Rihanna Just Proved This "Off-Season" Manicure Is Always On-Trend
When you think of fall manicures, you likely imagine something dark and moody. A chocolate brown or a vampy black cherry are usually the go-tos. But butter yellow? That practically screams spring!
Not according to Rihanna. Just last night, the singer and pop-culture icon sported a pastel, butter-yellow mani for the Fenty Hair launch at Selfridges in London (with a pale-yellow teddy coat to match!), proving that this trending color has actually become a year-round staple. Keep scrolling—we grabbed all the details from her manicurist below.
We can thank celebrity nail artist Jenny Longworth for the bright nail debut. Longworth (who also works with Harry Styles, FYI) dubbed the look "melted butter," since she added a chrome topper for some subtle sparkle (you know, just like a glistening pot of heated butter). She used The GelBottle Inc's Gel Polish in the shade Queen Bee and then topped it with the brand's Iced Chrome Pigment.
Butter-yellow nails are nothing new (the color has been trending among the fashion set since last spring), but "melted butter" puts a fresh spin on the sophisticated mani. It's bright yet muted, which makes it relatively easy to pull off year-round (as opposed to a coral "Palm Beach grandma" lacquer). Butter yellow might not be the most obvious choice for a fall manicure, but it can certainly add some life to an autumnal outfit.
Not to mention that it pairs well with any palette. Wearing all gray? A pale-yellow mani can brighten up the ensemble. Opting for browns and hunter greens? Butter yellow complements those earth tones quite well. Loving burgundy outfits as of late? Yellow digits provide a gorgeous contrast.
As you can probably guess, Rihanna's manicure has made me rethink everything I knew about fall nail trends. Catch me with butter-yellow tips instead of my usual moody plum! After all, when Rih gives a beauty trend her stamp of approval, I'd bet all my money it will become the next big thing.
Shop the Trend
Finally, she layered on this topcoat "for the ultimate finish."
This one's even milkier, so much so that it almost reads winter white.
This option leans a bit brighter than the typical pale butter yellow. Still, it's so on-trend.
Here's another popular (and affordable) chrome powder. Act fast—it's almost sold out!
For melted butter nails in a pinch, you can't go wrong with these press-ons.
Jamie Schneider is Who What Wear’s senior beauty editor based in New York City. With over seven years in the industry, she specializes in trend forecasting, covering everything from innovative fragrance launches to need-to-know makeup tutorials to celebrity profiles. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Organizational Studies and English before moving to NYC, and her work has appeared in MindBodyGreen, Coveteur, and more. When she’s not writing or testing the latest beauty finds, Jamie loves scouting vintage boutiques and reading thrillers, and she’s always down for a park picnic in Brooklyn.
-
This Was the *Scorching* Heat–Proof Mascara Every Woman Wore on the Set of White Lotus
It's underrated and editor approved.
By Kaitlyn McLintock
-
Sabrina Carpenter Just Endorsed This Soon-to-be-Viral Prada Mascara—Fantastic, Give Me 20
Have you ever tried this one?
By Jamie Schneider
-
Kerry Washington Just Nailed This Sleeper Hit Shade With Her NAACP Awards Manicure
It's worth copying.
By Maya Thomas
-
Addison Rae Wore 5 Different Makeup Looks in Her New Music Video—This Blush Was the Throughline
It's her favorite.
By Kaitlyn McLintock
-
Mikey Madison's "'70s Italian" Makeup Look Just Became My Roman Empire—8 Products to Re-Create
I can't get it out of my head.
By Kaitlyn McLintock
-
Hurry—Selena Gomez Just Cosigned a Major Mani Trend, and Her Exact Color Is Selling Out Fast
It's so good.
By Jamie Schneider
-
From "Exhaustion Blush" to "Party Lips," NYFW's Best Beauty Trends Are Delightfully Unexpected
They'll define the next 10 months.
By Jamie Schneider
-
Excuse Me While I Gawp at These Incredible BAFTA Beauty Looks
Straight from the red carpet.
By Grace Lindsay