2023 is finally here and with it comes a host of new nail art trends that might see us finally quitting our Hailey Bieber chrome obsession… maybe.
While I, too, have been gripped by the chokehold of the glazed doughnut craze, I’m also continually on the hunt for the next big thing like cat eye nails in 2022, which saw the return of magnetic polish.
But for 2023 however, my prediction is that aura nails are the design you’re going to be coveting, liking, saving, and pinning.
Looking for more nail art inspo? Take a look at these…
- The best celebrity nails from 2022, including Hailey Bieber’s glazed designs
- 10 Valentine’s nails to sport if you’re feeling all loved up (and even if you’re not)
- 10 winter nail art ideas for the colder months
What are aura nails?
As the name suggests, these designs are inspired by the concept of the colourful spiritual energy fields that some believe surround us. Whether it’s a hazy mix of bright pink and orange or a cloudy blue, the beauty is, you can pick whatever single colour or combination you want.
How to get the aura nail trend
The misty effect is created by applying polish with an airbrush gun, or if this isn’t a service your salon offers or you’re trying the DIY version, a product called blooming gel can be used instead.
For my first set of aura nails, I went to my favourite salon Shian Nails in Dalston, who used blooming gel by The Gel Bottle to create the hazy blue effect I wanted.
You might not have heard of blooming gel before, but you will most definitely have seen designs created with it, as it’s what’s used to create a super cool croc print effect.
While it looks just like a clear polish, it works by ‘blooming’ whatever colour you put on top. In my case, Shian used a dotting tool to apply a circle of bright blue polish. Gradually, this circle diffuses and grows larger. As soon as you’re happy with the size and shape of your pattern, you need to cure your nails under a LED lamp to stop the ‘blooming’ process.
I chose just a single colour this time – blue. Apparently, this means I have a calm and peaceful aura (which is anything but the truth, but hey we can manifest some tranquillity for me in 2023). Sian then added some hand-painted chrome stars to really give that celestial vibe.
Aura nails don’t have to be cutesy though. If you want to unleash your inner Kourtney and Travis, there are plenty of darker designs with chrome lightning details to choose from. After all, our auras change depending on our mood, so why not reflect those stormy times on your fingertips?
To inspire your next salon visit and lure you away from the chrome powder, here are some of my favourite aura nail designs:
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