When you think of Kerry Washington, you are almost certainly imagining her in the chicest ensemble possible. Usually, this involves a flawless makeup look, gorgeous prints, and an envy-worthy manicure. Off the top of our heads, we immediately think of her Blair Waldorf-inspired headband, patent leather nails, and her sophisticated take on the once inescapable strawberry milk manicure. However, her latest nail look is certainly one of our favorites yet.
Over the course of the past week, Washington has been active on Instagram, showing off her time at Elle’s Women in Hollywood”event, reading excerpts from her book Thicker Than Water, and spending time with friends. Across all the moments of her recent life, there has been one consistent manicure that will be going straight to our New Year’s Eve mood board: an ombré golden French mani.
@kerrywashington/instagram
Her nails were a medium-length and almond-shaped. From far away, the design appeared to be a classic French tip; however, at closer inspection, it was a little more intricate.
Each of her nails had an ultra-glossy base that was the same color her natural nails. Then, about halfway up the mani, the gold started to trickle in. A classic ombré effect, the gold got more concentrated as it travelled to the tips of her nails, which were completely covered with gold sparkles.
Luckily for us, you don’t need a handful of exclusive events to attend in order to pull off the glittering mani—and we have the breakdown on how to copy the look yourself.
@kerrywashington/instagram
First, remove any lingering polish that may be on your nails with nail polish remover. Then, cut and file your nails to the desired length before applying oil to your cuticles to soften and push them back. Then, wipe your nails clean and buff the surface for an even canvas before going in with your favorite base coat.
Then, it’s time for color. To get the same effect as Washington’s nails, you’ll need a loose gold glitter or some gold eyeshadow, and a wedge-shaped makeup sponge. Apply a thin layer of topcoat, and before it dries, dab on the gold using the sponge, layering more as you get closer to the tip. Or, use the same technique with a gold glitter polish—we like Essie’s Summit of Style ($10)—or a gold metallic. Of course, you can also use any other shade you may
Regardless, the last step is to seal it in with your favorite top coat. Then, you will have some of the glitziest nails around.