Stone Nails Are The Chicest Neutral Manicure For 2024

Neutral manicure lovers listen up, because we've got the latest, super modern, way to rock an understated, go with everything manicure. And it's called stone nails. Yep, stone nails are totally in for 2024, and, similar to the year's other big trend of purple nails, they're a chic and sophisticated way to put a twist on the classic neutral manicure.

While we traditionally think of something like the latte nail trend when we think of neutral, stone nails take things a little further than the classic beiges or browns. Instead, this look makes use of shades of gray that you'd expect to see on (you guessed it!) stones. But while that may sound boring, this trend is anything but. It's elegant, it's smart, and most importantly, it's totally modern and on trend. There's not just one way to do it though. While the most common way is to apply just one gray polish all over the nail, there are various shades of gray you can try and a number of different style choices to boot. And we've got plenty of stone nail inspo just for you.

Most stones aren't just a single shade of gray. An ombre gray manicure captures the gorgeous dimension found on many stones in nature. Get the look by painting a darker gray on the side of the nail bed and blending out into a lighter shade on the tips. Add a glossy top coat to give it a shiny, chrome-like finish. The end result is reminiscent of a cloud of smoke, giving off a cool, mysterious energy. Switch up the look by taking the gradient effect down the nail vertically instead of horizontally.

You might assume the austerity of the stone nail look doesn't naturally lend itself to a glitter manicure but trust us — there is definitely a way to add some sparkle. Trace a thin strip of silver glitter on the cuticle of the nail to give your gray manicure a glamorous touch while still keeping things understated. You can also try something similar to a glitter French manicure- and paint glitter to the tips instead.

As most stones you see on the ground are matte, a matte manicure only makes sense when you're giving the stone nail trend a go. A cool-toned gray is great for this look and is complimentary on a wide range of skin tones, too. You can either get your hands on a matte polish to achieve this finish or try a standard polish with a matte topcoat over the top to dull the shine.

Don't think your gray nails have to be flat and matte to get in on the stone nail trend. On the opposite end of the spectrum, a gray lacquer with a subtle shimmer topcoat brings dimension and brightness to what could easily be a gloomy-looking manicure. This is ideal for short nails and beginners as it doesn't require any specific nail shape or embellishments.

For something that's relatively beginner-friendly, but slightly more elevated than one solid color, try turning your nails into windows. To do this, apply one slate gray shade all over the nail, then, using an ultra thin brush, outline he edges of the nail with a darker charcoal. Not only is this finish super chic, it's a also a great way to have fun with a color that not everyone tends to find that exciting.