How to Get the Look

Unlike summer and spring, the fall manicure roster is pretty straightforward: You’ve got hot chocolate browns, deep merlot reds, and moody shades that pop up year after year. The newest fall nail trend to enter the villa—or better yet, bar? The “Moscow mule” manicure, which puts a shimmery twist on go-to fall hues

Inspired by the classic copper cocktail glass, the chrome nails have all the qualities of a great trend: They’re easy to re-create, have room for adding personal flair, and are equal parts exciting and familiar. Ahead, everything we know about the TikTok-viral nail trend that’s taking over this fall.

The Trend

In late August, creator @noorphin posted a TikTok of her new manicure which inevitably soft-launched the trend (the video now has over a million views). “So this might be a bold claim,” she says “But I think I just got the nails of fall 2024.” She named them “Moscow Mule” nails, referencing the copper-colored cup used to make the classic cocktail. The sizzling sparkles of the chrome powder create a rustic brown shade that feels autumnal but is a step above regular polish.

Brown nails have been everywhere this fall, with co-signs from muses like Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez. The Moscow Mule nails are a fun way to switch up the classic look without opting for intricate or ornate details, which keeps the trend in the pared-back category. Food (or rather drink) inspired nails are nothing new, and while the moniker may feel played out, it creates an undeniably fun—and spot-on—way to refer to the color.

How to Get the Look

To get the look in the salon, the original creator asked for a black gel base with copper chrome powder on top. She also went with an almond shape, but the style can be done on any silhouette. The anchor of the trend is its unique color, which can be infused in a handful of classic and modern nail designs such as a copper French manicure, abstract copper swirls, or melting molten-tips. You could even swap the chrome for a velvet-like texture, or add gemstones for more sparkle.

The best part? The nail formula is very salon-friendly and it can even be copied at home. Start by filing your nails into the shape of your choice with a base coat to prep the nails. Then, swipe on a few coats of black polish such as OPI’s Onyx Skies or Jinsoon’s Absolute Black.

A swipe of OPI’s Great Copper-tunity powder or any copper powder will give the nails a similar reflective effect. If you can’t get your hands on a chrome powder, Olive & June’s a great polish option although the shade is slightly lighter.

We’re adding Moscow Mule nails to the tab of nail trends to try this fall. Order up!