Calling It: Tahini Nails Will Dominate The Low-Key Manicure Scene

In a dream world, I would name nail polish colors for a living. I've spent more time than I'd like to admit picking out shades at the salon, just so I could cackle at the witty phrases on the bottom of the bottles. What can I say? I love a good pun! 

While I can't exactly slap my own label on a polish quite yet, I can give my own manis a playful moniker. Recently, I've been drawn to a rich, matte, neutral color family that reminds me of creamy sesame butter—otherwise known as tahini. 

Food-inspired manis are nothing new (looking at you, glazed donut nails!), and tahini inspires the perfect sandy hue for your next polish change. 

Just take a second to imagine a generous dollop of the sesame paste: the smooth and creamy texture, the toasted, muted pigment. Now imagine that dreamy concoction glazed across your fingertips—makes for an elevated mani, don't you think? 

Not to mention, a rich tahini hue reads pretty natural, which aligns perfectly with the "naked nails" trend gaining traction as of late. 

Like any good at-home manicure, nail prep is key. Make sure to remove all remnants of past polish and give your hands a gentle wash. 

You can shape your nails however you please, but a general rule of thumb is to follow the natural outline of your cuticles: "It's best to shape the nail so it mirrors the shape of the cuticle, which elongates your fingers," celebrity manicurist Deborah Lippmann previously told mbg. This will be your most natural-looking nail shape and will pair well with any color or finish. 

After your oils and creams have fully absorbed (you may even want to give the nail plate a quick wipe so the polish doesn't slide off), apply your base coat and polish. Grab your tahini shade (catch our recs below), and paint, paint, paint.