"Milk bath nails" are one of the star manicures of the season. Photo: AFP
A manicure inspired by a soak in a tub filled with milky beauty potions? The idea may seem strange, but it's a trend that seems to be taking hold in the beauty world.
The concept is to reproduce the milky hue of one of the oldest – and most famous – skincare rituals on your nails.
An ancestral beauty ritual, milk baths are not only reputed to help relieve tension, they're also claimed to nourish and soften the skin.
In fact, the milk bath's renown as a beauty ritual goes very far back – legend associates it with Cleopatra, who, it is said, bathed in donkey's milk to preserve the beauty and youthful appearance of her skin.
Judging from the products on offer in cosmetics aisles today, the ritual seems to persist, albeit in more modern forms.
And its popularity seems to extend beyond the skin to other beauty procedures such as manicures.
For proof, look no further than the "milk bath nails" trend, which counts nearly as many fans in beauty salons as on social networks.
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A discreet, creamy white tone
The trend emerged on social networks at the start of summer, but – unlike some other trends – its popularity continues to the point of becoming one of this season's must-have manicures.
Like "blueberry milk nails", a more summery style, "milk bath nails" feature a milky, whitish tint and finish, reminiscent of the Egyptian queen's favourite ritual.
Be careful, however, not to use a matte white nail polish but rather look for creamy shades with a glossy finish, to reproduce the famous milk bath to perfection.
On social networks, "milk bath nails", also more simply known as "milky nails", have already racked up more than 70 million views, and continue to get love around the world.
To reproduce the manicure, all you need to do is buy a creamy-white, almost translucent nail polish from any brand, and apply two coats – after the base coat, of course.
The final step is to choose and apply a top coat, which should give the whole look a glossy, milk-bath effect.
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Understated nails
"Milky" manicures have been all the rage on social networks for some time now.
It started with "matcha latte nails" and "strawberry milk nails" in spring, followed by "blueberry milk nails", and continues with the simplest version to date: "milk bath nails".
But it could well be that this inspiration will give rise to many more variations, and herald the return of the slightly bolder – or at least less neutral – "chocolate milk nails".
When it comes to manicures, simplicity seems to be the order of the day this season.
We've seen it recently with "chai latte nails", a lavender-taupe shade inspired by the famous spiced tea drink, as well as with the return of the classic French manicure, which now comes in an infinite number of versions that are both discreet and elegant.
After summer, typically the season of more daring and playful looks, it's time for understated styles. – AFP Relaxnews
