Never thought you’d see a trend with the words “baby boomer” in front of it? Me neither, but if you’re on beauty trend TikTok, you’ve likely come across baby boomer nails, and even if you’re not online, you’ve probably seen this mani out in the wild. Just this weekend, I saw my mom, a few years younger than a boomer, sporting the trend. She had given the nail artist free reign to do something with neutral colors, and baby boomer nails is what she ended up with—a chic accident. Informing her that it was dubbed the baby boomer nail trend simultaneously offended her and made her feel hip at once. “So am I cool or old?” she asked. While the trend may be inspired by an old school look, it’s the perfect twist on a French manicure to try this summer.
Featured experts
- Emma Jackson is a professional nail artist and ombre expert
- Rebekah Pritchard is a bespoke manicurist
What are baby boomer nails?
French manicures with a twist have been trending all summer, and this is the newest iteration. “A French Manicure showcases a defined line on the nail, whereas a baby boomer nail has a subtle gradient effect,” explains nail artist and ombre expert Emma Jackson. “Using similar shades to that of a French manicure, the colors are applied and expertly blended to create a seamless ombre effect.”
Bespoke manicurist Rebekah Pritchard notes that baby boomer nails usually feature a “translucent pink base that blends into a white tip.” The nickname is a call back to the 1940s and the post-war generation that originally made the trend popular.
Why are baby boomer nails trending?
Although it’s a trend, the baby boomer nail look feels somewhat timeless, looking just as beautiful on women in the 1940s as those scrolling TikTok today. Plus, baby boomer nails fit in seamlessly with the neutral nail trends of the past year.
“Similar to a French Manicure, this look is a classic, and it’s here to stay. You can experiment with the design using different shades. The soft, subtle blend will always be a classic,” says Jackson, who adds that it’s her favorite design to do right now.
“This look is perfect for summertime. It’s also very popular with brides for their wedding day,” says Pritchard. “I think baby boomer nails are here to stay for a long time.”
How to get the baby boomer nails look
At home
“If you want to achieve this look at home, I recommend using Essie’s Mademoiselle ($9) as the base color and then using a sponge and Essie’s Blanc ($9) dab the product onto the sponge and then onto the end of the nail until you achieve a beautiful blend,” instructs Pritchard.
In the salon
“If you’re going to a salon, my favorite way to achieve a really soft baby boomer is using hard gel,” says Pritchard. She recommends asking your nail technician for Akzentz shades SC2 and SN1.
