How to Try the “Sleepover” Nail Trend This Summer

I’m having a slumber party! You’re invited, but please don’t tell our other friends—my mom said I could only invite one person. Or maybe we should tell them? It would be sad if they found out when we show up to school with matching manicures.

The movie will be rated PG-13, the frozen pizza and candy will be aplenty, and the bedtime will be nonexistent. And our nails? Our nails will definitely be painted.

This summer, “sleepover” manicures are taking over our Instagram feeds and any-day-of-the-weeknight plans. The vision here is a nail set you would be pleased to show off as a tween—think fun colors (and many of them), shimmery finishes, and maybe a stripe or two inspired by your bestie’s bedroom walls.

What are “sleepover” nails?

Celebrity manicurist Natalie Minerva perfectly encapsulated sleepover nails when she described the trend in an Instagram caption explaining Addison Rae’s Coachella weekend two look.

“I called them ‘bedroom nails’ because the alternating colors remind me of being a kid and painting multi color nails in my bedroom,” she said of the black and yellow design.

Yes, she called them “bedroom nails,” but I’m thinking more broadly. These are nails you’d do in your bedroom… or in a friend’s room during a slumber party. Or maybe in their older sister’s room, if you’re brave enough to sneak in there and try on her lip gloss? You can take pictures, but don’t post them on Facebook without blocking her from the album first.

We’ve seen the look over the past few months on Addison, of course, but also on any celeb who’s kept their natural nail short and thrown on a simple coat of polish. Sofia Richie Grainge’s recent lime green manicure is so sleepover coded, as is Keira Knightley’s deep dark cherry polish.

“I think the sleepover nail trend is reminiscent of our youth—there’s a deep nostalgia for all of us who grew up in or near the Y2K era,” Minerva tells Byrdie. “For me personally, this nail trend reminds me of simpler times. I had so much fun as a kid and being able to go back there mentally and emotionally provides a feeling of comfort and safety.”

How to Get the Look

While I’m sure your manicurist would really wield a lime green polish well, this look is actually best DIY’d. That’s how all the experts learned, right?

When Minerva was little, she painted her nails all the time. Surprise, surprise.

“In fact, I credit my mom in a lot of ways for my career because she bought my sister and I the Klutz Nail Art book and we would attempt to paint little animals and happy faces on our nails,” she explains. “I’ll never forget it! I think we loved to paint our nails because it was a bonding experience at sleepovers. It still feels that way now as an adult—getting your nails done with your friends is such a joy.”

The biggest rule here is that you need to be sitting on the floor or laying on your chest on a bed with a ton of throw pillows while painting your nails. Bonus points if you have your bestie by your side. Besides that, it’s really about choosing the right color and doing with it what you will.

“Slumber party nails are all about having fun and being reminiscent! I would recommend having a different color on each nail or loading up your nails with glitter. I love OPI’s latest collections, Make ‘Em Jelly and OPI’M Dreaming, as they are all about fun and bright colors!” adds the artist.

Some of her favorite colors include Vogue en Violet, Cotton Candied Clawz, Daffodil Duck Walk, Drive ‘Em Magenta, Case of Glamnesia, Grape Escape, and AppointMINT Confirmed.

Grab one or grab them all—just don’t fall asleep while waiting for your last coat to dry. You’re gonna need topcoat, and all the best gossip happens late.