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In between planning summer vacations and planning what to pack for said summer vacations, nail-art enthusiasts also need to plan their manicures for the season. (Sometimes landing poolside can require a lot of planning!) Whatever your itinerary may include, we are certain one of summer 2024’s boldest nail art trends will be fit for all occasions. There are designs destined to venture on a road trip across the US, with the fringe and rhinestones of Texas (the Beyoncé effect knows no bounds); others are sure to shine in sunny Palm Beach, where punchy colors and bold patterns come together to create manicures made for sipping Mai-Tais under a beach-club cabana. Staying local? Trending designs like bows and pop-art bursts of color are great for just getting you into the summer mood. And we are all for just-because statement nails that are the perfect accessory to sipping lemonade in the backyard, going for a bike ride around the neighborhood, or simply reading a book with the prettiest nails on the block.
It’s not all studs and psychedelic swirls, though. Those who prefer a more minimal aesthetic will be happy to hear this summer sees a surge in clean, simple nail art looks, too. Think slim neon French tips on neutral nails and the crisp freshness of the Baby Boomer manicure, which makes its triumphant return in 2024. Press-on nails are also becoming more prevalent—great news for lazy nail-art lovers or last-minute manicures that can be done en route to your destination. (Plus, these temporary, liquid-free tips won’t have TSA stopping you at security.)
To learn about all the best summer nail art trends—and how to recreate the looks at home—we chatted with top nail artists and manicurists in the industry. Keep scrolling and get ready to take off on your summer adventures in style.
- Jin Soon Choi is an editorial manicurist and founder of JINSoon nail lacquer and JINsoon Spas in New York City.
- Sarah Chue is an editorial and celebrity nail artist based in LA.
- Julia Diogo is a celebrity nail artist based in London.
- Bana Jarjour is a Los Angeles-based nail artist.
- Lolly Koon is an editorial and celebrity nail artist based in New York City.
Cowboy Carter Nails
Beyoncé’s cowgirl era has sparked a global obsession for all things country western—and that includes nail art. The singer favors the “Texan French,” while Los Angeles-based nail artist Bara Jarjour is feeling a studded cow-print design. Jarjour creates the look using regular polish —milky white for the base and mid-tone brown (OPI nail polish in Chocolate Mousse, to be specific) for the spots. Gel polish in similar shades works just as well if that’s your preference.
Now for the cow print: Once you’ve painted a layer of white and let that dry, “smoosh the brush [dipped in brown polish] around a bit until the larger spots look a little disheveled,” Jarjour explains. Then, taking whatever is left on the bristles (you may even need to remove some), dab the skinny side of the brush gently onto the nail to create random, tiny specks of brown. Apply your top coat and, if you’d like, add a couple of flat-back studs—hoops, boots, and spurs not required.
Palm Royale Nails
Apple TV’s Palm Royale has New York City-based nail artist, Lolly Koon, feeling inspired by vivid, ‘60s-inspired prints for the summer months. “The show has so many awesome, Lilly Pulitzer-like patterns that are tone-on-tone—oranges, yellow, white altogether,” she says. To translate this into the nail design above, Koon used gel polishes in “bright, tropical colors,” although she confirms traditional polish also works. “For this look, I started with a peachy-orange base, and then some quick swipes of bright yellow over that, creating these swishes. Then, I used a dotting tool to paint the little leafy areas on both sides in green and pink.” Everything should feel random and spontaneous—the same energy as Kristen Wiig trying to scheme her way into Miami’s most exclusive members’ club in the show.
Floral French Tips
Pardon the Devil Wears Prada reference, but we have to say the technique for creating this floral French-tip design is pretty groundbreaking. “It’s a take on a typical floral design for spring/summer and a classic French tip, which is popular all year round,” explains Jarjour. “So you’re combining two classic designs to make something fresh.”
For this particular look, Jarjour incorporated teeny-tiny dried flowers she bought on Amazon. To recreate it yourself, apply a sheer, neutral base shade, then paint just the tips in a milky white tone. “Before you cure it (or your polish dries), place the flowers down so they stick into the polish,” says Jarjour, who used a pair of tweezers to do this. “Cure that layer—or let it completely dry if you’re using regular polish—and then paint another layer of milky white over the flowers, followed by your topcoat.” If you don’t have long nails, Jarjour recommends crumbling the dried flowers into smaller pieces.
Blush Nails and Bows
These two nail-art trends tap into 2024’s fascination with all things coquette-ish and doll-like. The trend of blush nails originated in South Korea, and it’s a look nail artist Jin Soon Choi is seeing bubble up again. “By employing a sponge technique, it creates an artistic flair reminiscent of the natural flush of your cheeks or a delicate touch of makeup,” says Choi, adding that the effect adds a “lively dimension to your nails, akin to the glass makeup looks by makeup artist Pat McGrath.” Finishing with a layer of JINsoon Top Gloss topcoat further enhances the resemblance to McGrath’s innovative makeup technique.
To update the look for summer, Koon loves the idea of adding dainty bows—another of 2024’s biggest beauty trends—to her blush nails. “Bows are everywhere right now and I feel like looking through [the recent] spring/summer shows, there was a lot of whimsy,” says Koon, a vibe she was eager to experiment with. Koon painted on the bows using a liner brush and black gel polish and then layering silver chrome powder on top. If you’re doing this at home, she notes the easiest way is to use an acrylic nail art pen.
Baby Boomer Nails
Also known as the “French fade” or “French ombré”, the Baby Boomer manicure is back, providing a pared-down alternative for summer weddings or for those who prefer a more minimal nail look. The design takes the elements of a classic French—the white tips and neutral nail beds and fades the two colors together, creating a soft ombré effect. “I remember doing [Baby Boomer nails] a couple of years ago and people weren't sure if they were into it,” says London-based celebrity nail artist Julia Diogo. “Now, I’m seeing it everywhere.”
The best part about this style is how versatile it is. According to Diogo, it works on long, mid-length, and short nails, with regular polish or gels. It’s also incredibly easy to do. You need two polishes: a sheer pink or nude that complements your skin tone for the base, and an opaque white (Diogo recommends Essie nail polish in Blanc or Dior Vernis in Jasmine). Once your base shade is dry, take a wedge-shape makeup sponge, dip the narrow edge into a bit of white polish, and dab it onto the tip of the nail to create the ombré effect, finishing with a glossy top coat.
Micro Neon French
For another summer in a row, the micro French manicure remains at the top of nail artists’ lists, although this time around the trend gets a fluorescent twist. “It’s a fun design for someone who likes more of a natural-looking nail or who wears more neutral-colored clothing, while also adding something a little extra,” says Koon, who created the looks above.
Start with a neutral base coat that nearly matches your skin tone—this will make the bright tips look even brighter. Then, use a small, fine liner brush to paint your neon color of choice along just the very tops of your nails, using slow and steady strokes to ensure precision. “It’s not quite a full French, but just a nod to a color on the very edges,” says Koon. Diogo loves this look in bright green for the summer. “The shade has been having a moment, and this is a great way to try it without having full-on green nails,” she says.
Pop-Art Nails
One of the easiest ways to make a splash? Bursts of color. “Pop nail art on a sheer base is currently all the rage, and incorporating curvy lines or abstract paint perfectly captures a hot summer vibe,” says Choi. She recommends experimenting with bright shades like coral-reds and magentas atop a sheer rose base. With this trend, however, channel your inner artist, as pretty much any color goes. We love the summery combo of sherbert-inspired shades like pale peach and soft coral contrasted with punchier, poolside hues of aquamarine and turquoise.
Colored-Chrome Cat-Eye French
The cat eye manicure—the nail design that uses magnetic polish to create an intense metallic finish—clawed its way into the beauty zeitgeist in 2019 and hasn’t let go. The term has 57 million views on TikTok, while Google searches for the trend have gone up by 1000% between March and April this year. It’s no surprise the trend is sticking around for the summer, albeit in a fresher, more minimal form.
Meet the colored-chrome cat-eye French, a mouthful to say and Los Angeles-based nail artist Sarah Chue’s most recent obsession. “It’s fun, chic, and simple and you can do all these arrays of color,” says Chue, who prefers the look on almond-shaped nails, although any shape with some length will do. If you’re doing this at home, magnetic polish is best with a gel kit to cure the design. “You could use chrome polish, but it will look flatter,” explains Chue. “With the magnetic polish, you get that intense reflection that looks especially beautiful in the sun.”
After applying and curing your base coat, paint one coat of the Bevimee Silver Cat Eye polish along the tip of your nail, using a clean brush (Chue uses the Spontaneous Beauty Premium Kolinksy French Brush, which has bristles that give you that perfect “U” shape.) Run the magnet over the polish and then flash cure for 15 seconds. Repeat the steps on all five fingers before curing them all for an additional 30 seconds. Next, apply a colorful jelly polish—Chue recommends Varnail Jelly Polish in Turquoise Water— over the French tips only, and cure.
The Easiest Way to DIY Nail Art: Press-Ons
Press-on nails are not a trend—but they are the easiest way to achieve pretty much any design you like, regardless of your budget or skill level. The latest designs—from brands like Chillhouse and Glamnetic—are better than ever with more refined shapes, diverse sizing, and adhesive that’s significantly stronger (so you can reach into your purse without one popping off).
Discover more inspiration for your next manicure.
- Everyone Will Be Wearing This Aquatic Nail Color for Summer
- Jelly Nails Are Back Again
- The 14 Best Press-On Nails
Now watch Sabrina Carpenter's makeup routine for natural light.
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