"Milk Nails" Are a Thing Now, and They're As Classy as Can Be

Here at Who What Wear UK, we love a timeless nail design. Sure, while colourful French tips and nail art are so fun to experiment with (we see you, spring nail trends) we're always on board with a classic nail trend. Whether it's neutral pinks or classic reds, there are some nail looks that are just incredibly timeless. They are the type of nail trends that will take you through work, weekends, weddings and everything in between. If there's one trend we've seen building momentum over the coming months, it's milky nails. And it's the chicest, suits-all nail trend we've seen for a while.

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(Image credit: @harrietwestmoreland)

Much like the sheer 'clean girl' nails we saw last year, the milky nails trend features a semi-sheer wash of white or pinky-white polish, which instantly makes your nail beds look bright and healthy. It's like turning up the brightness on your nail beds to make them look smooth and even-toned. Nail ridges? We don't know her.

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(Image credit: @harrietwestmoreland)

This trend suits everyone's hands, whether your nails are long or short. It instantly makes your nails look like you've had an expensive nail appointment. Ahead, you'll find more milk nail designs, as well as the best milky nail polishes to create the look. 

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(Image credit: @harrietwestmoreland)

I'm obsessed with how neat and pretty this mani looks.

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(Image credit: @harrietwestmoreland)

Chanel have a range of pretty pinks. For a milky finish, we recommend La Base Camelia for a sheer finish.

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(Image credit: @nailartbyqueenie)

Proof that the milky nail trend looks just as great on long nails as it does on short.

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(Image credit: @harrietwestmoreland)

If you want to dial up your milky manicure, then it provides the perfect base for a French tip.

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(Image credit: @harrietwestmoreland)

The milk nail trend looks best with immaculate cuticles and hydrated hands. These look super healthy. 

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(Image credit: @betina_goldstein)

Milk bath nails are also trending, which features a milky hue with flowers or petals encased within the polish. If that's a bit too much DIY, you could top your milk nails with a smattering of floral nail art instead, like this pretty mani.

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(Image credit: @harrietwestmoreland)

Milky nails and icy, encrusted tips are a sparkling way to take your milky mani into the evening.

Shop milky nail polishes:

Eleanor Vousden
Beauty Editor, Who What Wear UK

Eleanor Vousden is the beauty editor for Who What Wear UK. She was previously deputy editor at Hairdressers Journal, health writer at Woman & Home and junior beauty editor at beauty website Powder. She has also contributed to Wallpaper and Elle Collections with written and styling work.

Working as a beauty journalist since 2015 after graduating in fashion journalism at the London College of Fashion, she has been highly commended at the BSME Talent Awards for her work on Powder and also contributed to the title winning Website of the Year at the PPA Awards.

Eleanor’s journalistic focus is to provide readers with honest and helpful beauty content. Through words, video and live broadcast, she has interviewed several celebrity makeup artists, hairstylists and top dermatologists throughout her career, as well as celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Scarlett Johansson. She has a particular interest in finding solutions for acne and eczema, which she has experienced firsthand. She has also amassed a large collection of fragrances and can never say no to a new candle.

When she’s not writing or testing the latest beauty product or treatments, she’s on the seafront in her hometown of Brighton and Hove, where she lives with her partner and her miniature dachshund.