Milk-Bath Nails: What They Are and How to Wear Them

In a word, milk-bath nails would best be described as dreamy. In more words, the nail-art trend is an artistic portrayal of one of the most decadent, relaxing beauty treatments one could undergo: the milk bath (which, if you are unfamiliar, involves a mix of milk and water with a spiral of colorful flowers). Now, this nail trend doesn’t involve climbing into an actual bath of milk, but it does mimic the luxurious look of one on the tips of your fingers.

If you’re wondering what makes up a milk-bath nail look, manicurist Elle Gerstein, who has created works for celebrities like Blake Lively, Jennifer Lopez, and Jessica Chastain, breaks it down for us. “Milk-bath nails typically utilize acrylic powder and encase colorful dried flowers into the nail for gorgeous nail art,” she tells PS. You can also opt to lean into the “milky” color and skip the floral element, depending on your personal preference, which is something a lot of celebrities do. Gerstein also explains that creating this look shouldn’t take any longer than it does to do gel. “Depending on [the] length [of your nail] and how fast your tech is, [it could take] about an hour or two,” she says.

The nail trend has swept across Instagram as full-set manicures and accent nails. Rita Ora has worn milk-bath nails created by her go-to Los Angeles-based manicurist Lisa Kon. Sofia Carson, on the other hand, was spotted in them on a red carpet while promoting her Netflix movie “Purple Hearts.” Then you have Jennifer Lopez, who has worn multiple variations of the look on press tours and award show red carpets. If this manicure doesn’t scream versatile, we don’t know what does.

The best part about this trend is it looks beautiful on every nail length and shape. If you’ve been wanting to get the look but have no idea where to begin, check out the prettiest examples we could find of milk-bath manicures ahead.