Maximalist swipes of colourful eyeshadow are a key 2026 trend. But when it comes to our fingertips, nude manicures still reign supreme with ‘ballet slipper’ nails – a soft serve, pale pink nail colour – is emerging as the latest must-try trend for Spring.
Not that it's simply a matter of ‘ballet slipper’ nails going against the grain. Paring back in one area of your beauty routine allows those bold, joyful makeup touches to really sing instead. Pale pink ‘ballet slipper’ nails are also gaining fans on social media because they tap into beauty's current love affair with nostalgia – specifically the '80s and ’90s.
Chanel has just taken its most iconic Rouge Noir nail polish colour, and built an entire makeup collection around the shade, while The Body Shop has expanded its Dewberry perfume offering into a sweet-scented cloud of body care. So it was perhaps only a matter of time before an homage to Essie's Ballet Slippers – arguably the most famous OG pink nail polish that hit our shelves in 1982 – was on the cards, too.
So what exactly are ballet slipper nails?
Essie's Ballet Slippers nail polish is a sheer, petal-pink hue that has launched a thousand similar shades. As the name implies, it's the same shade as actual ballet slippers and could easily be the lovechild of milky and soap nails thanks to its high-sheen milky pink and ‘just-dipped-my-nails-in-a-bubble-bath’ finish.
“Ballet slipper nails are taking the spotlight once again thanks to a universally flattering look that suits every nail shape and length,” says celebrity manicurist Milly Mason. “Clean, timeless and effortlessly chic, they create a healthy, groomed finish that pairs perfectly with any style.” In particular, expect ballet slipper nails to become the most requested bridal manicure of 2026.
It's also the perfect shade to pull your look together if you're leaning into “ballet slipper lips” – another trend that involves digging in the archives, but this time for frosted pink lipstick references.
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How to create ballet slipper nails:
The ballet slipper nails trend is exactly as it sounds: glossy, trimmed cuticles, a buffed nail bed and a few coats of pale pink nail polish. Its hallmarks are a sheer rosy luminosity when you apply one coat and a more opaque pink finish with two.
Oh, and ballet slipper nails aren't simply created using Essie's cult nail polish. There are plenty of soft-focus nude polishes that channel a similar fresh, pretty minimalist vibe.
Another famous ballerina-coded nail polish is Chanel's Ballerina, while Westmoreland Cosmetics Vanilla Gloss collection is designed to impart the perfect hushed peachy pink shade to different skin tones. Alternatively, if you want to literally mimic the high-shine and satin texture of the slippers' fabric, look for a polish that has the merest hint of finely-milled shimmer, such as OPI Intentions are Rose Gold.
