Selena Gomez and Heidi Klum have spoken: Vanilla chai nails are the official minimalist nail trend for fall 2024.
Beverage-inspired manicures are currently trending (see: Gomez’s recent apple cider manicure), and celebrities and beauty lovers are especially obsessed with vanilla chai nails for the season. Nearly nude but not quite, vanilla chai proves that neutrals don’t have to be boring.
Celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik, whose clients include Gomez, Klum, and Jennifer Lopez, tells Glamour that neutrals are very much “back” this season. “People want their nails to look their best: Clean, fresh, just polished, but subtle and chic,” Bachik says. “Neutrals are also so versatile as they work with every look.”
Another benefit? “When schedules are busy and you have to wait between nail appointments, you don’t notice the grow out like you would with darker shades,” he explains. It’s no wonder so many busy A-listers are fans of the low-maintenance style.
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As for what makes vanilla chai nails look so good? “I would describe vanilla chai nails as high-glossed, semi-opaque beigey nude,” Bachik tells Glamour. “The color should be a shade lighter than your skin tone matching the highlights, as this allows nails to stand out but remain deliberately understated.”
It’s “perfectly subtle and chic,” Bachik continues, calling it “the perfect nude.” It’s also editorial-approved: “I just used the look yesterday on my most important client, my daughter!” he says. “She’s hand-modeling for another campaign.” Cute!
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Feeling inspired? Here’s how to get the vanilla-chai-nails look yourself. “The key to this look is three things,” he says. “A perfect manicure is number one: I use my favorite Tweezerman tools, the Tweezerman x Tom Bachik Ultimate Nail Care Set, to create a meticulous manicure and foundation for enhancements before applying color.”
