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Bright yellow beams of light, green leaves full of life, baby blue ocean waves — your manicure can take a cue from the lively and vibrant colors that are found all around us during the summer months. Now it’s time to transition from spring nail art and bring on the color — because the best summer nails are nothing if not colorful. With these easy-to-replicate manicures, nail art has never looked so cool for the season.
Whether you’re just looking for a fresh new shade to paint your nails, or you’re a burgeoning nail artist looking for your next design-orientated challenge, here’s some popular nail trend inspiration for your next summer manicure. From fun twists on French manicures to easy DIY manis — these cute designs aren’t afraid to play with color and pattern. The result? Some light and breezy nails that are perfect for flipping through your beach read and soaking up in the sun. Now that summer is well on its way, go ahead and grab your favorite polish and get to painting before it’s fall again.
1
Bright Orange Creamsicle French Tips
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French tips always look sweet — but they look even sweeter with a citrus touch. Add a pop of color to French tips with a cheery orange shade, and paint on some miniature citrus fruits for a fun design.
2
Summertime Pressed Bouquet
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Imagine pressing your favorite flower between a book’s pages while reading in a sunny park. Now imagine transferring those blooms to your nails — you end up with a chic and sophisticated floral mani.
3
Pretty in Pink Nails
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A striped ombre pastel manicure looks sweet during any season, but it’s perfect for welcoming summer.
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Summer Lilac Tips
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If you’re a fan of a traditional French manicure but want to liven it up a bit, lilac tips are the perfect way to try out a fun twist on the classic.
5
Star-Struck
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No need to use base coat — these colorful stars look easy and effortless on top of your natural nails. Try nail stickers for clean lines and symmetrical shapes.
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6
Fruit-Infused
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If your favorite summer drink is water infused with your favorite fruit, these detailed nails are perfect for you. Try this tiny nail art with any fruit (or vegetable!).
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Cool Graphic Wave Nails
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Find inspiration in the ocean’s waves by channeling them on your nails. Try bright, multi-colored ripples to keep your tips interesting.
8
Delicate Dots
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For almost-bare nails that still pack a punch, go for itsy-bitsy polka dots. You can do these in any color, but contrasting shades like orange and blue are striking. This design is especially great for short nails.
9
Totally Tubular
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You’ll look right at home next to the neighborhood pool with nails that resemble a colorful inner tube. For even more of a pool float effect, add texture to the stripes with puffy paint. Bonus idea: dab the colors together while still wet for a cool tie-dye effect.
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Minimalist Nail Art
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If you love nail art but like to keep your nails simple, try placing designs on bare nails for a chic, minimalist look.
11
Squiggly French Tips
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For a French tip lover who likes to stay trendy, this graphic French manicure fits the bill. Pastel squiggles make this manicure eye-catching.
12
Cherry Nails with Rhinestones
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Cherry nail stickers will give a fun and flirty vibe to any manicure. Add colorful rhinestones for even more dimension.
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A Sweet Summer Design
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Nothing says screams summer more than ice cream. When the weather gets warm, opt for a manicure that’s good enough to eat — these fun, multi-colored tips with gilded drips remind us of our favorite sweet treat.
14
End of Summer Nails
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Planning a warm-weather picnic? A tartan style manicure will fit right in.
15
Plant Babies
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These detailed nails are giving off major plant mom vibes. Bring your favorite plants to life by adding little faces to the pots.
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Pearly Nails
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Gold trimming along the side isn’t a must have, but it definitely gives eye-catching finish to a coat of holographic nail polish.
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17
Abstract Nails
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Over a fresh and clean white base coat, let your creativity run wild with some colorful, abstract designs. To recreate this tiny and colorful artwork, you can other opt for nail stickers, or dip a fine-tip, line detail nail brush into a your favorite polish and create a design of your own.
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18
Color Block Art
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Pick two of your favorite contrasting colors and try an angular, multi-colored design that is sure to turn heads.
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Mixed Patterns
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Floral accent nails are cute to begin with, but the best part of these nails is the peep of leopard print on the sides — talk about mastering the art of pattern mixing.
20
Rainbow Nails
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Why choose one color when you can include every color of the rainbow? By applying your color in thin stripes, you get a more grown-up manicure.
