09-07-2025
'Milk Nails' Are The Perfect Summer Manicure For Minimalists - Here's How To Recreate Them
Anyone well versed in the endless array of summer nail trends doing the rounds right now will be au cour with juicy Korean Jelly nails, the new high-shine aura manicure, and colourful cat-eye fingertips. But if you veer more towards a softer aesthetic, the trend to have on your radar this summer is 'milk nails'.
Destined for those who favour manicure minimalism, milk nails are the epitome of a classic 'quiet luxury' mani - milky or cream whites with a sheer or translucent finish - and have been filtering onto Instagram feeds this summer as welcome respite from the loud neon and colourful French tips that have been circulating online.
'A much softer version of a white manicure, the milk nail manicure is a minimalist nail trend achieved by applying a semi-sheer white or pale nude polish to paint a more subtle wash of colour to mimic a soft and creamy 'milky' appearance,' says Ami Streets, a session manicurist for Kure Bazaar.
Milk nails tap into growing demand for 'quiet luxury' manicures; effectively, your-nails-but-better trends that centre upon glossy finishes and nude bases. 'This look has become popular because it looks super chic on any nail length. The neutral colour looks clean and polished, and works perfectly as an understated shade that complements any skin tone and ensemble - it's a great effortless but elevated look,' shares Streets.
There are a number of different variations on the trend taking shape too. 'The classic milky white is the most iconic but for a modern twist, chrome or shimmer finishes can be layered over the milky base to create a glazed or pearl-like effect, (this looks gorgeous as an update to a french manicure with a milky base and glazed tip),' notes Streets. You can also add 3-D accents for a more maximalist take on the trend, or add depth using an aura finish.
First, choose your shape – almond, square or round. Next, choose between polish, gel or BIAB. 'To emulate the milk nail manicure at home with regular polish I'd recommend Essie's Allure or Marshmallow shades, (Allure is slightly creamier and warmer in colour and works well for deeper skin tones) or OPI's Funny Bunny, (one of the classic go-to colours for this look and popular with celebrities) as they have a beautiful high shine finish,' shares Streets. 'I also love Kure Bazaar's Beige Nail Hardener for those looking for a tinted treatment product with added nail care to improve the health and appearance of natural nails over time.'
You can also custom build your milky base. 'If you already have a favourite sheer nude or soft pink tone polish you can always custom-mix a milky base using a drop of pure white polish and adjust the opacity by applying either one or more layers for your perfect finish,' she notes. Finally, the key to nailing this manicure lies in the high-shine finish so add a final glossy top coat.
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Amelia Bell is the Multiplatform Beauty Director for ELLE UK and Harper's Bazaar, developing beauty strategy, writing, editing, and commissioning, and leading beauty content across both sites. Amelia has a particular interest in wellness and longevity, exploring the skin-mind connection, and decoding the latest treatments, tweakments and runway trends. She also has bylines for Women's Health, Refinery29, British Vogue, Harrods Magazine, and more.
