In the same way that crisp white dresses and strappy sandals became ubiquitous after Memorial Day, so does the look’s counterpart. The perfect neutral shade when nude seems too subdued. Even stars know that white nails are the best choice for summer – and even beyond. With so many ways to dress up, enhance, enhance and remix a seemingly uncomplicated shade, a stark milky manicure can be its own statement or the ultimate canvas for a completely unique creation.
Some stars like Sabrina Carpenter, Jennifer Aniston and Kylie Jenner like to leave the classic color alone, providing a seamless addition to their red carpet and on-stage looks that doesn’t detract too much from their ensembles while still adding a pop of brightness. But for stars like Jennifer Lopez and Kerry Washington, white manicures are simply a radiant backdrop for layering intricate patterns — glue-on monograms, three-dimensional nail charms, and painstakingly hand-painted nail art. But what is the best thing about the beauty of blanc manis? Although they are always a summer hit, they are far from seasonal exclusives. Perfect for the beach on hot days, they suddenly turn into snowy white as things start to cold down.
Below, you’ll find inspiration for your next salon visit with a collection of celebrity-favorite white nail ideas.
Jennifer Lopez
Of course, Lopez can’t lend a hand but freshen up the uncomplicated white manicure with some personalized touches – it’s J.Lo, after all. Celebrity manicurist Tomek Bachik she transformed her almond-shaped nails into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece by adding gold monogrammed stickers, stud earrings, and all kinds of three-dimensional studs for texture.
Rihanna
Perfectly coordinated with sparkling gold rings, Rihanna remixed the classic French manicure, opting for metallic tips against a backdrop of pure white beds. Both colors lend a hand the other, which is a precursor to the colored tip trend that took over shortly after Rih debuted this look.
Sabrina Carpenter
On the simpler side, Carpenter subtly enhanced her milky white manicure with a hint of extra shine. It creates a delicately pearly effect that is only enhanced when summer sunlight falls on each nail.
Kerry Washington
In such a sophisticated approach to nail art, Washington paired black and white floral nails with a tight, sensual gown. By concentrating the shiny design on just a few nails, the art really stands out.
Zendaya
The beauty of white nails is how well they stand out against other colors, making them the perfect backdrop for any other shade you can imagine. Zendaya capitalized on this effect by applying a blue striped pattern to her own white nails, an abstract take on the timeless French manicure.
Taylor Swift
Swift has worn almost exclusively white nails throughout the year, a nod to the color palette she associates with her latest album. She incorporated an aesthetic Easter egg into her Super Bowl outfit and applied vivid white nail polish to her low, natural nails.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Look closely – what do you notice about Ross’s white nails? The length and elegant, elongated shape may catch your eye at first, but at second glance you’ll see that her manicure is speckled with a three-dimensional raindrop effect.
Cardi B
The queen of hidden details, Cardi B, actually matched her white manicure to her shoes, but not in the way you might think. The underside of each long, acute nail is covered with a real blood-red crust – this is… Louboutin manicure and it’s brilliant.
Jennifer Aniston
Aniston generally prefers to stick to subdued nail colors, but that doesn’t mean she can’t play with trends. For her red carpet moment, she opted for a “milk bath” manicure, which features sheer shades of white, nude and pink for a subtle, hand-flattering glow.
Kylie Jenner
Square nails are back in a gigantic way, and Jenner’s tidy white manicure really helps accentuate the trendy style. In a cold move, they contrast tonally with her cream suit, which makes her nail polish look even brighter.
