Getty | Edward BerthelotGetty | Edward Berthelot
Whether you’re into big celebrations or not, your birthday is arguably the most important holiday of the year. Ahead of your big day, you might be thinking about everything from your outfit to your hair (and maybe even a celebratory astrology tattoo), but you don’t want to forget the finishing touch: the birthday nails.
There are a host of nail art ideas that could serve as inspiration for your birthday. On the celebrity front, you could consider re-creating Hailey Bieber’s now-famous glazed-doughnut manicure or go for a twist on the classic french manicure. You could even play up the significance of the day by getting a nod to your zodiac sign.
At the end of the day, the options for birthday nail designs are endless, and there’s no one-size-fits-all template. Feeling celestial nail art? “Gold against matte, as well as gold against light and baby blue, translates the best to give you that starry-night effect,” manicurist Elle Gerstein previously told PS. Want to be seasonally appropriate? Pastel nails are trending again for spring, and there are countless ways to incorporate the color into your manicure. Need all eyes on you? Maximalist birthday nail ideas can feature everything from 3D shapes to decals, stickers, and more — plus, they’ll be sure to keep the compliments flowing all day.
To make sure your manicure is as ready as you are to celebrate your latest trip around the sun, ahead we rounded up some cute birthday nails to consider as you prepare to celebrate this personal new year.
Celestial Birthday Nails
What better way to emphasize your starlet status on your big night than to have literal stars on your birthday nails? Have some fun with your celestial nail art by also adding additional designs like the snake and textured french tips seen here.
Pink Birthday Nails
For birthday nails that are a bit more understated, try adding the nail art in a simple gold color over a single-color base.
21st Birthday Nails
21 is a milestone celebration, so don’t be afraid to make your birthday nails all about this new season of life by using your new age as nail art.
White Birthday Nails
These starry birthday nails are anything but safe. Play up the quintessential design by using each color on a different hand and then creating the nail art in the opposite color.
Simple Birthday Nails
Supermodel manicures have been seen all over Hollywood recently and they make the perfect birthday manicure for people who want to be more lowkey. Step your manicure up a notch by adding nail decals in your favorite shapes.
Black Birthday Nails
For a bit more subtlety with your birthday nail designs, get your nail art on an accent finger in an eye-catching color to make it stand out, but keep the base uniform throughout the manicure.
Glitter Birthday Nails
One of the easiest ways to make sure you command attention is to sparkle with glitter nails. Get the shimmer for your birthday nails in subtle tones, like these champagne-colored crystals seen here, to make it look like you’re sparkling from within.
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Pink Glitter Nails
If you want to sparkle but also love color, get glitter nails in holographic finishes that reflect different colors in the light, like these pink birthday nails. Not only do they catch the eye, but holographic colors are surprisingly flattering across various skin tones.
Zodiac Birthday Nails
Walking around with your zodiac sign for all to see is a sure-fire way to catch people’s attention. Go for glam by spelling out your zodiac sign on an accent nail and adding more details like a french tip, glitter, and charms.
Leopard-Print Birthday Nails
Want a bit more personality added to your cute birthday nails? Add some unique individual touches, like your favorite animal-print pattern, alongside your sign and the age you’re turning.
Simple Birthday Nails
If minimalist nail designs are more your speed, step up your normal single-color manicure by playing around with additional elements like lines and negative space.
Ariel Baker is the assistant editor for POPSUGAR Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends, and product reviews. She has additional bylines with Essence and Forbes Vetted.
