You want that mirror-shine metallic finish you keep seeing online. The one that catches the light every time you move your hand. You've tried chrome polish from the shop and it looked nothing like the real thing. Flat, dull, and nothing close to what you saw on Instagram.
That's because real chrome nails aren't made with polish. They're made with a fine metallic powder that gets rubbed into a cured gel surface. The result is a genuine mirror-finish that reflects light the way actual metal does. No regular polish can replicate it.
At Aesthete Beauty in Dundee, chrome is available as an add-on to any nail service. Gel polish, BIAB, or extensions. Radina Ignatova has over 11 years of experience and her work has been featured in Scratch Magazine and Who What Wear UK. Chrome starts from £7. Book online any time or call us on 01382 217888.
Chrome is an add-on to any gel service at Aesthete Beauty, not a standalone treatment. You book your manicure as normal, whether that's gel polish, BIAB, Russian manicure, or extensions, and Radina applies the chrome powder after the gel is cured. It adds about 7 minutes and from £7 to your appointment.
Amazing nails. Radina pays such close attention to detail, spending time to prep the nails properly which means they last really well. Will not go anywhere else from now on. Thanks so much Radina.
Chrome nails use a super-fine metallic powder to create a reflective, mirror-like finish on your nails. The powder is made from finely milled metals, glass, and pigment. When rubbed into a cured gel surface, the particles flatten down and bond together to create a smooth, seamless shine that looks like polished metal.
It's not the same as metallic nail polish. Metallic polish has shimmer particles suspended in a coloured base. It looks sparkly but it doesn't reflect. Chrome powder creates an actual mirror finish that bounces light back the way a chrome car badge does. The difference is obvious the moment you see it.
Chrome is available in a range of finishes. Classic silver for a clean mirror look. Gold for warmth. Rose gold for a softer, pinkish metallic. And coloured chromes in blues, greens, purples, and more for something different.
The finish is smooth to the touch, not textured like glitter. It's sealed under a top coat so it lasts the full wear time of your base service.
The powder is applied by hand using a silicone applicator or fingertip, pressed and buffed in circular motions until the surface turns reflective. It's not a polish. It's not painted on. It's a dry pigment that bonds to the smooth gel surface through friction. The result is a finish that looks like your nails have been dipped in liquid metal.
Chrome finish with polka dot nail art on BIAB at Aesthete Beauty, Dundee
The chrome powder itself is usually silver. What makes it look different on every client is the gel colour underneath.
Black gives you the classic mirror chrome. Full silver, maximum reflection, the one you've seen all over TikTok and Instagram. It's the most dramatic option and the one most people picture when they think of chrome nails.
Dark colours produce the most intense results. A deep burgundy base gives you a rich, wine-toned chrome. Navy creates a deep blue metallic. Dark green becomes emerald chrome. The darker the base, the more the chrome effect shows.
Pink and nude bases are where things get softer. A warm pink underneath turns silver chrome into rose gold. A sheer nude creates the "glazed doughnut" effect that's been everywhere since Hailey Bieber made it a thing. Peach gives you a warm copper glow. These softer options work well if you want chrome without the full mirror intensity.
White base creates a pearl chrome. Soft, iridescent, almost like the inside of a shell. It catches the light differently depending on the angle and looks completely different from a dark-base chrome.
At Aesthete Beauty, Radina will talk you through the colour options before your gel goes on. If you've got a specific look in mind, bring a photo. If you're not sure, she'll suggest base colours based on your skin tone and what you're going for. The chrome powder is applied after your gel is cured, so the base colour decision happens at the start of your appointment, not as an afterthought.
This is the most searched nail comparison of 2026, and the answer is simpler than most articles make it.
Both use chrome powder. The difference is how much powder and how it's applied.
Chrome nails use a dense metallic pigment buffed firmly onto the nail until you get a full reflective finish. The finish looks like liquid metal. It's intense, high-impact, and catches every bit of light in the room.
Glazed doughnut nails use a lighter application of pearl or white chrome powder over a sheer nude base. Instead of a mirror finish, you get a soft, translucent glow. Like the sheen on a glazed doughnut. Subtle. Iridescent. The kind of thing that makes people say "your nails look amazing" without being able to pinpoint exactly why.
You don't have to choose one forever. Radina can do full chrome one visit and glazed doughnut the next. Same powder, different technique, completely different result. Some clients alternate depending on what they've got coming up. Full chrome for a night out. Glazed doughnut for work the following week.
Both options are available as an add-on at Aesthete Beauty from £7.
Chrome powder kits are cheap and easy to find online. The results, if you've tried one, are usually disappointing. Here's what goes wrong.
The top coat matters more than the powder. Chrome needs a non-wipe top coat with a completely smooth surface. The powder bonds to that surface through burnishing. Shop-bought kits usually include a standard top coat with a tacky residue layer. The powder sticks to the tackiness instead of bonding properly, and you end up with a grainy, metallic finish rather than a mirror.
Application pressure and technique change everything. Reddit is full of people who got one hand perfect and couldn't replicate it on the other. The angle matters. The pressure matters. The speed of the buffing motion matters. Get any of them slightly wrong and you lose the mirror.
Sealing is where DIY chrome falls apart. The free edge of the nail is where chrome peels first. Professional application means proper sealing at every edge, dust removal before the final top coat, and enough layers to protect the chrome underneath. Salon Geek technicians report that the flash-cure technique before powder application and double top coat with edge sealing are what take chrome from lasting three days to lasting three weeks.
Then there's the base colour selection. Getting the right chrome effect means choosing the right gel underneath, and that requires someone who knows how different colours interact with the powder.
If any of these sound familiar, chrome is what you're looking for:
Chrome works on any base service and any nail length. You don't need extensions to have chrome. It looks just as striking on short, natural-length nails with gel polish.
If you want a softer, more subtle shimmer instead of a full mirror finish, cat-eye nails are another option.
There are so many colours and designs to choose from! Hidden gem in Dundee.
Chrome nails last as long as the gel underneath them. With the right aftercare, that's two to three weeks before your next appointment.
Avoid acetone products. Acetone-based nail polish remover will strip the chrome finish. If you use regular polish on your toes or need to clean up around your cuticles, use acetone-free remover and keep it away from the chrome surface.
Wear gloves for cleaning. Bleach, kitchen spray, washing up liquid. All of them dull the chrome finish faster than normal wear. Rubber gloves solve this completely.
Don't pick or peel. If an edge starts lifting, don't pull it. Picking at chrome pulls the top coat with it and exposes the gel underneath. Book a repair or removal instead.
Cuticle oil daily. This keeps the skin around your nails healthy and helps the gel stay bonded to the nail plate. It won't damage the chrome.
Be aware of friction. Chrome shows scratches more than standard gel polish because the reflective surface makes every mark visible. Opening cans, scraping labels off things, digging in your bag for your keys. These won't ruin the manicure but they'll show on a mirror finish more than they would on a matte or cream colour.
The chrome itself doesn't fade or change colour. What happens over time is micro-scratching from daily use that gradually reduces the shine. By week two, most clients still have a strong chrome effect. By week three, it's more of a metallic sheen than a full mirror, which some people actually prefer.
Chrome finishes are slightly less forgiving than plain gel polish when it comes to tip wear. The metallic powder sits in a very thin layer and heavy daily use of your hands can wear through the top coat at the tips faster than a standard colour would. Radina applies a double top coat and caps the free edge to seal the chrome as thoroughly as possible. If you work with your hands a lot, expect some tip wear by week two. The effect across the rest of the nail stays strong. Most clients find the overall look is still worth it even if the very tips soften slightly before their next appointment.
Chrome from £7 as an add-on to any nail service.
Book your base service (gel polish manicure, BIAB, extensions) and add chrome when you book or mention it when you arrive. It works on any base.
All current pricing is in the online booking system. Pick your service, choose your time, done. You can also call us on 01382 217888 or message on WhatsApp.
Chrome is applied at the end of your gel manicure. The whole add-on takes about 7 minutes on top of your normal appointment.
Chrome application doesn't involve e-file work so there's no dust extraction needed for the chrome step itself. But your base service before it uses e-file cuticle preparation with Vodex extraction running, fresh disposable files and buffers, sterilised metal tools, and gloves throughout. The hygiene standard is the same as every other nail appointment at the salon.
Your chosen base service is done first. Gel polish, BIAB, Russian manicure, extensions. Whatever you've booked. Radina applies the base colour that will determine your chrome finish.
A non-wipe top coat is applied over the cured gel. This creates the perfectly smooth surface that chrome powder needs to bond to. It's partially cured to the right level for powder adhesion.
Radina uses a silicone applicator to press and buff the chrome pigment onto each nail in circular motions. The powder transforms from a dull metallic dust into a full mirror finish as it bonds to the gel surface.
Excess powder is brushed away carefully. Any remaining dust would prevent the top coat from bonding properly, so this step matters. Then two layers of top coat are applied, sealing every edge to lock the chrome in place.
The sealed chrome is fully cured under the lamp. Radina checks each nail for even reflection and sealed edges. You look in the mirror, confirm you're happy, and you're done.
Chrome is from £7 as an add-on to any nail service. The base service (gel polish, BIAB, extensions) is priced separately.
No. Chrome is an add-on applied on top of a base service. You book your gel polish manicure, BIAB, or extensions, and add chrome to the appointment.
As long as your base service. The chrome is sealed under a top coat, so it lasts the full wear time of whatever's underneath. Two to three weeks for gel polish, three to four weeks for BIAB.
Silver, gold, rose gold, and a range of coloured chromes including blues, greens, purples, and more. Radina can show you the options.
Yes. Chrome works on any nail length. Short nails with chrome actually look striking because the mirror finish catches the light even on a smaller surface. You don't need extensions for chrome. It goes on top of whatever base service you choose, whether that's gel polish on your natural nails or a BIAB overlay.
Metallic polish has shimmer particles in a coloured base. It sparkles but doesn't reflect. Chrome uses a fine powder rubbed into a gel surface to create a genuine mirror finish that reflects light like metal.
Yes. Chrome can be applied to all nails or used as an accent on selected nails alongside other designs.
No. Chrome is added to your gel manicure appointment. When booking, select your base service (gel polish, BIAB, etc.) then add Chrome Nails Effect as an add-on. Or just ask Radina at your appointment.
Yes. Chrome can be applied over gel polish, BIAB, gel extensions, soft gel tips, or any cured gel surface. It is an add-on to your existing appointment, not a separate service.
Black gives classic silver mirror chrome. Pink gives rose gold. Nude gives the glazed doughnut effect. Dark colours like burgundy, navy, or green create deep jewel-toned chromes. White creates a pearl iridescent finish.
No. The chrome powder sits on top of the cured gel surface. It does not touch your natural nail. Removal is the same as any gel service with no additional damage risk.
Avoid acetone products, wear rubber gloves for cleaning, do not pick or peel, apply cuticle oil daily, and be aware that chrome shows scratches more than standard gel polish due to the reflective surface.
Yes. Chrome nail powder is made from finely milled pigments and minerals, not ferromagnetic metals. It won't react to the MRI magnet. You can keep your chrome nails on for a scan without any issues. If your radiographer asks, you can tell them it's a cosmetic pigment powder sealed under gel, not actual metal.
Not if they're sealed properly. The chrome powder is locked in between the gel base and a non-wipe top coat. Once that top coat is cured under the LED lamp, the chrome can't rub off through normal daily activity. What can happen is tip wear if the top coat gets worn through at the very ends of your nails from heavy use. Radina applies a double top coat and caps the edges to minimise this.
First time visiting and extremely impressed. An absolutely perfect manicure. No gaps or flaws at all. Also, a huge selection of colours and a very clean place. I will definitely be returning regularly.
If you want that mirror-shine metallic finish that catches every bit of light, chrome is the add-on to book. Quick to apply, high impact, and available on any nail service.
We serve clients from across Dundee and the surrounding areas including the West End, Broughty Ferry, Newport-on-Tay, Monifieth, Carnoustie, and further afield.
