The “Babydoll” Mani Is Winter’s Sweetest, Sheerest Nail Trend

Capitalist horrors aside, I really am ready to be in full Valentine’s Day mode. I love sugar and using all the words printed on Sweethearts candy in my normal vocabulary and painting my nails pink. It’s a year-round lifestyle, actually—especially the pink nails part.

This winter, our newest nail obsession is the “Babydoll” manicure. The perfect sheer pink look entered superstardom last week when it was spotted on the hands of mani queen Hailey Bieber for her Victoria’s Secret Valentine’s Day campaign, and it’s just a matter of time before it takes off.

Ahead, discover everything there is to know about the oh-so-wearable trend.

About the “Babydoll” Manicure

A little moodier and less meticulous than the soap nails of yore, a “Babydoll” manicure is a soft, sheer pink nail look that looks best painted onto natural nails. Its sexiness can be found in its simplicity.

Think of it as the babydoll slip of nail art: It seems almost too easy and comfy to wear for how good it looks. This is the mani of choice for those of us who haven’t perfected the slick-back bun but can throw up the perfect textured ponytail at a moment’s notice complete with effortless face framing. It’s a touch of lip liner first instead of only a tinted balm, and dangly diamond earrings instead of studs.

Yes, Hailey’s shoot inspired the name of this look, but so did the shade “Babydoll” from the ultra-buzzy new nail brand Celisse (you’ve probably seen them all over your Instagram). Upon a zoom-in, we spotted what appears to be the cute pink bottle in Hailey’s hands in one of the images, and the versatile shade has also been worn on the Victoria’s Secret and Sandy Liang runways this fall.

“Babydoll was a color I have always dreamed of making or at least owning,” Celisse co-founder and nail artist Holly Falcone tells Byrdie. “I’ve been working in the nail world for about 15 years  but have been getting my nails done as long as I can remember. My go to was always a classic pink and white acrylic French. I always loved the pink acrylic powder—a color intended to enhance the nail bed but was actually this glowing, jelly pink. After mixing maybe 20 versions of a dream pink, Babydoll was born and I am complete.”

How to Get the Look

Though any salon would be able to give you a similar look, part of the Babydoll charm is completing the manicure on the floor of your bedroom while wearing your favorite slip. You just need a file and a bottle of Celisse’s quick-drying Babydoll polish to make it happen. Grab a top coat, too, if you want to go for the gloss.

“What’s great about our Babydoll is that it’s buildable,” explains Falcone. “You can do one coat of Babydoll for a little something or up to three thin coats for a more bubblegum look that’s still soft thanks to its sheerness.” She also suggests laying the shade over the brand’s Vanity, a more classic ballet slipper pink shade.

“In general, I love how a babydoll pink brightens you up and gives you a little sass whether it’s on your nails, lips, or the color of your sweater,” she adds. “I like to balance a touch of babydoll pink on my lips, cheeks and nails with a chic black dress or jeans and a t-shirt. Just sweet enough.”

Swipe on a couple coats of Babydoll so the color comes through, and don’t worry about it looking too perfect. The beauty of the ridge-smoothing formula is that it will look polished no matter how shaky your actual polishing proficiency.

And that, babydolls, is the Babydoll mani.