
Meghan Markle's wedding nails were a topic of much speculation, with the world eager to know what shade the Duchess of Sussex would choose for her royal wedding. Markle's manicure was a custom blend of two CND Shellac shades, a brand that is a favourite among the royal family. The final look was a very pale, natural, and neutral manicure with a pink undertone, achieved by layering two semi-sheer shades. Markle's choice of nail colour was in keeping with royal protocol, which dictates that nail polish colours should be light, sheer, and neutral.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of colours | 2 |
| First colour | Unmasked (a baby pink) |
| Number of coats of first colour | 1 |
| Second colour | Negligee (a pale, almost white pink) |
| Number of coats of second colour | 2 |
| Toenail colour | Cashmere Wrap (a pink-nude shade) |
| Number of coats of toenail colour | 2 |
| Type of manicure | Gel |
| Brand | CND Shellac |
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What You'll Learn

Meghan Markle's wedding nails were a custom mix of two CND Shellac shades
The two colours she opted for were one layer of Unmasked, a baby pink, followed by two coats of Negligee, a pale, almost white pink. For her toes, Markle chose a pink-nude shade, Cashmere Wrap, also by CND Shellac. The manicure was created at Dryby London, a London nail salon, and was a custom mix of two CND Shellac shades.
Markle's choice of nail polish was a departure from the usual Essie's Ballet Slippers, a shade often worn by the Queen and other royals. Markle's choice of a custom mix of two CND Shellac shades was a unique and elegant take on the traditional neutral manicure.
The CND Shellac manicure is a popular choice, with polishes cured under a UV lamp, offering a long-lasting manicure. The specific shades chosen by Markle, Unmasked and Negligee, created a soft and understated look, perfect for a bride wanting a classic and photogenic manicure. The combination of the two shades provided a luminous, layered effect with just the right amount of opacity.
Overall, Meghan Markle's wedding nails were a beautiful and elegant choice, with a custom mix of two CND Shellac shades creating a unique and understated look for her special day.
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Markle's manicure was a natural, slightly opaque pink
Meghan Markle's wedding manicure was a natural, slightly opaque pink. The Duchess of Sussex is known for her understated elegance, and her wedding nails were no exception. Markle's manicure was a custom blend of two shades of CND Shellac: Unmasked, a baby pink, and Negligee, a pale, almost white pink. The combination resulted in a natural, slightly opaque pink that embodied the royal family's preference for light, sheer, and neutral nail polish colours.
Markle's choice to follow royal protocol with her manicure contrasted with her penchant for breaking protocol in other aspects of her royal life. Prior to her wedding, she had made waves for her messy buns and casual attire. However, on her big day, she opted for a more traditional approach to her nails, aligning with the Queen's preference for delicate, translucent shades.
The specific shades chosen by Markle for her wedding manicure were carefully selected to achieve the perfect balance of colour and opacity. By using a base layer of Unmasked and two coats of Negligee, she created a soft, minimalist look that complemented her overall bridal style. This approach to her manicure reflected Markle's signature less-is-more aesthetic, where subtlety and sophistication take centre stage.
CND Shellac, the brand chosen by Markle, is known for its long-lasting formula, ensuring a chip-free manicure. This was particularly important for the Duchess on her wedding day, as she wanted to avoid any polish mishaps during the festivities. The choice of a gel manicure provided a durable and glossy finish, enhancing the natural pink hues she selected.
Markle's wedding manicure has since become a source of inspiration for brides-to-be and nail enthusiasts alike. The custom blend of colours she chose embodies a timeless and elegant aesthetic that many aspire to emulate. The "Markle manicure," as it has come to be known, showcases the impact of understated nail art, proving that simplicity can make a powerful statement. Thus, Markle's choice of a natural, slightly opaque pink manicure continues to influence and shape beauty trends, leaving a lasting impression long after her wedding day.
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The base colour was Unmasked, a baby pink
For her wedding, Meghan Markle opted for a natural, slightly opaque pink manicure. She chose a custom blend of hues from CND Shellac, a long-time favourite nail polish brand of the royal family. The base colour was Unmasked, a baby pink. This was followed by two coats of Negligee, a pale, almost white pink shade.
Markle's manicure was a subtle, understated choice, in keeping with the royal family's preference for light, sheer, and neutral nail polish colours. The Queen, for example, is known to favour delicate, translucent shades, reportedly finding brighter colours vulgar. Markle's choice of a natural, baby pink base colour for her wedding manicure was, therefore, an elegant and protocol-conscious decision.
The Duchess of Sussex is known for her timeless, demure, and always impossibly put-together style, and her wedding manicure was no exception. The soft, minimalist look has since been dubbed the ""Montecito manicure", reflecting the beachy vibes of the town of its namesake. The understated elegance of the style has made it a popular choice for brides, who appreciate the chip-free guarantee of a Shellac manicure on their big day.
Markle's wedding manicure was a thoughtful and carefully decided detail of her overall look, reflecting her timeless and elegant style. The choice of a baby pink base colour was a subtle and sophisticated take on the traditional bridal manicure, adding a touch of modern freshness to her overall aesthetic.
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Markle's nails followed royal protocol
Meghan Markle's wedding nails did indeed follow royal protocol. As royal protocol states, women must have clean, groomed nails with no bright colours or nail art allowed. Markle's manicure was a subtle, understated look, with a gel manicure in two different shades of CND Shellac mixed together. The colours were Unmasked (a baby pink) and Negligee (a pale, almost-white pink). Markle also chose a pink-nude shade for her toes, called Cashmere Wrap, also by CND Shellac.
Although Markle has been known to bend the rules as a royal, on her wedding day, she stuck to the rulebook with her manicure. One of the unspoken beauty rules within the royal family is that nail polish colours are supposed to be light, sheer, and neutral. Markle's manicure was in keeping with this tradition.
While it has been speculated that Markle wore Essie's Ballet Slippers, a sheer, pale pink polish that is reportedly a favourite of the Queen, it has since been revealed that Markle's manicure was created using two different shades of CND Shellac.
Although there are no official rules about what colour nail polish a royal can wear, there are certain aesthetic standards that have been set by the Queen and Kate Middleton. The Queen is well-known to favour light manicures, and it is widely known that she finds colourful nail polish distracting. Bright hues are not banned for royals, but nude colours are considered a more practical choice for official engagements.
Markle has been known to break these aesthetic standards, such as when she wore black nail polish to the British Fashion Awards in 2018. This caused a stir as black nail polish is a rare choice for any royal family member. However, it is important to note that there are no official rules against wearing dark nail polish, and other royal women have also worn it, including Princess Diana and the Duchess of Cambridge.
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Markle's nail polish was queen-approved
Meghan Markle's wedding nail polish was reportedly Queen-approved. Markle's manicure was a subtle hue, giving her hands a classic and dainty look. The Duchess of Sussex chose a light, sheer, and neutral manicure, which is said to be one of the unspoken beauty rules within the royal family.
Markle's wedding nail polish was a blush pink shade, which many speculated to be Essie's Ballet Slippers, the Queen's favourite. Essie's Ballet Slippers is a sheer pink that has been a fan favourite among manicurists and polish lovers. In 1989, the Queen's hairdresser sent a letter to Essie requesting a bottle, calling it "the only colour Her Majesty would wear".
However, it was later revealed that Markle's wedding manicure was a custom blend of two different shades of CND Shellac. The two colours she opted for were one layer of Unmasked (a baby pink) followed by two coats of Negligee (a pale, almost white pink) on top. For her toes, Markle chose a pink-nude shade called Cashmere Wrap, also by CND Shellac.
Markle's choice to follow royal protocol with her wedding manicure was notable, as she had a reputation for pushing boundaries and breaking protocol during her engagement. Her subtle wedding manicure complemented her natural glam, looking both sophisticated and feminine.
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Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle had a gel manicure for her wedding, using two different shades of CND Shellac nail polish. The manicurist first applied a layer of Unmasked, a baby pink, and then two coats of Negligee, a pale, almost white pink.
Meghan Markle painted her toenails Cashmere Wrap, a pink-nude shade, also by CND Shellac.
Yes, Meghan Markle followed Royal protocol with her wedding nail polish. Royals are supposed to sport nail polish colours that look natural, and bright shades are considered vulgar. Markle's manicure was a natural, slightly opaque pink colour.











































