Milky White Nails Are the Simplistic Trend You've Been Waiting For

There’s nothing quite like bold, bright nail polish, but sometimes a timeless, neutral manicure is the way to go. If you’re a fan of the latter, you’re sure to fall in love with the latest nail trend: milky nails. Milky white nails have been popping up on our Instagram and Pinterest feeds, and we’re just a little bit obsessed. The trend doesn’t just involve painting your nails in a coat of white polish—there’s more to it than that! While it isn’t as simple as a single coat of polish, we promise it’s up there on the list of simple yet stylish manicure ideas. Below, learn exactly what the milky nail trend is and how to DIY it with milky white nail polish.

WHAT ARE MILKY WHITE NAILS?

This nail trend has been seen on our favorite celebrities and all over social media as of late, and for a good reason. Milky nails meet in the middle of opaque, white polish and a sheer white mani. The result? A beautiful, semi-opaque white nail look that, as you can probably guess, mimics the appearance of milk. There are different variations of the trend, but you’ll find long, acrylic nails paired with notes of off-white and nude tones at the top of your Google search. In love already? We certainly are. If you want to give the trend a try for yourself, you can create an at-home version with our step-by-step instructions.

HOW TO GET A MILKY NAIL LOOK

Ready to DIY your milky white nail look? Here’s what to do.

What you’ll need:

Clear press-on nails

Nail glue

Nude nail polish

White nail polish

Makeup sponge

Cotton swab

Nail polish remover

Top coat

Get the look:

STEP #1. APPLY YOUR NAILS

To begin, use a bit of nail polish remover to ensure you’re starting with a clean, bare surface. Then, use nail glue to apply clear, acrylic fake nails. Clear acrylics will help you achieve that slightly sheer effect that’s synonymous with milky nails.

BONUS: SHAPE YOUR NAILS

While this isn’t a necessary step, you’ll find that most milky nails feature a beautiful coffin shape. This nail shape is filed straight-across, but curves slightly inward as you near the tip.

STEP #2. GRAB YOUR POLISH

Next, apply one thin coat of nude nail polish to each of your nails. This is where things get a bit more complicated. To create your milky nail look at home, you’ll want to use an ombré nail technique. To do this, apply your nude nail polish to the edge of a makeup sponge and white nail polish just below it. Then, press the edge of the sponge onto your dry, nude nail just slightly away from the cuticle. The result should be a gradient effect transitioning from nude to white.

STEP #3. BUILD YOUR LOOK

Using a clean makeup sponge, apply white polish on the sponge and press it at the end of your nail. The goal is to have a more opaque, white look at the tip of your nail and a sheer, nude shade toward the cuticle.

STEP #3. CLEAN THE EDGES

After your nail polish has dried, you’ll likely be left with white nail polish on the sides of your fingers from using the makeup sponge. Luckily, there is a quick fix. Dip a cotton swab in nail polish remover, and carefully remove any polish on your skin or cuticles for a clean, precise manicure.

STEP #4. APPLY A TOP COAT

You don’t want your milky nails to chip prematurely, do you? To help your DIY manicure last, smooth on a clear top coat. To go with the sheer, milky look, use one that has a high-shine finish.

STEP #6: MOISTURIZE

The manicure step you should never skip? Moisturizing your hands and nails. Trust us, you don’t want dry cuticles ruining your mani. Apply the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Manuka Honey All Over Balm - Face, Neck, Chest and Hands as your finishing touch.

Next up: We mentioned nail shapes, but coffin nails aren’t your only option. In case you’re curious, here’s How to Choose the Right Nail Shape.