Not everyone can commit to a fresh mani all year round, but ask any professional manicurist and they'll tell you that summer is the time when bookings increase. After all, it's the season of weddings, festivals, and holidays—exactly the kinds of occasions that align with a fresh new set of nails.
If you want to be ahead of the latest nail trends for the month, then right now TikTok is the place to find them. From blueberry nails to milk bath nails, the app has kicked off what are set to be July's biggest nail colour trends. Another tried and tested source? Our pro nail tech friends, of course. To find out which nail colours are set to be most popular in the month ahead, I spoke to manicurist Ashleigh Bamber to share the colour requests she's getting from clients right now.
The hashtag #milkbathnails has over 4.7 million views on TikTok.
Below, you'll find all the info and inspo you need on what are set to be trending nail colours in July. Plus, plenty of product recommendations, so you can recreate them even if you don't have time for a last minute salon appointment.
The Best Nail Colours for July:
1. Blueberry Milk
With celebrities like Sofia Riche, Dua Lipa, and Zendaya on board with what TikTok has termed 'blueberry milk nails', it's a given that this is going to be a trending nail colour throughout July—and probably for the rest of the summer.
"These are essentially a new take on baby blue nails," says Bamber. "But don't opt for anything too bright. Instead look for pale, milky shades that have a hint of lilac in them." If you can't find the perfect colour, she has a few DIY hacks up her sleeve. "To really perfect this colour for my clients I've been mixing together a true baby blue polish with a really sheer lilac."
Shop the trend:
This pale blue is an OPI classic—one of our favourite formulas for a long-wearing, high-shine mani.
Chanel's pale, lilac-toned blue is exactly the shade we're after.
This Gucci shade combines the perfect balance of purple and blue.
2. Barbie Pink
With the much anticipated release of Greta Gerwig's Barbie later this month, bright pink nails are set to be a key nail colour trend for summer 2023. "This is a really bright and vibrant magenta pink," says Bamber. "For clients who opt for nail art, I've been incorporating this shade into bold geometric designs, and have also had a lot of requests for Barbie-pink French tips," she adds.
Shop the trend:
A Barbie pink nail polish that also happens to be vegan, cruelty free, and long-wearing? This ticks all our boxes.
Use this fine-tipped marker to easily incorporate Barbie pink into your DIY nail art designs.
These nail wraps are not only the perfect Barbie pink, but they give the effect of a gel manicure—minus the downtime.
3. Milk Bath
Calling all minimalists! This sheer and chic colour trend is proving popular for those who prefer simple designs and natural-looking nails. "I think of milk bath nails as a blended French manicure," says Bamber. "It's sheer, cool-toned, and leans slightly pink—the idea is that it looks like a healthy natural nail."
Shop the trend:
This sheer pale pink coats nails with a high-shine finish.
If you're a gel nail polish user, Bamber recommends this MyLee shade for a milk bath base.
Essie has a number of sheer and neutral shades to choose from, but this particular one is perfect.
4. Matcha
We've seen everything from mint green and pistachio green to Bottega green come and go this year, but the latest green nail colour trend to kick off is matcha green. "True matcha green is a really bright, electric green," says Bamber. "But since pastel shades are so popular this year, most clients prefer a muted take on this colour." Again, she recommends using this shade for French tips or incorporating it into a geometric nail art design.
Shop the trend:
True to its name, this pale matcha green is so calming.
This pale matcha green would look so pretty in a French tip design.
Fancy a brighter take on matcha? Try this instead.
5. Neon Yellow
And if you're after something that more obviously screams summer? "Neon nails are always a popular request at this time of year, and especially during festival season," explains Bamber. "I love pairing this eye-catching shade with a neutral background to really make it stand out."
Shop the trend:
Every shade of neon—all bases covered.
The perfect neon green.
Can't decide on a specific shade of neon? Choose the full rainbow instead.
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