The world is on fire, your group chat is debating climate migration logistics, and the stock market graph looks like your heartbeat during a horror movie. In these unpredictable times, it seems the only stable thing in life is your cuticles. Enter Babycore Nails — the delightfully unserious, wildly comforting manicure trend that’s taken over Summer 2025.
What Is A Babycore Manicure?
At its core, Babycore is a celebration of all things soft, sweet, and shamelessly nostalgic. Think pastel pinks, milk whites, baby blues, duckling yellows, and lavender fogs but with the occasional glitter sticker or 3D teddy bear. Some people go for 3D add-ons like mini pacifiers or glittery charms to make their nails look like tiny toys. It’s a fun way to show off your inner child and add a touch of innocence and whimsy to your look—think of it as nail art straight out of a storybook.
Hearts and cute faces are hallmarks of babycore nails (Getty Images)
The trend is catching on because women are getting tired of “maximalism” and hard gel extensions make simple things like opening a purse into a challenge. Babycore is part rebellion, part regression. After years of almond-shaped chrome talons and aura nails reading our chakras, we’re collectively crawling back to the comforts of babyhood.
What Babycore Nails Look Like
The Classic Pastel Mani: A straight-up wash of lemon sorbet, lilac haze, or sky blue on short, squoval nails. Clean, simple, sweet. Like your favourite nursery rhyme but sponsored by a cosmetics store.
Tiny Baby Stickers: Hearts, smiley faces, stars, clouds, bunnies. Basically your old sticker book, now in grown-up gel form. This is your chance to live your Polly Pocket fantasy.
Soft Gradient Baby Tips: Ombre styles that fade like a sunset in a lullaby. A blush pink melting into peach or a blue fading into mint.
3D Jelly Accents: Bows, pearls, even little bears stuck right on top. Not for the weak of heart.
Matte Baby Nails: Like velvet for your fingertips. Matte pastels = soft drama. This one says, “I’m gentle but I have opinions.”
Can You DIY It?
Absolutely. All you need are pastel nail paints (look for breathable or vegan ones), maybe a dotting tool for tiny designs, stickers and the courage to commit to twee. If you’re really feeling fancy, press-on kits are now available with pre-made Babycore designs. Just peel and stick.
How to Wear Babycore Like a Grown-Up
Babycore can be chic. Here’s how to not look like you’ve lost your adult supervision:
- Pair your baby blue nails with a white chikankari kurta and juttis — you’ll look like a monsoon daydream come to life.
- Baby pink tips with a soft Bandhani saree? Add a pearl ring and float down the street like a Rajshri heroine with a savings account.
- Wear your buttercup yellow nails with breezy linen kaftans, raffia slides, and a straw hat.
- Go full Gen Z: cargo pants, crop top, chunky sneakers, and cotton-candy nails. Add a pair of oval sunnies and pretend you’re late to a film shoot.
- Or throw Babycore into your normcore vibe: oversized shirt, jeans, clean-girl hair, and lavender matte nails.
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