Selena Gomez’s “Velvet Noir” Nails Featured This Underrated Chanel Shade

Chanel has created more than one iconic nail polish. There’s Ballerina, a soft, sheer pink worn by everyone from beauty editors to celebrities like Selena Gomez. There’s Rouge Noir, a deep burgundy that’s as rich, sophisticated, and sought-after as a glass of French red. Last but not least, there’s Pirate, a classic cool-toned red that looks good on *literally* everyone.

While everyone and their mother seems to be a fan of these almost mythical Chanel shades, I’ve noticed that other, equally chic shades don’t get the attention they deserve. Apparently, Selena Gomez agrees with me, because she wore a “velvet noir” manicure to the 84th annual Golden Globes last night, and it featured one of Chanel’s most underrated and elegant nail colors (IMO).

Celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik created this sultry, film-noir manicure. He shared an up-close image of his work on Instagram, captioning it, “Selena Gomez’s velvet noir mani.” It perfectly complemented her old-Hollywood hair (styled by celebrity hairstylist Renato Campora) and her flawless makeup (applied by celebrity makeup artist Hung Vanngo using Rare Beauty products).

While many people might use the word “edgy” to describe black nail polish, this is proof that the word “elegant” also applies. The key, per Bachik’s Instagram, is to be “meticulous” with the manicure prep. This involves pushing back and/or clipping the cuticles and filing the nails into a pristine, uniform shape (Bachik and Gomez chose a long, square one). It also helps to use the right black nail polish—one that’s glossy, inky, and sophisticated. For that, Bachik and Gomez chose an underrated shade: Chanel’s 161 Le Diable En Chanel.