TREND TALK
From dish to digits
Why are clients so hungry for food & drink-inspired nails? REBECCA HITCHON explores the appeal of delicious-looking designs
Nail artist & content creator, Kreated By Kae, served up her favourite meal from the Pho restaurant on nails, crafted using SissiClay and featuring shades from The GelBottle Inc.
W hat’s the recipe for a long-standing nail trend? It’s simple: look to the kitchen. Food and drink-inspired beauty has been on our radar since 2022, when model, Hailey Bieber, showcased ‘glazed donut nails’. This was the start of a plateful of scrumptious stimuli for the nail industry, but why are food-focused styles so appealing to clients?
The impact of food and drink largely boils down to emotion. The consumables bring about feelings of comfort, joy and indulgence: positive emotions that consumers want to feel, and beauty brands aim to evoke via their products.
Sara Pinto, nail product director at Andreia Professional, affirms this, telling Scratch: “Food and drink have always been universal sources of happiness, comfort and creativity, so it’s no surprise that they’ve become inspirational for nail art. Designs can be deliciously eye-catching when infused with the textures, colours and finishes of food and drink. Think of the smooth creaminess of a latte, the iridescent shine of a glazed donut, or the vibrant freshness of fruit. These visuals evoke feelings of warmth, luxury and playfulness, which people want to reflect in their nail looks.”
This is relevant in today’s digital-focused world, where trends are rife and attention spans are short. Capturing a familiar feeling or memory pulls audiences out of their scroll holes and emotionally connects with them. It’s also worth noting the sensorial element of food and drink and how their appeal transcends visuals alone: something that other trend inspirations can’t do.
Sara Pinto
However, many food and
drink-inspired trends aren’t new – they’re simply rebranded for
newer generations, and this hasn’t
received a positive reaction from
all. While it may be easier to stick
to traditional descriptors of trends,
for example ‘powder blue nails’
rather than ‘blueberry milk nails’,
let me ask: which name caught your attention more and evoked a feeling or memory? I bet it was ‘blueberry milk nails’. Food and drink nail trend names are creative, relatable and memorable, injecting playfulness into beauty while creating an understanding of trends.
Elizabeth Barlow
“I believe that food and drink are huge inspirations for nail trends because their names and references are familiar and instantly recognisable,” notes Elizabeth Barlow, Lecenté Creator. “As soon as you hear ‘glazed donut nails’ or ‘latte nails’, you can picture the finish of the look. The names are clear, relatable and often tied to things that deeply appeal.”
Which food and drink inspirations have made the most impact on the nail world? Let’s explore...
“Food and drink nail trend names are creative, relatable and memorable, injecting playfulness into beauty while creating an understanding of trends.”
“Glazed donut nails incorporate a pearly
chrome finish layered over a sheer nude or
pink, achieving a chic, shimmery effect,” says Sara Pinto. Propelled into popularity by
Hailey Bieber’s go-to tech, Zola Ganzorigt
(@nailsbyzola), this trend remains popular
SCRATCH STAT
Scratch’s most popular Instagram and Facebook post of 2025 is a reshare of this English breakfast-inspired nail design by Jessica of @j3nnailedit. The post has amassed over 3.5 million views on Instagram and 2.5 million on Facebook.
Nails by Lecenté ambassador, Megan Flannery, using Create Gel Polishes in Mocha and White Magic, and Jelly Gel Polish in Soft Serve.
As their name suggests, latte nails feature creamy coffee tones, often with white marble effects to mimic a frothy finish. The trend hasn’t just remained focused on traditional coffees however, as variations like matcha lattes have become trending inspiration for nail looks.
The GelBottle Inc Gel Polish in Matcha Latte £15.95 + VAT
www.thegelbottle.com The celeb-approved ‘vanilla French’ manicure was coined by Zola Ganzorigt in 2023, with the nail artist creating the look for the likes of Adele and Kylie Jenner. What makes this trend different to the classic French mani is its softer and creamier white tip.
TREND TALK
“This autumn, I predict that gingerbread-inspired nails will trend,” shares Elizabeth Barlow. “For the festive season, I envisage that Champagne nails will be popular, and I’ll raise a glass to that!”
Sometimes referred to as ‘syrup nails’, the jelly nail trend involves using sheer and ultra-glossy nail colours to create a juicy, jelly-like appearance. A nod to the ‘90s and 2000s, this trend is particularly popular in Korea.
For clients seeking a softer take on classic white, milky nails – with their semi-sheer finish, have become a nail staple. Other milky nail trends include ‘strawberry milk nails’ and ‘blueberry milk nails’: soft and subtle takes on the fruit hues.
It’s clear that fruit is a big inspiration for nail trends, and the cherry is a popular pick. From the classic cherry hue to the deeper black cherry, the fruit has made a sweet statement on the nail world.
Is it a coincidence that Mocha Mousse, a ‘mellow brown infused with a sensorial and comforting warmth’ is PANTONE’s Colour of the Year 2025? We think not. The hue, which is ‘underpinned by our desire for everyday pleasures’, has been a hit on nails this year.
Online searches for ‘guava nails’ skyrocketed this summer when Zola Ganzorigt created a ‘guava glaze’ for actress & singer, Vanessa Hudgens. The guava fruit has light green skin and pink flesh, and nail styles inspired by it often feature the hues with cat eye, jelly and aura effects.
OPI’s Good Enough to Treat collection, available via
uk.wella.professionalstore.com Mouth-watering mani moments
Nail brands have served up food-inspired launches for the autumn/winter season. OPI’s Good Enough to Treat holiday collection comprises 24 shades inspired by sweet festive treats. At a launch event, insight was shared about the food-themed inspiration, with OPI brand manager, Mei Posso, commenting: “Gen Z and millennial consumers are increasingly drawn to food-inspired beauty trends due to their vibrant, playful aesthetic and nostalgic appeal.”
Lecenté Bakewell Tart Cuticle Oil £9.99 + VAT
www.lecente.com
Lecenté Create Glitter Gel Polish in Cinnamon Churro £12.99 + VAT
www.lecente.com
The Manicure Company Death By Chocolate Collection £50.62 inc VAT
www.themanicurecompany.com Lecenté has launched The Fair-ly Sweet Glitter Gel Polish Collection: five shades inspired by sugary food from an autumn fair, alongside cuticle oils in Bakewell Tart and Cookie Pie scents. The Manicure Company was also inspired by indulgence when crafting its autumn 2025 collection, Death By Chocolate, which comprises six delectable gel polish shades.
Collaborations between nail businesses and food and drink companies are on the rise. In May, Pret A Manger teamed up with nail salon brand, Shoreditch Nails, to offer three manicures inspired by its summer iced drink menu. More recently, luxury nail salon group, Townhouse, partnered with Pepsi MAX to host themed activations, including a nail art menu inspired by Pepsi MAX’s cherry drink.