7 Manicures Stars Over 50 Wore This Fall, Like Nicole Kidman’s Cherry Blossom Pink

On October 13, Céline Dion, 58, shared photos from her Paris shows, and in one of them her nails are short, rounded and washed in a semi-sheer milky pink. Harper’s Bazaar spotted the same silky, polished manicure on her in Paris.

The look is a milk manicure. Session manicurist Ami Streets told the magazine that “a semi-sheer white polish is used to paint a soft and subtle wash of color, emulating the appearance and opacity of milk.” For the same effect, Streets recommends two thin coats of a sheer polish.

“Taking it all in”

For Jennifer Lopez, 57, celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik chose “a softly tapered silhouette” in a cozy, warm nude with a high-gloss finish. ELLE wrote that chai latte nails, as seen on Lopez, are making a strong case for being the most universally flattering color for fall. Bachik tagged the post as a throwback, so think of it as a favorite that’s back rather than a brand-new look.

Nail expert Daisy Kalnina told the magazine that the shade “takes the milky nude everyone loves and warms it up with a cinnamon-spice undertone,” and Kalnina likes it worn short and almond-shaped.

“The fall forecast: polished 🤎”

For the Elsinore press day, manicurist Robbie Tomkins gave Olivia Colman, 52, “a 20’s ‘Gatsby’ inspired negative space mani” in glossy black, chosen to match her evening gown. The nails are short, part of each nail is left bare, and the finish has a gel-like shine.

Tomkins told ELLE that because Elsinore is heartfelt, “we kept the nails elegant and refined.” At home, the easy version is a short nail, an opaque black and a very shiny top coat. Leave the negative space to a pro.

“We went for a 20’s ‘Gatsby’ inspired negative space mani to match perfectly (stay tuned!) with Olivia’s stunning evening gown 🖤”

At the Emmys on September 14, Nicole Kidman, 59, kept her nails short, softly rounded and sheer. Harper’s Bazaar wrote that she shunned bolder hues in favor of “a clean, minimalist shade of cherry blossom pink.” Her manicurist, Thuy Nguyen, listed the steps: one coat of base, two coats of a nude, a top coat and cuticle oil for the final touch.

Celebrity manicurist Georgia Rae told the magazine that the focus of looks like this is “immaculate preparation, healthy-looking nails, and subtle finishes that enhance the natural nail rather than overpower.”

“N I C O L E ✨”

In Venice in early September, Penélope Cruz, 52, wore long almond nails in a sheer, milky pink. Vogue noted that they were “slightly warmer and pinker in shade—a look that’s both versatile and flattering.” You can spot them on her hand on the boat rail in her own Venice post.

Her manicurist, Lucero Hurtado, has a line any nail lover could sign, quoted by the magazine: “A well-groomed manicure is a silent form of communication.” For a softer version on shorter nails, ask for a sheer pink with a drop of milky white.

“Venice 2026💕”

ELLE spotted Pamela Anderson, 59, in a soft French manicure in a recent video and at Milan Fashion Week, where she got ready for Vogue World in September. The base is a sheer milky nude and the tips are a creamy, diffused white, so there’s no hard line between them.

Nail educator Charlotte Lowe told the magazine that a soft, milky white edge “is flattering on all nail shapes and skin tones. It’s polished without being precious.” Ask your salon for a blurred French rather than a classic one.

“Getting ready for Vogue World.. 🤍”

Which shape works best on hands over 50? Manicurist Sabrina Gayle told Harper’s Bazaar: “Choose elegant shapes such as almond, oval, or short squoval (square with rounded edges) to give a more graceful appearance to the fingers.” Nail expert Ambra Toccacieli told Vogue that a glossy finish “reflects the light, enhances the color beneath and immediately gives the hands a polished look.”

On hands with spots, Toccacieli suggests skipping polishes with yellow or orange undertones, because they tend to amplify contrast. And hand and nail expert Margaret Dabbs warns that peeling or scraping off gel at home is one of the most damaging things you can do to an aging nail.

On October 18, Tom Bachik posted the manicure he did for Jennifer Lopez’s night at the LA Opera, with a caption that says it all. Up close, her nails are long and almond-shaped, in a metallic bronze-olive chrome with a shine that picks up the warm tones in her eyes.

It’s a lot of shine, and that’s the point. If long almonds aren’t your thing, ask for the same chrome effect over a dark brown base on a shorter, softly rounded nail. It reads as metallic, not flashy.

“When your mani matches your eyes... literally 😍🤎”