I thought we'd seen every possible iteration of a sheer nail colour already. Soap nails, French gloss nails, pearl nude nails, vanilla cream nails – we've exhausted every way to coat your nails in a soft wash of colour, right? Wrong. Enter lychee nails, the latest manicure trend I'm seeing everywhere and one that's Anne Hathaway-approved. The perfect blend of pink and white with a glossy, juicy finish, they're poised to be the go-to sheer manicure for summer and beyond.
I’ll never forget my first sip of a lychee martini. Sweet, cool, crisp, but mouthwatering and juicy – lychee has a delicate tropical flavour that’s unlike the briny dirty martinis I tried to force myself to love when I first moved to New York. It might not have the same elitist vibe, but it’s like the fun little sister who’s always dressed in her Y2K best and wouldn’t be caught dead in a pair of skinny jeans. That’s exactly the vibe of lychee nails, a subdued but fruity take on a traditional sheer manicure.
For the most part, lychee nails can be summed up as a light pink hue that’s almost white. It’s got a white base, especially if there are a few coats built up to an opaque colour, that quells the vividness of the pink. The result? A sheer, milky pink with a jelly-like, glossy finish. Need some inspo to try it yourself? Ahead, a few chic takes on lychee nails, from ultra-sheer and almond shapes to short squoval nails.
Lychee nail inspiration
Opaque lychee nail polish
Aptly named “lychee,” this Gelcare polish is described as a “delicate milky white, enhanced with a subtle rosy undertone, reminiscent of the skin of a juicy, delicious fruit.” If that doesn’t describe the entirety of the lychee nail trend, IDK what does. If you want a true lychee colour, opt for two to three coats to cut down on the sheer polish’s translucency.
Almond lychee nails
These long, almond-shaped nails perfectly show off a lychee mani. The more shine, the better – so make sure to top everything off with a really shiny top coat. (Super clean, hydrated cuticles help too.)
Short lychee nails
But! Lychee nails look just as good without the length. This squoval shape makes the sheer finish look even more polished and clean.
Everyone's clicking on...
Sheer lychee nails
I can already picture about a million brides with this manicure. A slightly sheerer take on lychee nails, go for one to two coats, max, then layer on a shiny top coat for a softer take on the jelly nail effect.
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Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair, makeup, nail, and fragrance stories. She spends half of her day scrolling on Instagram, spotting new nail trends as they emerge.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
