chrome tip on a sheer nude.
- Shape
- Almond
- Length
- Medium
- Finish
- Chrome
- Shade
- Nude with gold
- Salon level
- Moderate
-
3. Champagne Gold
A soft, pale gold shimmer. Elegant and easy.
- Shape
- Oval
- Length
- Short
- Finish
- Shimmer
- Shade
- Champagne
- Salon level
- Easy
-
Read next10 Plum Nail Ideas for Autumn and Winter
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4. Gold Foil on Milky
Small gold foil flakes on a milky white base.
- Shape
- Oval
- Length
- Short
- Finish
- Gloss
- Shade
- Milky with gold foil
- Salon level
- Moderate
-
5. Black and Gold
Glossy black with a thin gold tip.
- Shape
- Almond
- Length
- Medium
- Finish
- Gloss and chrome
- Shade
- Black and gold
- Salon level
- Moderate
-
6. Gold Cuticle Line
A fine gold line traced along each cuticle.
- Shape
- Oval
- Length
- Short
- Finish
- Gloss
- Shade
- Nude with gold line
- Salon level
- Moderate
-
7. Rose Gold
Pink-toned gold that flatters most skin tones.
- Shape
- Almond
- Length
- Short
- Finish
- Chrome
- Shade
- Rose gold
- Salon level
- Moderate
-
8. Burgundy and Gold
Deep burgundy with one gold accent nail.
- Shape
- Almond
- Length
- Medium
- Finish
- Gloss and chrome
- Shade
- Burgundy and gold
- Salon level
- Easy
-
9. Gold Glitter Tips
Fine gold glitter brushed onto the tips.
- Shape
- Almond
- Length
- Short
- Finish
- Glitter
- Shade
- Sheer with gold glitter
- Salon level
- Easy
-
10. Gold Swirl
One thin gold swirl across a nude nail.
- Shape
- Almond
- Length
- Medium
- Finish
- Gloss with nail art
- Shade
- Nude with gold swirl
- Salon level
- Advanced
-
11. Emerald and Gold
Deep green with gold tips. Very festive.
- Shape
- Almond
- Length
- Medium
- Finish
- Gloss and chrome
- Shade
- Emerald and gold
- Salon level
- Moderate
-
12. Gold Half Moon
A gold half moon at the base of each nail.
- Shape
- Oval
- Length
- Short
- Finish
- Gloss and chrome
- Shade
- Nude with gold half moon
- Salon level
- Moderate
For a first try, book the gold cuticle line. It looks like fine jewellery and grows out beautifully.
For the cooler option, see silver nail ideas. For more shine, see chrome nails.
Your questions, answered
How do I make gold nails look classy?
Keep the gold small: a thin tip, a cuticle line or a few flakes on a neutral base. Pair full gold chrome with a short, neat length.
Does gold suit every skin tone?
Yellow gold flatters warm skin, rose gold suits most, and champagne gold is the safest choice for cool skin.
Is gold chrome durable?
Gold chrome over gel lasts two to three weeks. The edges can wear first, so ask for the tips to be capped with top coat.
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