Spring’s favorite place to find beauty inspiration? Your local coffee shop. We’ve seen everything from blueberry milk to glazed donuts referenced as the must-have manicure of the season, and next up is the verdant matcha.
With hundreds of years of history in both China and Japan, matcha is made from finely ground green tea leaves, which are then mixed into hot water as tea or in milk as a latte. Matcha is known not only for its earthy taste but also for its signature green color—which everyone from Hailey Bieber to Olivia Rodrigo, and even Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams—finds compelling.
Depending on how you like your matcha—and your nails—you could opt for a more vibrant green, like the powder itself, or something a bit more pastel, like a latte. No matter which shade you choose, though, you can incorporate the color into your nails in a variety of ways, from a solid, minimalist manicure to French tips, micro art, polka dots, or paired with another color à la nail artist Queenie Nguyen’s strawberry matcha nails. So, here are some of our favorite matcha-inspired manicures to bring to your next salon appointment.
