9 Nail Art Trends Taking Off This Summer

The art of the manicure is all about experimentation. This summer maybe you got into the "natural nail" aesthetic, doing your nails at home to save money and time sitting at a salon when it's gorgeous outside. It's possible that TikTok influenced you to try the red-nail theory that had many of us wearing (and considering the subliminal messaging of) Big Apple Red.

There are so many trends to try. Given the state of the economy, it stands to reason that many of us will be DIYing the designs, trying a hand (literally) at a micro French or just a simple, single color manicure. Here, we give you a mix, so whether you're heading to a salon before a wedding or painting your nails at home — realistically, you'll do both this season — here are some ideas to inspire.

There's constantly a "new" way to approach a French manicure. The latest trend update is actually a throwback to a style popular in the '90s and early '20s, it's called the "modern French". It takes the French design — neutral, pink-tinged base and a bright white tip — and softens it so that there's a barely perceptible color change between the base tone and the tip. For the base, you want a translucent or sheer shade that will show your skin tone through while evening out the color and adding shine. Then the tip should be a muted cream rather than an opaque white. The result is very your-nails-but-better.

This summer, we can't get away from Barbiecore. While wearing magenta can be tricky if you're leaning into summer neutrals like linen and denim, an electric pink manicure is a low stakes accessory to try on for a week or so. This pink-on-pink design from @overglowedit combines two different tones of pink in a French design. The tutorial shows that these exact shades come from a jelly polish, a combo of pink and clear, which thins out the pigment for a smooth and super glossy finish.

In anticipation of the live-action remake of Disney's The Little Mermaid, there's been a movement towards mermaidcore. When it comes to nails, this looks like blue, green, and teal nail polish with a sparkly top coat or a chrome powder over top for shine. If you need an honest endorsement: I wore a mermaid manicure for two weeks and loved my blue shimmer nails so much more than my usual Ballet Slipper pink! You can really make this your own, too. Paint your nails at home with the polish that reads the most mermaid (purple would work, too), or bring an inspiration photo or TikTok video to your nail salon.

Pearlescent pastel polish plus 3D gel, gives us the jellied rainbow sherbet nail art trend. It's subtle, but if you look closely here — this nail art by Los Angeles artist Mary Grace Koh — you'll notice that a few fingernails have these raised, semi-amorphous droplets. It's a Korean nail-art trend, so if you're looking for something similar, I'd recommend seeking out a Korean nail salon or studio in your area.

Instead of wearing the same design across all ten fingers, combine a few different colors and designs (we're partial to a pastel blend of pistachio, orange, and strawberry) for a take on the mismatched manicure, a trend that will continue to feel fresh well into summer.

Why do a single French tip when you can make it a double (or triple)? We love this look on influencer Lauren Ladnier that combines a fine-line French tip with a rainbow of polish shades so every nail is unique. You can go double on every finger or add three lines, for a triple French on a few nails. Think of it like ring stacking, but for your nails.

For summer, we're seeing mirrored metallic nails swing back into the trend sphere. The tone de jour: French vanilla. Your nail polish color should be a on the white-yellow spectrum (more beige or cream) and it should be opaque but still glossy. You can then add a chrome powder over top for a reflective shine that keeps the yellow undertone from reading as flat. It makes all the difference.

If you're looking for something brighter, try neon orange. "For festival season, I’m expecting to see colorful, neon shades," offers manicurist Kim Truong. "A trick to making your neon polish really pop is to apply white underneath." In this example from Paintbucket, we're seeing an interpretation of the "aura" or "blooming gel" manicure with a neutral pink-nude base and and large tangerine ombré orb at the center of each nail. You could also use an airbrushing technique to create the effect.

If you have yet to try the mismatched manicure — your left hand has one design or color and the right gets another — summer is the time to try it. If you're into press-on nails and have a few boxes at home, mix two different designs in the same manicure. Or, you can just use regular polish. A green and blue, maybe. Or, a peach and yellow, as seen in this example by Chillhouse. Given that we're heading into a new season with many transitions ahead, this is a perfect design to keep in your 'Saved' folder.

Truong predicts that tones of sheer pink will be popular as we move from further into summer. Truong recently told R29 how to achieve this look: Mix a solid pink color with a clear top coat, which will make the polish more translucent, or gossamer, like the lip gloss aesthetic.

A big plus: This style can act as a reset when you've been wearing chrome-dusted nails and you want something less shimmery but not totally bare.