"Pearl Nails" Are The Classic Trend Southern Women Are Loving In 2024

The resurgence of popular beauty looks of decades past comes at no surprise to those who grew up watching their mothers and grandmothers apply makeup or hot rollers in the bathroom mirror. You simply can never top the nostalgia that came with every spritz of hair spray or swipe of lipstick.

Among the must-haves in the realm of the classic looks, a fabulous manicure is practically critical. This is where pearl nails—the biggest nail trend this year—comes heavily into play.

What Are Pearl Nails?

The nail trend that's been taking over salons everywhere might appear quite familiar to some. Pearl nails, also referred to as "glazed donut nails," have been the most-asked-for look of late. The sheer milky-white color paired with a glossy metallic top coat creates an ethereal, pearlescent, almost-glazed effect. The best part? It's just as wearable as any other neutral nail, except it offers a unique twist.

While modern pearl nails typically use a metallic chrome top coat over a white or nude base coat, the finished look actually bears resemblance to a classic nail color: OPI Kyoto Pearl, which has been a beauty favorite of many Southern mothers and grandmothers for decades.

DIY Pearl Nails

The update to the classic pearl nail choice has its appeal, and it is surprisingly easy to recreate "glazed donut nails" at home. Essie has introduced a pearl chrome top coat, Essie Expressie Iced Out. This luxurious color can be layered with its creamy white, Essie Marshmallow, for a similar look.

Essie Expressie Iced Out

Essie Marshmallow

Olive & June offer their own version of pearl nails with their color, Frosted Gloss. With these manicure mavens, you not only have access to polish, but to a manicure kit and a brilliant top coat. Olive & June definitely has you covered, and it is worth exploring their seemingly infinite palette to find other colors to experiment with.

Olive & June Frosted Gloss

OPI still offers Kyoto Pearl in its lineup, and those who prefer a slightly more sheer and milky-white color can ask for its best-selling white, OPI Funny Bunny, followed by its Chrome Powder at the nail salon to master the modern look.

OPI Kyoto Pearl

While nothing can ever compare to seeing our Southern moms pull out a bottle of OPI Kyoto Pearl, these new pearl nails might be the subtly exciting neutral you've been looking for. Exploring OPI's full neutral palette will have you wanting to experiment every time you chip a nail.

Manicure Tips From Southern Living

There's A Flattering Shade Of White Nail Polish For Everyone

Neutral doesn't need to translate to bare.The ultimate neutral move just happens to be white nails, and white nails never look dull. Simple as that.

The Classic French Manicure Is Back

The French manicure is a classic for a reason. It’s a simple neutral that can go with anything and offers a clean look for all occasions. French manicures speak to elegance and are memorable on the women who wear them,

8 Different Types Of Manicures To Know

There was once a time when a manicure really just meant basic polish swiped onto filed nails, finished with a shiny top coat. Today, there are so many more approaches to consider. It's tempting to forgo the old-school, quick-to-chip manicure for other options that have their own benefits.

9 Major Manicure Mistakes You Might Not Realize You're Making

The moment you become sure of your nail-painting prowess is when everything goes terribly, terribly wrong. It smudges and streaks faster than you can say chipped nail. These tips will aid in your lifelong learning curve.