If you had said a year ago that all the leading nail trends would be inspired by various liquids, you would've been greeted with a blank stare. But, after seeing the lemonade, lip gloss, and jelly nail trends popping off, something is clear: We all just want our nails to look incredibly shiny, much like the crab from Moana. One of the biggest nail trends this season is the milk bath manicure, and it just got an upgrade: meet the milky French manicure. Below is everything you need to know about the popular nail trend.
Meet the Expert
- Tom Bachik is a celebrity manicurist and Tweezerman pro partner.
- Michelle Nguyen is the founder and CEO of PLA, a beauty supply company based in Reno, Nevada.
The Milky French Manicure, Explained
Whereas a traditional French or American manicure calls for a super-sheer nude base color, the milky French manicure uses a semi-opaque white or off-white shade for a little more coverage. The rising mani trend has since been modeled by celebs like Jennifer Aniston, Lily Aldridge, and more.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/milkywhiteFrenchtipmani1-9bea462026b64eceb357ff90b41ea515.jpg "The Milky French Manicure Will Make You Feel Like That Girl (1)")
Milky French nails are trending for a couple of reasons, says Bachik. "First off, people are looking for another twist on the French and American mani as trends naturally evolve—plus, it's clean, minimalistic, and chic. Additionally, the milky white helps to camouflage shorter or imperfect nails, creating a sleek look."
What to Ask for at the Nail Salon
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/milkywhiteFrenchtipmani11-490a961a4a8f467b85f9381b8deabe71.jpg "The Milky French Manicure Will Make You Feel Like That Girl (2)")
For a true milky French manicure, Michelle Nguyen, founder and CEO of PLA, recommends asking for a soft white shade that is not totally opaque to put on top. "It should have some pink undertones with lots of shine and gloss," she says. Nguyen also adds that another way to achieve the milky French manicure is to use a pink base color and then a translucent, milky white shade to layer over it.
"Most salons should be able to achieve the milky French manicure, as it doesn't require a lot of extra tools or products," Nguyen says. But if, for some reason, your nail salon can't accommodate the style, she says to consider a very light pastel pink color at the base instead.
How to Get the Look at Home
Your gateway to the perfect milky French manicure begins with perfect nail prep. Bachick emphasizes that the absolute key to achieving a milky French manicure at home is with proper care and creating a nice foundation for the desired look.
"I always start by gently pushing back the cuticle to reveal the excess cuticle and get it off the nail." After that, Bachik trims excess bits and pieces with cuticle nippers from the Tweezerman xTomBachikUltimate Nail Care Set($59) and then uses a nail file to gently shape the nail. Finally, a milky French manicure requires a high-shine finish, and much like a smooth sports car gleams in the sun, you'll want to buff your nail beds to get rid of ridges that might dull the manicure's glow.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/milkywhiteFrenchtipmani12-64e0f4c6a98b4572b23f47421fbdc552.jpg "The Milky French Manicure Will Make You Feel Like That Girl (3)")
The next step is to apply a smoothing base coat like the CND RidgeFx ($6), and then create a micro French tip. "The key to this look is to apply the thin micro French white line first, then the 'milk bath' color over the top, which will help to create that hazy American manicure look," says Bachik. "If you want even a hazier look, use a makeup applicator sponge or sponge eyeshadow applicator to apply your thin white line at the tips."
If you're afraid of streaks with semi-sheer colors, Bachik reveals that a quality milky white actually won't streak. "It will give you an even coverage of semi-sheer, creamy white," Bachik adds, recommending looking for a great milky white like the Essie Nail Polish in Sheer Luck ($10). If you want a milky white all your own, Bachik recommends combining white and clear polishes until you create a shade to your liking.
Byrdie Tip
An alternative to Essie's (often) sold-out Sheer Luck polish is a more pink-hued color like Essie Gel Couture Polish in Fairy Tailor ($13) or Olive + June's The Queen Takes Her Tea With Milk ($9). For white polishes, Nguyen recommends PLA's sheer whiteBlushin' Baby ($7) or the pinkish-whitePlush Kisses ($7)to achieve the look.
Once your nails have reached peak milky French, Bachik reveals his secret for locking in a high-shine finish on all his celeb clients: "Applying two coats of clear can help to smooth out the surface and protect the white tip, then reapply a fresh coat of clear every three days to refresh the shine and add a new layer of protection." You can use the OPI Plumping Volumizing Top Coat ($15) for a standard manicure or the Orly Gel Topcoat ($30) for a gel mani.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/milkywhiteFrenchtipmani1-fdd91397f14e44d0b01e029ce15a9a59.jpg "The Milky French Manicure Will Make You Feel Like That Girl (4)")
And as with anything, don't be afraid to mix in your favorite colors or designs. Bachik says, "Add a pop of color by using your favorite color/s on the tips instead of white. Then, add iridescent or shimmer to create sparkle for a bit of glam."
FAQ
What specific colors or nail polishes work best for it?
Nguyen says that any pinkish-white should do the trick for a milky French manicure. "Just be sure that it's somewhat sheer, or the final result will just be a traditional French manicure," she explains
Can I do regular or gel for a milky French manicure?
The beauty of a simple nail look like the milky French manicure means, says Nguyen, is that it can be done with any type of nail polish. "Whether you like gel or regular lacquer, your salon should be able to use your preferred product to achieve the look," she says.
Can you add a design to it?
"Of course! The milky French manicure provides a perfect base for a design," says Nguyen. "The simplistic nature of this nail look means that you can experiment with tons of different nail art and designs to customize the look to your own style."
