Why the next big manicure trend might already be on your plate

Beauty trends have always borrowed from the world around us, but lately, the inspiration is looking increasingly edible. Nail colours and finishes are taking cues from the foods and drinks that fill our feeds, from translucent coconut jelly to creamy strawberry milk and glossy glazed doughnuts. This new category of manicures feels playful and moody, while still fitting neatly into the wider obsession with glossy, minimalistic nails.

What makes the trend particularly appealing is how wearable it can be. Food-inspired nails do not necessarily mean elaborate illustrations of fruit or tiny food charms. Often, it is simply about translating the colour, texture, or finish of something delicious onto your fingertips. Think milky whites, juicy yellows, translucent pinks, and high-shine finishes. Here are some food-inspired manicures worth taking to your next salon appointment.

Coconut jelly nails

Anne Hathaway may have just given the food-inspired manicure its biggest beauty moment yet. At the premiere of The End of Oak Street earlier this month, Hathaway stepped out with a sheer, glossy white manicure that quickly picked up the name “coconut jelly” nails. Created by celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik, the look had a soft, glass-like finish with subtle warm undertones.

The effect sits somewhere between coconut milk and translucent jelly, which explains the name. Unlike a traditional opaque white manicure, the polish allows some of the natural nail to show through, giving it a soft, almost wet-looking finish. Hathaway wore hers on short, square nails, proving the trend doesn't need length or elaborate nail art to make an impact. With her look already making the rounds online, coconut jelly nails are shaping up to be one of the season's easiest ways to update the classic white manicure.

Lemon nails

Lemon nails are bringing a little bit of the Mediterranean to your fingertips. The trend takes the bright, zesty yellow of a fresh lemon and turns it into a manicure, often paired with glossy finishes, white, or nude bases, and tiny citrus details. The look fits neatly into the larger return of Italian-summer beauty, with lemons, blue-and-white accents, and sunny yellow shades becoming a recurring motif across summer nail inspiration.

There are plenty of ways to wear it depending on how committed you are to the theme. A simple lemon-yellow polish works beautifully on short, rounded nails, while lemon French tips offer a more understated take. If you want to lean into the holiday mood, try tiny hand-painted lemons with blue detailing inspired by Mediterranean tiles. 

Fruit water nails

Fruit water nails take inspiration from the colourful glasses of water filled with strawberries, citrus slices, berries, and other fresh fruit. The manicure usually starts with a clear or barely tinted base, followed by tiny fruit details or flashes of colour.

The result is more delicate than maximalist. A couple of tiny strawberries, lemon slices, or orange details across each hand can give you the effect without turning the manicure into full-blown nail art. A glossy top coat ties everything together and gives the nails that freshly chilled, dewy look.

Strawberry milk nails

Strawberry milk nails are the softer, sweeter cousin of the classic milky manicure. The shade is a translucent pink with a creamy quality, sitting somewhere between baby pink and white. It has become a popular choice for anyone looking for a manicure that feels feminine and polished while remaining subtle.

The key is choosing a pink sheer enough to let your natural nail show through. Multiple thin coats can build the colour without losing its milky quality. On short, rounded nails, the effect is particularly clean and sophisticated.

Glazed donut nails

Few food-inspired manicures have had quite the cultural staying power of glazed donut nails. Popularised by Hailey Bieber and her longtime nail artist Zola Ganzorigt, the look combines a sheer, milky base with a pearlescent chrome finish that catches the light like a layer of glaze.

The original neutral version remains one of the easiest versions to wear, but the trend has expanded into pink, chocolate, and other tinted versions. For the classic take, ask for a sheer white or nude base topped with a fine layer of chrome powder. The result is glossy, reflective, and just subtle enough to work with almost any outfit.

Lead image: Getty Images

Also read: Everyone's asking for milky rose nails at the salon right now

Also read: Are bare lips back? Here's how celebrities are championing a lipstick-free look