Summer is the time to indulge in more – more color, more relaxation, more playfulness. So why should our nails remain stuck in boring beige when they can sparkle in the colors of "poured" ice cream? If you're looking for the perfect summer manicure that's simple, elegant, and trendy, the answer is clear: soft serve nails. This sweet treat for your fingertips is a feast for the eyes and unexpectedly versatile – from the beach to a date.
Soft serve nails: The trend that quietly crept from TikTok straight into the best salons and Instagram feeds this year combines French manicure minimalism with the nostalgic charm of soft pastel iridescence. And all together it looks as if your nails just stepped out of a summer daydream – the kind where you have a cocktail in one hand and… well, nails like these in the other.
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What are they anyway? soft serve nails?
It is a gentle version ombré manicure, which plays with colors in a way that resembles a mixture of vanilla and strawberry ice cream. The classic combination is transparent pink base, which gradually flows into milky white tip – but the most enthusiastic trendsetters went one step further.
Popular shades for 2025 include:
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- Lavender pastel,
- pistachio green (yes, finally pistachio that's not just in gelato),
- peachy pink,
- and butter yellow, which looks like a sunset in manicure form.
Each combination is completed with high-gloss top coat, which adds that “milky” sheen – almost like it has glaze on the nails.
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What to order at the salon?
When you walk into a salon and want this look, your very first words shouldn't be "ice cream nails" - unless you want a look of disbelief. Instead, say you want "ombré French" or "blended gradient" manicure.
For classic look select:
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- Neutral pink basis
- Milky white tips
For playful summer version so:
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- Neutral base, which flows into pastel tips (choose one or more colors)
- Additionally, you can ask for chrome finish, which adds a touch of futurism. Who says you can't be nostalgic and ahead of the times at the same time?
How to create soft serve manicure at home (and avoid a nail cataclysm)
If you're a little crafty (or brave), you can create this look yourself. You'll need:
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- Neutral base coat
- Pastel varnish optional
- Small sponge (the one for eyeshadow works great)
- Top coat to conclude
Process:
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- Apply the base color and wait for it to dry completely.
- Apply the pastel color to the top third of the nail.
- Use the sponge to tap the edge of the paint down towards the center so that it blends nicely.
- Finish with glossy finishing layer for the effect of freshly served ice cream.
Pro tip: If you're just a little awkward, start with more natural tones – softer contrasts are more forgiving.
@lightslacquer soft serve nails 🍦 products used: clueless, flower girl & totally gelly. #summernails #softserve #diynails #diynailsathome #ombre #easynails #cleangirlnails #cleangirlaesthetic ♬ original sound – Litoo
Conclusion: A manicure that is not only a trend, but summer mood
Summer 2025 will be pastel, glittery and – why not – a little nostalgic. Soft serve nails are more than just a new trend. They are like summer childhood memory, wrapped in a modern design. Perfect for the beach, brunch, evening Aperol, or simply a selfie with a new ice cream.
