Golden Hour Nails Are Trending for Summer—Here’s Everything You Need to Know About the Sunset-Inspired Manicure
What are golden hour nails?
· CosmopolitanThere’s something extra magical about golden hour in the summer. As the sun begins to dip, everything just takes on a glowing warmth for a perfect few minutes, from sun-kissed skin to the shimmer of the ocean. It’s the kind of picturesque moment you just want to bottle up forever, and it’s inspiring tons of summer beauty trends from sunset-inspired blush to nail polish colors.
That’s right, sunset-esque designs are making their way to our fingers with golden hour manicures. “Golden hour nails remind me of the luminous, glowing orange light right before sunset,” says California-based nail artist Ramon Duran (@craftedbyaprince). “They’re the perfect nails for summer; they’re just bright and happy.” The trend blends orange, yellow, pink, and purple shades into soft auras that emulate the ethereal hues of the sky at dusk.
Ahead, I rounded up all the golden hour nail inspo you need for summer, plus tips from Duran on how to get the warm manicure effect.
Golden hour nails feature sunset-inspired shades blended together for a diffused effect that mimics the way sunlight fades into the horizon. The look combines warm oranges, pinks, yellows, and purples into a soft gradient.
“I think what makes golden hour nails so special is that they capture a feeling more than just a color palette,” says Duran. “They have this warmth and glow that complements every skin tone, and the aura technique gives them a softness.”
How to achieve golden hour nails
You can achieve the look with either regular polish or gel, starting with a base color that sets the tone for your sunset-inspired manicure. “I love to pick a fun base, like a bright pink or coral,” says Duran. To create the signature aura effect, use a small makeup sponge or nail art sponge to gently dab your second shade into the center of the nail, slowly blending the color until you reach your desired intensity. “It’s super fun and easy to do, you just build it up,” says Duran.
Duran recommends reaching for shades that mimic the glow of a summer sunset. “I think any pinks, reds, orange, and yellow shades will give you that dreamy warm look,” he explains. If you want to take the gradient effect even further, try a different sunset-inspired color combination on each finger, experiment with French aura tips, or add a chrome topper for a glassy, light-reflecting finish.
Golden hour nail inspo
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Meet the Expert
Ramon Duran, aka @craftedbyaprince, is a California-based nail artist and content creator. He is beloved for his editorial gel extension designs and creative collaborations with leading beauty brands like OPI, READY READY, and more.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo who covers all things nails—from the latest color trends to new polish launches. For this story, she found all the best golden hour nail inspo and also tapped nail artist Ramon Duran for his insight.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.