Dua Lipa’s Grand Prix Manicure Combines Two of the Chicest Nail Trends of the Summer
What happens when Dua Lipa debuts not one, but two, stylish manicure trends? Beauty-editor mania, let me tell you. When the singer was photographed at the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday, my eyes quickly zeroed in on her artistic-yet-elevated fingertips (after spotting her Speedcat sneakers, of course); the mani appears sheer and milky upon first glance, but a proper zoom will have you noticing some stunning, strategically-placed shiny elements. Forget a classic French—this minimalist design immediately upgrades sheer polishes. Scroll ahead for all the pretty details, straight from Dua Lipa's manicurist herself.
Technically, Lipa has had this manicure for a minute. She first shared photos of her star-studded tips a week ago in Hamburg, Germany on the European leg of her Radical Optimism Tour. We can assume she adores the look, created by celebrity manicurist Michelle Class, as the pop star decided to maintain it for her Monaco Grand Prix appearance in Monte Carlo.
And when you take a closer look at the design, it's not difficult to see why Lipa's such a fan. The sheer pink base has an ultra-glossy finish, as if she had dipped her nails in rosewater; this aesthetic, aptly dubbed the "watery nail" trend, has taken over our feeds as one of the most elegant-looking polish choices of the summer. (Think milky nails, but even more sheer and glowy.)
As if one sophisticated nail trend wasn't enough, the manicure also features tiny silver stars scattered around the nail plate. This delicately simple design elevates the look just enough while keeping the overall effect understated and chic. "People love a balance between clean and artistic," celebrity nail artist Saccia Livingston previously told Who What Wear about this year's mani trends, which is why I suspect I can't get Lipa's look out of my head. It just perfectly toes the line between classic neutrals and statement nail art.
While Class didn't reveal the exact polish used for Lipa's watery base, she did tag European brands Kinetics Beauty and Lucy Pastorelli Tools on Instagram. I'd wager she used a sheer number like Nude By Nude or Rose Petal, plus a sharp-tipped spatula like this Multi-Tool to place each metallic star. Luckily, you can recreate an identical look using an array of polishes and decals, so keep scrolling for my personal picks.
Shop the Trend:
Manucurist
Active Glow in Raspberry
Infused with nourishing actives, this sheer polish-slash-treatment gives nails a "cool rose glow."
Essie
Nail Art Studio Jelly Gloss Nail Polish in Blush Jelly
Blush Jelly looks exactly how it sounds: a sheer, subtle kiss of pink.
Gelcare
Rose Water Gel Nail Polish
This Dior number tinges your nails the faintest shade of pink with a whole lot of glow.
Chanel
Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Ballerina
IHUKEIT
Silver Star Nail Art Decal Stickers
These sticker sheets come with a few different star shapes.
BSBTBZ
Star Nail Stickers
Fancy gold, rose gold, or inky black stars instead? This pack of six has you covered.
HALF MAGIC
Adornment Tweezers
These tweezers are technically marketed for face gems, but I like to use them for nail art projects too.
OPI
Nail Lacquer in Bubble Bath
OPI's Bubble Bath is a forever-classic base.
OPI
Nail Lacquer in Funny Bunny
If you prefer a cloudy-white finish as opposed to a sheer pink, Funny Bunny is a superb choice.
