Meghan Markle’s Summer Pedicure Is a Perfect Blend of Two Timeless Colors

Meghan Markle’s aesthetic is covetable for good reason—it’s relaxed and unfussy while still feeling elitely chic. This is true whether we’re talking about her minimalist outfits, one-pot pasta (don’t knock it until you try it), or her go-to summer pedicure. We’re honing into the latter today because, tbh, it’s a super customizable look we can all copy through these upcoming hot months. We enlisted manicurist Megan Swartwood to fill us in on the look and how to recreate it for your own toes. 

Meghan Markle’s Customized Pink Pedicure  

What’s so special about a pink polish, you ask? In this case, it’s the fact that Markle channeled her inner painter and mixed two pale pink polishes—CND Shellac Satin Slippers and CND Shellac Romantique—to create a custom look. 

“Meghan’s two-tone pedi is so smart,” says Meagan Swartwood, manicurist and manager of Arctic Fox. “She’s mixing two nude polishes to create this custom shade that’s perfectly tailored to her skin tone. What I love about it is how polished it looks without trying too hard.” Plus, it works with literally everything, which is probably why Markle has made this her default pedicure. 

Swartwood says the look obvi fits in with Markle’s very curated aesthetic, but it’s also an extension of the minimalist nail trend that’s been huge lately. 

“[Lots of people are] gravitating toward these refined, understated looks instead of the super bold designs we were doing a few years ago,” Swartwood says. “It’s part of that broader shift toward ‘effortless’ beauty. You know, those looks that appear simple but actually take some thought to pull off perfectly.” 

How to Get the Look 

If you’re at the salon, tell your nail tech you want to blend two nude shades for a custom color. “Bring two polishes: one that’s almost white-nude and another that’s a shade or two deeper. And instead of doing two coats of one color, ask them to do one coat of each and then finish with a top coat.” 

You can also ask them to mix the two colors together to get a beautiful, customized shade, then apply to your nails that way. (Swartwood adds that most techs love doing this kind of thing because it’s a fun little creative challenge that doesn’t add much time to your appointment.)

If you’re DIYing Megan Markle’s pedicure at home, do the same. Start with shaped, buffed, and filed nails, then apply your base coat. After, apply one coat of the lighter shade, follow with the deeper shade, and finish with a glossy top coat. You can also mix the two nail polishes and apply them before your top coat. Just remember the formula so you can recreate it for each coat.