Zendaya’s Green Velvet Nails Are the Perfect Summer-to-Fall Trend

The actor has already made a preparation for the upcoming nail trend by creating her own 'velvet nails,' which are perfect for the transition period from summer to fall. Her nail technician Marina Dobic has already shown how the actress's manicure looks like – she has applied on her nails a velvet manicure of green color.

This nail style combines both a summertime look because of its color and also an autumnal touch. "We wanted something fun and different; definitely that velvet look brought up the vintage vibe, which was quite popular back then," Dobic explained.

London-based manicurist Ami Streets notes that velvet nails tap into the '90s aesthetic of metallics, frosted finishes, and jewel tones, offering a nostalgic feel without being a literal throwback. The dimensional finish of Zendaya's green velvet nails makes them feel current and adds personality beyond a flat color, making them ideal for the colder months.

What Are Velvet Nails?

The velvet nail trend, which came before the widely popular cateye trend, involves wearing nails that have the magnetic look of velvet without the actual texture. In certain lighting, the effect looks like velvet with a diffused glittery look to it.

Velvet nails can add some depth and color to your look since the fall and winter season is fast approaching, and people will no longer be satisfied with just simple manicures. The trend is very versatile, as there are many shapes and colors of choice.

Velvet Nails vs. Cateye Nails

Both velvet and cateye nails are achieved using a similar magnetic gel technique. Dobic considers them essentially the same, preferring the term "velvet design" for its aesthetic appeal. However, velvet nails can be seen as a more glitter-forward variation of cateye, with a softer, more diffused, and fuller effect.

While classic cateye creates a distinct band of light, velvet nails aim for a more evenly dispersed shimmer across the entire nail, creating a plush, luminous sheen that resembles fabric.

Achieving Velvet Nails at Home

If there is an avid desire to duplicate the effect, according to Dobic, the best method is to cure nails one by one. Manipulating with the placement of the magnet will be useful to realize how the effect is created.

The emphasis is made by Streets on smoothness of the base as well as on the fact that the darker base makes the effect more vibrant. She also recommends looking at the nail in different lights in order to notice its dimensionality.

A much more casual way to obtain such an effect is through magnetic polishes with fine shimmer dispersed in deep emerald or forest green color.