“Ice Cream Nails” Are Summer 2025’s Version of the Lip Gloss Mani: How To Get the Look

Whenever our feeds serve us up velvet glass sets or intricate fruit designs, we engage—keep the opulent manis come, algorithm! But for many of us, the nail art we like to look at isn't necessarily the nail art we actually wear. Which is why there will always be a place for neutral, subdued mani trends. They're kind of the button down and slacks or little black dress of nail art: Appropriate for a myriad of situations and forever reliable.

The latest neutral nail art trend to hit our feeds is "ice cream nails." Pretty and soft, it's about as crowd-pleasing as a manicure can get. Keep reading to learn all about it.

What Are "Ice Cream Nails"?

"'Ice cream nails' feature a pink or nude base that smoothly transitions into a soft white shade at the nail tip," explains Naomi Yasuda, a Sally Hansen global nail partner. When I heard the term, I admittedly conjured up images of drippy nail art or glittery sprinkles. But the moniker does make sense: The look creates "the illusion of melted ice cream colors, like strawberry and vanilla," Yasuda adds.

If you're picturing something akin to an ombré French manicure, well, that’s because it kind of is. "Ice cream nails are the softest version of the classic baby boomer or ombré nail," says DND Gel nail artist Lauren Ortega, while Orly global educator Julie Ventura refers to them as a "twist on the iconic French Manicure. But instead of an obvious line, the soft white tip melts into a clean girl aesthetic, soft pink nude."

Why Are They Trending?

Ventura notes that the trend fits right in with all the "clean, minimalist, and timeless" looks that have gained traction over the last few years. (Think "old money" style or "rich girl" nails.) "They're a mix of everyone's favorite styles: The clean girl aesthetic and a classic white French," adds Ortega. "They do just enough without being so loud."

"It's an all-season nail look that can carry you through different wardrobe looks," says celebrity manicurist and KISS Nails & imPRESS Mani brand ambassador Gina Edwards. As such, they're "perfect for someone who wants to try out nail art on a subtle level.

How to Get the Look

To DIY this trend, you’ll need four polishes: A base coat, a sheer pink or nude, a white, and a glossy top coat. Start with the base coat to "protect your nails and extend the wear" of your manicure, Ventura advises. From there, you have two options:

Layer on one or two coats of your sheer pink or nude. Let that dry or cure, then add a touch of white polish to a makeup sponge. "Gently dab the polish from the sponge onto the tips of your nails [using] light, quick dabbing motions," Yasuda instructs. "Repeat this process two or three times per nail to build up the opacity of the white to your liking."

Start with your white polish, applying a thin coat to the tip of the nail and using an ombré brush "to quickly fade the color towards the middle of the nail," says Ventura. "Before the tip color dries, apply a thin coat of a soft nude or pink from the base to just above the free-edge, and use your ombre brush to tap and smooth out the blend line."

Regardless of which method you choose, you'll want to lock everything in with a glossy top coat for that "syrupy, high-shine glaze," says Ventura.

You also have the option of forgoing lacquer altogether and opting for press-ons. "Sally Hansen's Perfect Press-On Nails in Ombre-lievable are great at saving you the time and effort of creating the design yourself," says Yasuda, while Edwards likes Kiss' The Classy Collection in Players.

The "Ice Cream Nails" Starter Pack

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Article and picture taken from Byrdie

Article written by Eden Stuart