How to do velvet nails at home

velvet nails holding lavender on a purple background

(Image credit: Anastasia Dobrusina/Getty Images)

published 13 October 2022

'Tis the season to be cozy, so you'll want to figure out how to do velvet nails without a trip to the salon (since those are getting costly, anyway).

No offense to the beloved Hailey Bieber clean girl manicure, and her subsequent viral chocolate glazed donut nails, but sweater weather calls for an aesthetic that's as warm and inviting as the new cardigan you just added to your fall capsule wardrobe.

Is there a material that does the job more than velvet? Don't just save it for your fashion moments when it can play a part in your beauty routine, too. Have a look at the velvet nails below—we have a feeling you'll be craving a mani in no time.

@heluviee
velvet nails✨🕊
♬ original sound - Laerke

How to do velvet nails, straight from home

As you can see, velvet nails are sparkly, dimensional paint job that make it look as though you actually have a slab of fabric on your nail beds. In essence, it just screams "fall/winter 2022," and makes us a little nostalgic for the 90s onslaught of velvet, but we digress. Here's how to tackle the DIY approach from your abode this season.

1. Try flocking powder

Flocking powder—tiny fibers in a specific color—will add the textured look that's required of velvet nails.

Typically, if you're thinking about using this method, you'll want to apply a base coat and two coats of colored polish similar to the flocking powder before adding the product itself. You might want to invest in a good pair of tweezers or small brushes to get the look just right.

2. Use magnetic polish

@heluviee
velvet nails are INNNN🤎🤎
♬ love on the brain sped up - xxtristanxo

Magnetic nail polishes also give off the velvety appearance, but you'll likely have to undergo a minute under a UV or Led lamp after applying.

However, buying a polish with iron oxide and waving a small magnet over your nail beds will also do the trick. Just note that any shiny nail polish won't work, even if you have a magnet. (See details in the video above!)

Ready to wow everyone with your new nail style? Enjoy your manis, dearies!

Need a TV show recommendation? Maybe a few decor tips? Danielle, a digital news writer at Future, has you covered. Her work appears throughout the company’s lifestyle brands, including My Imperfect Life, Real Homes, and woman&home. Mainly, her time is spent at My Imperfect Life, where she’s attuned to the latest entertainment trends and dating advice for Gen Z.

Before her time at Future, Danielle was the editor of Time Out New York Kids, where she got to experience the best of the city from the point of view of its littlest residents. Before that, she was a news editor at Elite Daily. Her work has also appeared in Domino, Chowhound, and amNewYork, to name a few.

When Danielle’s not writing, you can find her testing out a new recipe, reading a book (suggestions always welcome), or rearranging the furniture in her apartment…again.