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The temperatures are rising, beach days are here, and suddenly, we have a sunny disposition. That goes for our nails too: cheery, vibrant, bold colors are all we want on our fingertips. We spoke to nails artist, and they confirmed there is a H๏τ wave of summer nail trends that allow you to incorporate all of your favorite, lively colors into one design.
Sure we love a simple, solid manicure — but now is the time to go all out, say, for that vacation you have been counting down the days until. This summer, more is more (is more). If you consider yourself a maximalist, rejoice. Nail art trends like skittle nails (with a different shade painted on each nail to create a rainbow of colors) and the aura nail trend — which blends multiple colors into a dreamy ombre finish — are just waiting to make an appearance on your nails.
And if you are a minimalist, you can get excited too. A neon palette may, in fact, be new territory for you, but you’d be surprised just how wearable some of these nail designs are, even in shocking hues. One standout you are sure to love is the micro French, a design that’s dainty when done in pastels but can easily be dialed up when executed with electric pink or orange. For the undeniably bolder trends (like tie-dye nails), know that there is a way to scale back these designs, while still making quite the splash.
Ahead, all the inspiration you need for an entire summer’s worth of manicures that are sure to turn up the heat.
Aura Nails
If you have ever had your aura pH๏τographed, you might be familiar with the splotches of colors that have a whole lot to “say” about your energy. That visual — as in those colorful clouds surrounding your silhouette — was nail artist Jin Soon Choi’s inspiration for the vibrant “abstract aura nails” she dreamed up for Christopher John Rogers most recent runway show.
Choi used nail sponges dipped in two different shades of blue nail polish to create a diffused effect on some models, and shades of orange, yellow, and aqua on others. “To build the color, the first layer should be super light, the second layer should be a bit darker and smaller, and the center dab should be the darkest to create an ombre effect for an aura look,” says Choi. We can’t speak to the exact meaning of the colors, but we predict good vibes.
Skittle Nails
Why settle for one polish color when you can taste, we mean, wear the rainbow? For this candy-colored manicure, each nail gets two coats of a different shade of nail lacquer. Dang recommends sticking to the same color family: “If you pick a neon color you should go with all neon polishes to make a cohesive color palette.” You can give them even more flair by finishing your manicure with a layer of shimmery top coat like ILNP Holographic Shimmer Nail Polish in the shade Secret Society.
Micro French Nails
Meet the micro French manicure, set to reign supreme in months to come. She is the cooler, younger sister to the classic French manicure, but with an ultra-fine tip. And “instead of a classic white tip, many are reaching for vibrant neons, and showstopping pastels to match their summer vibes,” says Hayley Dang, a nail artist at Bellacures salon.
Apply two coats of neutral polish (we love Allure Best of Beauty winner Olive & June nail polish in the shade Potporrui) as your base color. Once that drys, “paint on your color along the very point of your nails with a small thin brush,” says Dang. “Make sure to use slow and steady strokes to guarantee the most precise application.” This look works on all nail shapes but is especially cute on short square nails.
Wavy French
The French manicure is making waves… yet again. Compared to the precise nature of the classic version, this design is fairly easy to freehand. Before swirling on the art, make sure to “remove any access from your brush,” says Sacramento-based nail artist Fabian Robles. “This is going to help you achieve thin lines and prevent blobs of polish.” Then squiggle a line around the arch of your fingernail and fill in that border with a thin coat of paint.
ʙuттerfly Nails
Spread your wings this summer and try painting an intricate nail design. ʙuттerflies make for great nail design inspiration. To mimic the pattern you would see on the insect’s wings, Rosa draws on circles and then paints a line in between them. “The goal is for each finger to be different, so you’ll draw your circles in different areas each time,” says Rosa.
Tie Dye Nails
Nothing screams summer quite like a cheery tie-dye pattern — and that statement is not limited just to T-shirts. We suggest taking the print for a whirl on your nails. Instead of covering your entire nail bed in the design, leave some negative space, like Los Angeles-based nail artist Bana Jarjour’s take on the look. If you want to simplify things even more, try keeping the tie-dye to an accent nail or two.
Whether you decide to paint all ten tips or just a few, be sure to prep the desired section of the nail with two coats of white polish. This creates a canvas for the colors to pop. Once that dries, add a thick line of each color. The trick to getting the blurred, tie-dye-like finish? “Before the polish dries, use a thin nail art brush to lightly drag the colors upward, then downward,” says Jarjour.
