From mermaid- and fairy-inspired glamour to the return of jelly sandals, this year is all about bringing back the things we loved as kids, so it’s no wonder ice cream nails are shaping up to be one of the biggest nail trends for summer 2024.
According to Juli Russell, DIY nail expert at Surrey Beauty, the sudden popularity of ice cream nails is expected: “One of the hottest trends this year is 3D nail decorations and charms,” ​​she points out, adding that these play a major role in most ice cream nail designs.
“Our deliciously dripping Ice Cream Dream Manicure is a velvety cream polish topped with chunky 3D glitter – a summer manicure you’ll want to eat,” explains Russell.
As for why this style is so trendy, aside from the obvious association with the childlike curiosity of summer, ice cream nails are not just cute, they’re also fully customizable, extremely versatile, and above all else, exciting. actually It’s easy to recreate at home.
“DIY is very easy and “It’s completely customizable,” Russell said. Glamour. And it really is: whether you prefer a minimalist manicure, French nails, vibrant colors, or mismatched nails, there are numerous ways to wear this trend.
One of the most popular and cutest ways to wear ice cream nails is to paint “dripping” ice cream on the nail tips instead of the classic French tip. This is what we call an ice cream French manicure. Other ice cream nail designs incorporate fudge, donuts, sprinkles, and more. It all depends on the aesthetic you prefer.
“The ‘secret sauce’ to creating this look is ice cream, which in this case is the large sprinkle-like glitter polish you buy at your favorite scoop shop,” says Russell. “You can choose an opaque colored base polish with large glitter particles, or a clear glitter polish, and apply it over a white or nude base.”
While whether a design is suitable for DIY will depend on your personal experience level, Russell uniformly recommends investing in the right nail tools beforehand: “For intricate nail detail work like this, I recommend a set of nail art brushes, which will make it easier to create those little nail art details,” she says.
Russell also suggests always starting with prepping the nails: “This involves pushing back the cuticles and filing the nail into the desired shape. Any shape will do, but oval and almond shapes work really well for this design.”
Next, apply a base coat to stop your polish from “melting away.” “Choose a creamy pastel color for an ice cream base, like this vanilla one from Nails Inc., or a pastel pink for a strawberry milk-flavored polish. I like this one from Fingerpaints,” she says.
Apply two thin coats, allowing the nail polish to dry after each layer, then grab your nail art brush and some white or semi-white nail polish.
