It's confirmed: "Pool Water" nails are taking the place of milky manicures this summer.

      Another day brings another trendy mani aesthetic to share with your nail technician. I thought the milky and watery looks had reached their peak (Fruit water nails! Almond milk nails! Syrup nails!), but it seems the scorching summer temperatures have inspired one more playful variation: pool water nails. This simple yet striking mani is set to become the coolest summer nail trend. However, don’t just take my word for it; below, professional manicurists provide all the details you need to know.

      What Are Pool Water Nails? Picture the way sunlight sparkles on pool water—entrancing, right? Now, envision that same effect on your nails. To put it simply, pool water nails feature blue polish with a hazy, watery finish, combining two summer nail trends into one. Watery nails (diluted shades with an ultra-glossy finish) have surged in popularity this season, and shades of blue are always a refreshing summer choice for manicures. “Blue can imitate the sky, ocean, and swimming pools—all iconic summer visuals,” explains nail artist Priscilla Nguyen. "It naturally gives off a fresh, cool, and airy feel that offsets the heat of the season." You can opt for any blue shade for a pool water mani—from aquamarine to deep cobalt—as long as it has that watery, high-gloss finish.

      Although pool water nails are making a comeback for summer 2025, they have actually existed for over a decade. “Oh my gosh, I have been doing nails for so long that I remember this as a trend back in 2014,” notes celebrity manicurist Stephanie Stone. The modern version appears more glazed and watery, giving it a fresh feel, but trends are cyclical, especially in the nail world.

      How to Get the Look “To achieve the pool water nails at home, the first step is deciding what type of 'blue water' you want," Nguyen advises. "Would you prefer clear blue water or a strong, opaque blue?” Are you interested in a simple watery mani or a more sophisticated ripple effect? The steps will also vary depending on whether you're using regular polish or gel. For those using regular polish, you can follow Stone's tutorial below.

      After applying a base coat, paint your nails with your chosen watery blue polish. Wait for them to dry, then apply a deeper blue over the initial color. “While the polish is still wet, gently press or tap your nails with a small crumpled piece of Saran Wrap. This will create a rippled-water effect,” she explains. Allow that to dry, then seal the design with a glossy topcoat, which will also smooth out any unwanted texture. If you'd like to add an extra touch, "a shimmery topcoat could enhance the look, creating a more reflective surface, similar to sunshine on a lake," Stone suggests.

      Here’s a deeper version if you prefer a “midnight ocean” aesthetic. If you'd like to leave it to the professionals (which is quite understandable), both Stone and Nguyen advise bookmarking some visual references, like any of the images here. "You can inform your nail technician that you want a design resembling pool or ocean water. Some key phrases to use are 'water ripple effect' and 'a wet look' when discussing this design," Nguyen shares.

      They also recommend achieving a salon-quality look with blooming gel. "It allows the gel polish applied on top to fade away like water," Nguyen explains. Just be sure to call the salon in advance, as not all places carry blooming gel. If they don't have it, "use a topcoat (without curing) and apply your gel polish on top," advises Nguyen. "The uncured topcoat will spread the polish you apply.”

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