From glazed donut nails to strawberry milk manis, beauty trends have long taken cues from what’s on our dessert menu. The latest? Ice cream nails.
A fresh take on the classic French, it features a subtle ombré effect where the milky white tip melts seamlessly into a sheer, glossy base – like the swirl of a perfectly whipped cone. Think pastel undertones, syrupy shine, and a finish so smooth it looks good enough to lick. Understated but ultra-polished, it’s the ultimate manicure for summer minimalists craving a sweet (but sophisticated) update. Here to tell you how to get the look is The GelBottle founder, Daisy Kalnina.
What are ice cream nails?
‘The ice cream manicure is a subtle ombre french, where the soft white tip blends into a glossy base. Think soft, pastel hues and a high-shine, syrupy gloss finish,’ says Kalnina.
‘At its core, the ice cream mani taps into the clean, glossy, “your-nails-but-better” aesthetic that has become popular, while also capturing the fun (and deliciousness) of the warmer season.
‘While the trend first came through with a more traditional French gradient of white and sheer strawberry pink, its versatility allows you to select a perfect pinky base.’
Soap nails vs ice cream nails
Both looks lean towards a clean, translucent aesthetic, but the key difference lies in the shade selection.
‘Soap nails are characterised by their sheer, milky, and often nude or very pale pink tones, aiming for a super natural, almost “just washed” look,’ reveals Kalnina. ‘The focus is on healthy-looking, subtly enhanced nails. The ice cream manicure combines gradients with a high-shine, syrupy finish. While it can also have a milky quality, it’s more about celebrating those delicate strawberry hues.’
How to get ice cream nails
As always, any gel polish application should be done by a qualified nail technician. Here the steps you need:
- Prep: The technician will start by thoroughly prepping your nails – cleaning, shaping, buffing, and ensuring the cuticle area is neat.
- Base: A thin layer of gel base coat – or BIAB if preferred – will be applied and cured under a UV/LED lamp.
- White tip: Your tech will lightly dab white gel polish at the tips with an ombre brush, gently blending downwards to soften the edges.
- Colour: After applying the white tip, your tech will then lightly blend your chosen colour, in thin, even layers, curing after each coat.
- Top coat: A top coat will be applied to seal the design and add shine, followed by a final cure.
- Finishing touches: The technician will hydrate the skin with a rich cream or balm and apply cuticle oil.
How to do ice cream nails at home
‘For those looking to achieve this look at home, you can absolutely do so using regular nail polish,’ says Kalnina.
- Start by shaping your nails into a soft, rounded silhouette – somewhere between oval and almond or your desired shape.
- Gently buff the surface to smooth any ridges and prep for polish.
- Massage a reparative serum into the nail bed and cuticles to nourish and strengthen the area. If your nails tend to be brittle or prone to splitting, a strengthening base coat is your best friend – apply this first to protect and fortify.
- Next, using a white nail pen or a fine brush, paint a delicate French tip. Let it dry completely before moving on.
- Then, sweep on two coats of a sheer, milky pink polish across the entire nail, including over the tip. This creates the signature soft-focus, swirled effect that defines the ice cream manicure.
- Seal everything in with a high-gloss, transparent top coat for that syrupy, gel-like shine.
- Feeling playful? Swap the white tip for a soft strawberry pink to create a strawberry whip effect – it’s a fun twist on the classic that’s still beautifully understated.
If you have curing light at home, opt for The Gel Bottle Inc Grace BIAB – it’s the perfect universal dusty rose builder gel that is flattering for all skin tones. Follow with The Gel Bottle Inc Kiss BIAB, a delicate sheer blush pink builder gel. Build opacity or keep it sheer for versatile, chic nail designs.
Read next:
Cut through the noise and get practical, expert advice, home workouts, easy nutrition and more direct to your inbox. Sign up to the WOMEN’S HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Perdita Nouril is the Beauty Editor for Women’s Health UK. She has worked in the beauty industry for 15 years since graduating from the University of Nottingham. Adept at exploring the colossal world of beauty, she loves to scratch beneath the surface to debunk the myths, decode the science and challenge traditional notions of beauty. You can always find her preaching sermons on the power of a red lip, extolling the virtues of a decent serum and championing the very best female beauty founders.
You can find Perdita on Instagram on @perditanouril
