Stacey Dooley’s ‘oyster nails’ are the elegant manicure we predict will be everywhere this autumn
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As autumn approaches, richer colours and statement finishes are creeping back onto our manicure moodboards – and 'oyster nails' are the latest look to catch our attention. Cool and silvery with a glazed sheen, they're an elegant way to embrace metallics for the new season.
While beige nails and neutral nail designs will undoubtedly remain popular, we're already seeing celebrities switch out sheer washes of colour for bolder looks. Now, Stacey Dooley is following suit, showcasing a striking silver manicure on Instagram that has us looking ahead to the more adventurous 2026 nail trends .
Consider oyster nails the autumnal evolution of the ' pearl nails ' that have dominated this summer. Instead of a milky white hue topped off with an iridescent sheen, oyster nails lean hazy grey-silver, with a reflective, chrome-like finish that conjures up the inside of an oyster shell. "Stacey looks to be wearing a soft silver chrome with a pearly finish," agrees Susan Carroll, founder of Notting Hill beauty destination Young LDN . "It has a slightly sheer quality to it which gives it that oyster-shell effect."
The television presenter gave us a sneak peek of her oyster nails in a selfie, asking her followers for the best blow-dry in Liverpool. "Intergalactic nails is all I see," commented one follower – and we can relate. Cool, silvery and futuristic, the pearly finish keeps the look softer than a traditional mirror chrome. Silver works equally well on short, squoval nails à la Stacey as it does on longer almond nail shapes.
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"The pearly finish tones it down and makes it almost feel like a neutral," explains Carroll. "If you usually go for sheer pinks, nudes or milky nail polish , this is a really easy way to try something a little different." It also offers a stepping stone between summer and autumn: cooler and more impactful than the soft pinks we've been wearing, without committing to the burgundies and chocolate brown nails synonymous with the colder months.
One thing Carroll has noticed is that "rather than a really strong mirror chrome, clients are choosing more subtle pearl and chrome finishes over sheer or neutral bases." To get Stacey's oyster-shell effect at the salon, she recommends asking for "a sheer, cool-toned base with a soft silver or pearl chrome over the top," making sure the chrome isn't so heavy that it completely disguises the base underneath.
Prefer to DIY? Carroll suggests choosing a sheer silver rather than an opaque metallic polish. Alternatively, "use a milky nude as your base and add a pearl or silver shimmer over the top to get a similar effect." Finish with a glossy top coat to really play up that light-reflective, shell-like sheen.
