23 Fourth of July Nail Designs That Put a Festive Twist on 2024’s Biggest Trends
Before deciding what to throw on the grill and which beverages to stock your fridge with, consider the manicure you’d like to get for Independence Day. After all, Fourth of July nails will make your holiday weekend feel that much more festive.
It's easy to default to a classic American flag manicure, but a more creative design allows you to lean into the year’s already popular nail trends, such as geometric shapes, abstract squiggles, and, of course, the French manicure. If creating these looks at home seems overwhelming, opt for the easy (yet equally Instagram-worthy) route of using nail stickers or press-on nails. Ahead, some inspiration for nail art will prompt more “oohs” and “ahhs” than a fireworks display.
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Gold Stars
If you’re leaning toward a more subtle display of your patriotic spirit, this mani, which features simple yet dazzling gold stars against a white base, is for you. White is “a versatile color that can instantly brighten up your overall look,” says Amy Lin Ling, founder of Sundays Studios in New York City.
To recreate this look, reach for a white polish that dries opaque. Allure editors love Sundays No.1, a pure white polish inspired by fresh linens, and OPI Funny Bunny, a glossy, soft white lacquer. For the gold stars, don’t sweat it if you’re not a nail art connoisseur, because nail decals offer an easy way to achieve an equally eye-catching manicure.
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Firework French
This firework French brings the heat with its engine-red tips embellished with white and blue sparkles. Achieving equally flawless tips is easy with the right tool. We love the Fleury Rose Nails French Brush, which boasts a thin and angled design that enables precise application along the curved edge of your nail.
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Blue Crush
You don't need to paint your nails with all the colors of the American flag. This bright design features only a patriotic blue (the exact polish is Essie Butler Please) but is still celebratory enough for your holiday get-together.
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Checkered and Cheery
Ohio-based nail artist Hailey Lloyd created a quilt-like pattern using red and blue nail polishes. If you want to recreate it, Mazz Hanna, a nail artist and CEO of Nailing Hollywood, says, “You can tape off the area you want to color and fill it in with polish.”
For those who prefer a freehanded approach, Hanna recommends using a cleanup brush to refine the lines after painting them.
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Silver Stars
If you’re looking for a minimalist design, consider this starry, negative space manicure by nail artist Betina Goldstein. You don’t need to be a pro to master it, as Goldstein actually used star-shaped Swarovski crystals on top of Essie Sheer Fantasy nail polish. (Metallic nail stickers, like these from Londontown, can also do the job.)
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Squiggle French
This look’s colors and squiggles add playfulness to the classic French manicure. It was created using Beetles Gel Polish Nail Art Liner, which has an ultra-thin brush for easy and precise application.
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Linked Up
This nail look was dreamt up at NYC-based nail studio Paintbox and features a geometric red and blue design atop a light pink base. Whether you keep the original color scheme or mix it with a classic white base, this artsy manicure will turn heads. If you’d like to replicate it, consider scooping up some fine nail polish liners (like those highlighted in the last slide) to create the abstract lines.
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Star Spangled Cuticles
The inverted French manicure has gotten a Fourth of July makeover. Nail artist Sami Nelson painted small stars along the cuticles where a classic eggshell white stripe would appear. To create those tiny stars, Hanna says, start by making a small dot using a dotting tool or the tip of a bobby pin. Then, with a small nail art brush, gently drag the paint from the center outward to form each point of the star.
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Patriotic Swirls
Wear stars and stripes as museum-worthy nail art, including abstract squiggles and fine-line sparkles.
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Blue Twinkle
Content creator Kristen Mackoul’s nail look features an understated yet festive blue-and-white star design. Her nail artist used dip powder for the nail base and airbrush for the star details.
If you don’t have an airbrush machine handy (which is understandable), Mackoul suggests using a star-shaped nail stencil. Dab a cosmetic sponge coated in a lighter polish color on top of the stencil to create an airbrushed effect.
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Understated French
A micro-French with tiny sweeps of red, white, and blue polish is a minimalist take on the Fourth of July manicure that looks great on all nail lengths. And it's really easy to do at home. Katora Gaines, the manicurist behind the look, suggests starting with a classic nude base, then using a dotting tool to apply your patriotic polish.
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Double-French Manicure
Aamirah of @abrowngirlrecommends, the mastermind behind this double-French manicure, has dubbed it the “Sailor Moon manicure,” the heroine of which just happens to wear a uniform featuring the colors of the American flag. It also includes pink and red hearts for a cutesy take on Fourth of July nails.
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Ombré Acrylics
If you consider yourself a mani maximalist, a patriotic-themed ombré nail design is bound to be a hit. Created by Illinois-based nail tech Monica Valencia, this look features bright red polish on one hand and vivid blue on the other, with a fun fireworks accent on both index fingers.
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Red, White, and Blue “Dotticure”
Manicurist Shachi Pandya named this design a “dotticure” for obvious reasons. Pandya used Sinful Colors in Endless Blue and Essie in Forever Yummy nail polishes to create the look. For better precision and neatness, she suggests using a dotting tool instead of a bobby pin, which makes it ideal for beginners. (The Sally Hansen Nail Salon Pro Tool Kit includes a dotting tool in its comprehensive array of essentials.)
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Patriotic Mashup
Nail artist Sahira created this trendy nail look with a patriotic color scheme by hand-painting vertical stripes on her client's middle finger, cherries on her pointer finger, and a reimagined French design on her pinky. Each nail offers a different and complementary design to make sure this manicure stands out.
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Metallic Stars
You don't need to go to the nail salon to get a Fourth of July manicure. Just ask creator Maritza Williams, who used Olive & June Shimmery Super Star Press-Ons to achieve this look. These press-ons have a neutral base with a scattering of white stars, topped by a chrome finish—and they look so realistic, everyone will think they're your own.
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Festive French
Nail artist Emilee Crain leveled up her red, white, and blue French manicure with cheery details, including gingham, cherries, and flowers. Although she used a brush to create these intricate designs, Crain says you can easily recreate the flowers at home with a dotting tool. She suggests painting the petals first, starting with a dot at the top of each petal and gently dragging the tool down each side. After you have repeated this step for all the petals, you can finish by adding the dotted circle in the center.
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Foiled Stripes
For a Fourth of July nail look that’s as eye-catching as a fireworks display, try incorporating some foil, as nail artist Chanel Smith did, to enhance striped nail art. Get the look by “applying a layer of gel base coat over your stripe design and curing,” says Hanna. “Then, once the base coat is cured and tacky, gently press the nail foil down in random places on the nail.” Don’t apply too much pressure, though, or you may end up with more foil than you intended.
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Negative Space
Iowa-based manicurist Skyler Keifer created this show-stopping nail look with negative space. Using a liner brush, Keifer meticulously painted abstract squiggles that contrast beautifully with their client's natural, exposed nail.
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Dotted French
This dotted design by Gianna Palombo is yet another modern take on the traditional French manicure—and one that’s simple to recreate yourself. All you need is a neutral polish for the base, a patriotic polish for the tips, and a dotting tool for precision.
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Subtle Sparkle
Want a nail look that’s both subtle and dazzling without the red and blue? You'll appreciate this invisible French manicure by celebrity manicurist Mo Qin. The finely milled, silver glitter outline of the tips captures light, shining like sparklers.
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Striped Nails
Leeanne Colley, the owner of Tips Nail Bar, created this striped nail design in two easy steps: She covered half of the nail with red polish before adding a sleek line beneath the block of color.
