Just when we thought the natural nail trend had been totally exhausted, Tess Daly stepped out with a ballet blush manicure to rival those of Hannah Waddingham, Cat Deeley, Amanda Holden, Anne Hathaway, and Alison Hammond. In other words, the style is by no means coming to a halt... and certainly hun-approved!
Over the weekend [12 July, 2026], celebrities from far and wide flocked to Wimbledon, many of whom were spotted sporting said nail trend. In amongst them? TV presenter Tess Daly with her take on the ballet slipper-toned mani.
It's clean, wearable, and totally forgiving on re-growth, meaning you can stretch that two-week infill appointment to three – or even four – weeks... I guess that all depends on your gumption, and perhaps more notably, when payday falls.
Side note: Name me a more iconic duo than Tess and Celia Imrie. I'll wait.
With that said, it's interesting to note that this trend comes at a surprising time. For me, summer gives us full permission to be delightfully impractical. Sun! Sea! Spritz-fuelled spontaneity! AKA, rainbow neon nails à la Davina McCall! However, as the public figures mentioned above show, many are paring it back with a more natural look for the 2026 season.
The thing is with beauty, there are no rules. Treat the art form as a creative outlet, and your body becomes a daily canvas. Whether that's through bold graphic eyeliner, cutting an Italian bob or a certain shade of nail art, beauty emphasises personal self-expression, not traditional cosmetic standards. So, while trends are there to inspire, let your freak flag fly!
Everyone's clicking on...
Ballet blush, you'll always have a place within the timeless classics, but for my upcoming holiday to Crete, I shall be opting for a bright coral shade – after all, it does accelerate a tan!
Ballet blush nail inspo
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Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
