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Glazed Donut Who? Milk Bath Nails Are the Latest Style for Spring (and Here's How to Get Them)

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The glazed donut nails trend is a thing of the past, because a new style is taking over our feeds. Meet milk bath nails. This milky manicure is a glossy style that's becoming a hit for spring. Here's everything you need to know about the latest trend and how you can recreate it at home with help from three nail artists.

Meet the Experts:

  • Rachel Apfel Glass is a nail expert and founder of GLOSSLAB, a membership-based nail salon in NYC, Texas and Florida.
  • Hannah Lee is a licensed manicurist and brand ambassador for Sally Hansen.

What Are Milk Bath Nails?

Milk bath nails use a layering technique that leaves a blurry, glossy finish. (FYI: It has nothing to do with drenching your mani in dairy). "The trend uses a creamy or sheer white nail polish and usually tiny dried flowers that are embedded into the milk look to resemble a fresh milk bath," explains Lee. It's an aesthetic style that was ripped straight from the early days of Instagram and Pinterest, where IRL milk bath portraits (especially for maternity photoshoots) were everywhere.

Why Are They So Popular?

Although donut glazed nails are out, the premise is still in. We're heavily into neutral glossy bases these days. (Just look at another trend popping up, lip gloss nails, that give off the same minimal idea.) "The lighter, neutral shades are super popular for spring and the warmer weather ahead. Plus, it looks good on any nail shape or length," says Glass. "Our clients love coming in and showing off their milk bath mani."

From Jennifer Lopez to Blake Lively, celebs are also getting in on the fun and have recently been rocking it on the red carpets. It's not necessarily a new concept, but it's a aesthetically-pleasing style that we keep coming back to over and over again.

How Do I Recreate the Trend At Home?

The trend is pretty simple to recreate at home. It takes these four steps to get your chic mani.

  1. Prep your nails. You'll want to trim, shape and apply a base coat before you get started on the look.
  2. Apply a coat of white nail polish. As mentioned, Glass recommends an opaque coat of white (or soft pink) polish for sheer coverage. Another helpful tip: mix together a white polish with a top coat to get that milky texture.
  3. Lay down dried florals. Use small pieces of decal and sprinkle them at random spots to get 'the flowing' effect. If you don't have dried petals at hand, consider stickers, stamps or a free draw instead.
  4. Finish off with another coat of the sheer color before applying top coat. Then you're ready to go!

Now, does our fresh manicure come with a spa appointment or?


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Beauty and Cultures Editor

  • Writes trend stories, product reviews and how-tos across beauty, cultures, fashion and entertainment
  • Over 5 years of experience as a Beauty Editor
  • Studied journalism with a minor in creative writing at SUNY New Paltz