"Syrup nails" is the cool manicure look to try at the moment. Photo: AFP
The latest TikTok beauty trend is "syrup nails", a mouth-watering manicure that's apt for festivities and relaxation. It's enough to make a person forget – if only for a moment – the realities of life, like having to head into the office.
There are scores of tantalising looks to try out this season. They include milky green "matcha latte nails" and the deep, rich hues of "espresso makeup" – a variation on another key trend of the season, "latte makeup".
And that's not to mention "cherry cola lips" and "blueberry milk nails".
And this obsession with refreshing, pick-me-up beverages is continuing on. "Syrup nails" are currently emerging as the go-to manicure, setting the tone for a bold and fun-themed look.
Read more: Created by Hailey Bieber, 'strawberry makeup' is a sweet look to try out
A syrup-like finish
Like glazed donut nails, "syrup nails" are extremely shiny. However, the aim is not to achieve a chromed or lacquered appearance like the glaze on a donut, but rather a syrupy effect that has the advantage of being possible with a multitude of colours.
Minimalist and customisable to individual tastes and desires, "syrup nails" simply need to be bright and zesty to add a fresh touch to any look.
And getting the look couldn't be easier: all you need is a base coat or a top coat and a regular nail polish – or a gel version for long-lasting finish. Almost anything goes.
Straight out of Asia, and more specifically South Korea and Japan, this manicure trend is supposed to reproduce the glossy look of liquid syrup.
It's up to you to decide which flavour suits you best – mint, aniseed, strawberry, pomegranate, lemon or peach – it doesn't matter, as long as the result is as mouth-watering as it is shiny.
Just what you need to end the warm weather season on a high note!
At least, that's what TikTok users seem to think, since the #syrupnails hashtag already counts over eight million views, and hundreds of tutorials on how to recreate them easily at home.
Read more: Borrowing from coffee culture, 'espresso makeup' becomes a social media hit
A base coat and a regular nail polish
Tutorials abound on the Chinese social network, but they're not necessarily all the same.
The most popular technique, which is also the easiest to replicate, simply involves placing one or two drops of classic nail polish in a bottle of base coat or top coat.
Once this has been done, simply apply the mixture to the nail and build up coats to get the desired syrupy finish.
It's worth noting that a handful of users buy nail polishes formulated directly for this purpose to guarantee the syrupy, glossy, high-shine look, while others opt for an ombre effect by fading layers of sheer polish from the top to the bottom of the nail.
As we said, this is a manicure of all possibilities and many bold experiments, to be worn over and again until the next big trend emerges. – AFP Relaxnews
