Move over lavender milk nails, there’s a new purple shade in town for summer 2026. Enter: ube nails.
You may have found yourself, like me, bombarded on your FYP by ube – so much so that I was influenced to make an ube-flavoured babka last weekend. The popular purple yam – which is native to the Philippines and has been a staple in many traditional Filipino dishes for generations – is picking up a growing fanbase, whether you're adding it to your iced latte or introducing it to your beauty routine.
“You may have seen ube drinks and food trending on your FYP, and now it’s taking over our mani’s for the foreseeable,” Mylee mentor and manicurist Jack Harper tells Glamour. “Ube purple sits somewhere between lavender, orchid and a deep berry, and is giving a very trend-forward alternative to summer nails.”
While lavender milk nails are a soft, pastel purple, ube nails are known for their deep purple shade – an unexpected choice for summer that we can’t get enough of. “Ube purple strikes that perfect balance between bright and rich, making it flattering across a wide range of skin tones,” Jack says. “The trend is super wearable and perfect for snapping social selfies with trending ube milk matchas.”
Want to find the perfect purple shade to achieve ube nails? “My top picks are Mylee Gel Polish in Ultra Violet, Lost Memories and Lavender Fields,” shares Jack. “For those who don’t feel confident painting their mani at home, the Mylee Gel Wraps in In The Air are a brilliant alternative.” Find more of our fave ube shades of nail polish below – from deep purple and shimmery finishes to lighter lilac tones.
Obsessed with ube nails and want to try them out yourself? Keep reading for more inspiration on how you can achieve the nail trend.