My summer manicures have pretty much become synonymous with refreshing drinks. From coconut latte to espresso nails, the biggest trends all resemble a café menu full of refreshing beverages. And while I might be biased as a purple nail lover, the latest trending shade just might be the best drink-inspired manicure yet—meet lavender milk nails.
“Lavender milk nails are sheer, milky, and delicate, which is perfect for summer,” explains California-based nail artist Ramon Duran (aka @craftedbyaprince), who has majorly popularized the lavender milk nail trend on social media. Ahead, Duran explains exactly how to get the summer-ready nails, plus I rounded up a bunch of inspo, perfect to save ahead of your next manicure appointment.
Ahead, everything you need to know about the lavender milk nail trend.
What are lavender milk nails?
Lavender milk nails are a more muted take on traditional lavender polish, combining a sheer, glossy base with a light shade of purple, creating a manicure that's translucent and, well, milkier.
“To me, lavender milk nails are a soft, creamier version of classic lavender,” says Duran. “It makes me think of a drop of lavender mixed into a glass of milk.” It's essentially your typical milky manicure with a lavender top coat, giving the pastel shade a frothy effect.
How to achieve lavender milk nails:
You can get a lavender milk manicure with both regular and gel polish, and it’s super simple to DIY. “This can be achieved with any milky white base and sheer lavender on top,” says Duran. Start by grooming and prepping the nail, then coat on one layer of white polish. “I always use OPI’s Funny Bunny first, then once that dries, I’ll add one coat of OPI’s Polly Want a Lacquer.” And the result is a light purple that looks good enough to drink.
And if you want something a bit more elevated than a monochromatic polish, there are a bunch of chic ways to amp up a lavender milk mani. “You can always add a glazed chrome on top to give it that next-level shine,” explains Duran. You can also go for French with a purple tip, or add your favorite nail art pattern like polka dots or gems.
Lavender milk nail inspo:
Meet the Expert
Ramon Duran, aka @craftedbyaprince, is a California-based nail artist and content creator. He is beloved for his editorial gel extension designs and creative collaborations with leading beauty brands like OPI, READY READY, and more.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo who covers all things nails—from the latest color trends to new polish launches. For this story, she found all the best lavender milk nail inspo and also tapped nail artist Ramon Duran for his insight.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
