Samantha Rose/ @samrosenails
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Your biweekly nail appointment can be a self-care ritual that steadies you and reinvigorates your week. From the time you sit down in the chair at the salon or pull out your collection of nail polishes to DIY your favorite designs at home, the relaxation begins. Virtually nothing can interfere with these moments of pure bliss. That is unless you can’t think of what to get this time. That’s where our list of simple and cute nail designs comes in.
The best part about this inspo is that it can be used year-round and for practically any occasion. Whether you’re looking for a moody winter nail design, prefer the warm hues of fall nails, embrace the vivid colors of summer nails or are preparing for spring with tons of pastels, you can find several innovative ideas below.
We’ve got designs with adorable hearts that are great options for Valentine’s Day. There are also various renditions of a French manicure and neutral toned nails accentuated with glitter, gold, pearls or white that could work as wedding day nails. Whether you’re a gel mani girl, dip powder lover, or a tried and true acrylic nail devotee, there’s something here for you.
1
Glitter Stars
Chloe Millinson/ @cmnailsx
Sparkle and shine with these glossy, glittery stars. If you’re new to drawing designs with paint, you’ll want to create small triangles and connect them. The best part is you don’t have to create full stars to get the idea across.
See more at @cmnailsx
2
Flame Tips
Vanity Projects/ @vanity projects
A fresh take on a French tip incorporates lively flames. Try out this design in white or mix it up with neon or primary colors.
See more at @vanityprojects
3
Pastel Hearts
Jodie Richards/ @beautyhaven_byjodie
This sweet design may remind you of a popular Valentine’s Day candy. Take a break from your typical red and hot pink hearts and opt for this variation of pastel tones.
See more at @beautyhaven_byjodie
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Green and Gold Accents
Lauren O./ @nailsbylaureno
Not quite a French tip, but these elegant gold and green accents on the tip of the nail make for an interesting negative space nail design.
See more at @nailsbylauren.o
5
Yellow Half Moons
Megan Kelly/ @gel.bymegan
Add a pop of color to an otherwise subtle manicure by filling in half moons at the base of your nail. Yellow is the star here, but feel free to explore other shades as well.
See more at @gel.bymegan
6
Bejeweled
Samantha Rose/ @samrosenails
If you ask us, these nails have the perfect amount of bling. The heart-shaped jewels at the center of the nail and golden starburst surrounding it are both eye-catching and easy to execute.
See more at @samrosenails
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Blooming Flowers
@nailedbyliv___
Bold colors make this design a fun option but the blooming gel base is the true star. When you arrange five dots of your favorite color polish on top of the base watch it "bloom" on its own as the colored dots will slowly expand and disperse to create petals.
See more at @nailedbyliv___
8
Gel Fruit
Vanity Projects/ @vanityprojectsmia
Little beads of nearly translucent gel hues are turned into the most adorable fruits with just a few flicks of green polish. Add them to a neutral base as seen here or paint them onto a bright color of your choice.
See more at @vanityprojectsmia
9
Racing Stripes
@kxo.beauty
Anyone who’s partial to a classic French tip will love this innovative variation. Instead of creating a full arch at the top of your nail, concentrate double white lines to the left of your nail for this sporty look.
See more at @kxo.beauty
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White Lines
The Nail Room & Co
Understated doesn’t mean boring. In fact, these horizontal and vertical white lines add just the right level of interest to a fairly simple mani.
See more at @thenailroomchats
11
Black and White
@thelittlenailkitchen
Classic black and white will always make your nails look chic and sophisticated. These abstract white bands placed over a black French tip accomplish just that.
See more at @thelittlenailkitchen
12
Wavy Smiley Faces
@thatbitchdohernails
With a few squiggles of your brush and strategically placed dots, you can achieve these animated smileys.
See more at @thatbitchdohernails
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Glitter Cuffs
Hannah Andrews/ @cure.nail.studio
A little glitter goes a long way. This single line of glitter placed at the base of the nail makes for a fun and fresh design.
See more at @cure.nail.studio
14
Chrome and Pearls
OleJohny
Chrome topped with pearl accents is the way to go if you’re looking for an It-girl take on the Hailey Bieber "glazed donut nails" trend.
15
Blue Waves
Yuliya Ufimtseva
Make a splash with this innovative design. Simply swirl together blue and white polish shades on a plate or palette and gently lay them onto a nude base for a crashing wave effect.
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Matte French
Bogdan Kovenkin
While French tips always achieve a classic look, that can be easily elevated with the introduction of a bright color and matte top coat.
17
Single Dot
Mariia Demchenko
Use a dotting tool to create a single dot at the base of each nail. Think of it as an uncomplicated way to add subtle embellishment to your go-to baby pink mani.
18
Ombre Glitter
OleJohny
Start with a bead of glitter polish and slowly dab it down the center of your nail to create an ombre effect. Use this technique over a bare nail or a nude base.
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Tri-Color Tips
Bogdan Kovenkin
When you can’t choose just one color, pick three. Whether you decide on complementary hues, as shown here, or prefer vibrant contrasting colors, you can’t really go wrong.
20
Marble Nails
Dariia Chernenko
Swirling a few white lines into a light pink base makes for a classy marbled design.
