Pamela Anderson Is Jumping On The Ombré Manicure Trend, Aka 'The French Fade'

In this era of minimalism, we've seen some of the most stylish yet pared back nail looks to ever grace the public eye. And while there are some notable nail trends that will dominate in 2026, Pamela Anderson is hopping on the ombré manicure trend, which is characterized by a gorgeous, diffused color gradient that sees a flawless fusion of multiple shades. But in the "Baywatch" star's case, she's pairing healthy natural nails with a white-to-cream color palette. 

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Anderson was spotted with the trendy French manicure look when leaving her hotel in New York City in September 2026. The Golden Globe nominee had a light to sheer application of white ombré nail polish with a glossy finish. "The softer finish of a French ombré is both effortless and expensive," Susan Carroll, founder of London-based medispa Young LDN, exclusively shared with Elle. "It ... looks fresh with minimal make-up and pairs with everything from linen dresses to swimwear." It's likely that the silver screen veteran carefully thought over every detail of her outfit in mind, as each element from her coat down to her luggage matched her nail look with ease. But pulling off that look doesn't require a visit to the nail salon, as there are steps you can learn to apply it to yourself.

Although acing this nail trend's harmonious color gradient seems like a daunting prospect, it isn't quite so challenging once you get the hang of it. All it takes is a steady hand, meticulous attention to detail, and lots of practice to nail this elegant manicure. And one of the crucial first steps is to clean your nails by buffing for an added gleam and taking care of your cuticles, as this no-manicure manicure look definitely shines with a healthy foundation. Additionally, as Anderson has demonstrated, rounded nail tips pair exceptionally well with this style. 

Once that's accomplished, you can choose between a sheer white or nude nail polish as a base color for your nails. However, here is where things get slightly difficult for beginners. "Paint a strip of nude polish and a strip of white polish side-by-side onto a makeup sponge, slightly overlapping the colors where they meet," Susan Carroll exclusively advised Elle. To perfect that gradient effect, make sure you apply the sponge carefully and keep the color application light until you can't see where either color begins or ends. Of course, you can't ever go wrong by wrapping things up with a top coat. And once you've practiced and perfected this look, you can try your hand with recreating these ombré lip gloss nails, which are the latest twist on the popular trend.