If you’re looking for a sweet manicure heading into spring and summer, there’s a new one on our radar. Cake nails were the curveball design we didn’t see coming, but ever since we saw the most delicious inspo from Mel Graves at Overglow Edit, it’s all we’ve been able to think about.
Almost-edible nails are nothing new: Cherry manicures explode each summer, as do strawberry nails and fruity nails. Likewise, glazed-donut nails (and spin-offs of the trend, like strawberry-glazed donut and chocolate-glazed donut) have never fallen off the agenda since they took off in 2022.
But this latest yummy trend is even sweeter and more intricate than its predecessors.
What are cake nails?
If you like a rapid mani appointment, this one is not for you. The cake-nails trend re-creates the decorative layered icing that you would see draping a vintage-style cake in a beautiful patisserie. Expect ruffle, scroll, scallop, and even pearl details as well as finishing touches like edible flowers and cherries.
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Why are cake nails trending?
Now that we think of it, cake nails are an obvious evolution from some of the intricate detailing we’ve seen emerging from the coquette- and demure-nail trends. Namely: bow, heart, and pearl details. It equally leans into the vintage aesthetic we saw building last summer, with vintage headscarves, victory rolls, and Audrey updos all gaining popularity. Sabrina Carpenter, in particular, has been spearheading ’50s retro pinup references.
How to wear cake nails?
We love Graves’s traditional pastel-colored take on cake nails, as seen above, but we also expect to see it personalized with fun, vibrant colors like hot pinks alongside simpler nods to the trend with iced borders or Frenchies.
Pink-cherry cake nails
This soft-pink, mix-and-match iced mani with cherry and bow details is adorable.
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Pearl cake nails
This intricately iced pearl detail and cutesy cherry center is a showstopper.
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A version of this story was previously published in Glamour UK.
The post Cake Nails Are Spring and Summer’s Sweetest Manicure Trend appeared first on Glamour.
