Nine Summer Nail Trends Nail art fans need to schedule their manicures for the summer in addition to organizing their summer travel schedules and packing lists. (Landing poolside might sometimes take a lot of preparation!) We are confident that one of the brightest nail art ideas for summer 2024 will be appropriate for every occasion, regardless of what your schedule may contain.
Punchy colors and bold patterns combine to create manicures made for sipping Mai-Tais under a beach-club cabana. Some designs are sure to shine in sunny Palm Beach, while others are destined to take a road trip across the United States with the fringe and rhinestones of Texas (the Beyoncé effect knows no bounds).
Remaining in the area? Pop-art color bursts and bows are two popular motifs that are perfect for luring you into the summertime mood. And we’re all for bold statement nails that are the ideal complement to reading a book, riding a bike around the neighborhood, or simply sipping lemonade in the backyard—all while having the most gorgeous nails on the block.
However, it’s not all studs and trippy swirls. It’s encouraging to know that there’s a rise in neat, basic nail art looks this summer for those who like a more understated look. Consider the clean, contemporary style of the Baby Boomer manicure, which triumphantly returns in 2024, combined with thin neon French tips on neutral nails. Press-on nails are also growing more popular, which is fantastic news for those who enjoy lazy nail art or last-minute manicures that can be completed while traveling. (In addition, the TSA won’t stop you at security with these transient, liquid-free tips.)
We spoke with leading nail technicians and manicurists in the business to find out about the hottest summer nail art trends and how to get the looks at home. Prepare to embark on your summertime excursions in style by continuing to scroll.
Introducing the experts:
- Editorial manicurist Jin Soon Choi founded JINSoon Spas and nail lacquer in New York City.
- Sarah Chue is a Los Angeles-based editorial and celebrity nail artist.
- Based in London, Julia Diogo is a well-known nail artist.
- Bana Jarjour is a nail artist based in Los Angeles.
- Based in New York City, Lolly Koon does celebrity and editorial nail art.
Carter the Cowboy Is Unstoppable Nine Summer Nail Trends
Nail art is part of the global infatuation with all things country western that Beyoncé’s cowgirl era has sparked. The singer prefers “Texan French,” but Bara Jarjour, a nail artist in Los Angeles, is feeling a studded cow-print design. Jarjour uses standard nail polish to achieve the look: milky white for the foundation and mid-tone brown (specifically, OPI Chocolate Mousse) for the spots. If you would rather use gel polish, similar tones work just as well.
For the cow print, Jarjour says to “smoosh the brush [dipped in brown polish] around a bit until the larger spots look a little disheveled” after painting a layer of white and allowing it to dry. Then, using whatever hairs are still on the brush—you might even need to trim some—gently dab the thin side of the brush onto the nail to produce sporadic, tiny brown dots. After applying your final layer, feel free to accessorise with a few flat-back studs; spurs, boots, and hoops are not necessary.
Nails Palm Royale
Nail artist Lolly Koon of New York City is inspired by bright, ’60s-style prints for the summertime thanks to Apple TV’s Palm Royale. She remarks, “There are so many amazing tone-on-tone patterns in the show that are reminiscent of Lilly Pulitzer—oranges, yellow, and white all together.” Koon utilized gel manicures in “bright, tropical colors” to translate this into the nail art above, but she says regular polish also works.
I used a few light swipes of brilliant yellow over a peachy-orange background to create these swishes for this look. I then painted the small leafy portions on both sides in pink and green using a dotting tool. Everything should have the same air of spontaneity and whimsy as Kristen Wiig’s attempt in the show to con her way into Miami’s most prestigious members’ club.
French Floral Tips
Excuse the Devil Wears Prada allusion, but we have to admit that this flowery French-tip design’s creation method is fairly innovative. According to Jarjour, “it’s a twist on a traditional floral design for spring/summer and a classic French tip, which is popular all year round.” “So you’re creating something new by fusing two iconic designs together.”
Jarjour used tiny dried flowers she purchased on Amazon for this specific appearance. Apply a sheer, neutral base color and paint only the tips in a milky white tone to replicate it. Jarjour, who employed a pair of tweezers to accomplish this, advises placing the flowers down so they adhere to the varnish before curing it or letting the manicure dry. “Cure that layer, or if you’re using regular polish, let it dry completely, and then paint another layer of milky white over the flowers, and lastly apply your topcoat.” Broken up into tiny bits, Jarjour suggests crumbling the dried flowers if your nails aren’t very long.
Nails with blush and bows
These two nail art styles capitalize on 2024’s obsession with anything doll-like and coquette-like. South Korea is where the blush nail trend first gained traction, and nail artist Jin Soon Choi is seeing a resurgence of this style. According to Choi, the application of a sponge method produces an artistic flair that is evocative of the natural flush of your cheeks or a subtle touch of makeup. It also gives your nails a vibrant dimension that is similar to makeup artist Pat McGrath’s glass makeup looks. Applying a final coat of JINsoon Top Gloss topcoat intensifies the similarity to McGrath’s avant-garde makeup method.
Koon like the idea of updating the look for summer by giving her pink nails a small bow accent, which is set to be another of 2024’s hottest beauty trends. “It seems like there’s a lot of whimsy in [the recent] spring/summer shows, and bows are everywhere right now,” remarks Koon, expressing her eagerness to explore this trend. Using a liner brush and black gel polish, Koon applied layers of silver chrome powder over the paint job of the bows. She says that using an acrylic nail art pen is the simplest method to accomplish this at home.
Baby Boomer Nails
The Baby Boomer manicure, sometimes referred to as the “French fade” or “French ombré,” is making a comeback. It offers a simpler option for summer weddings or individuals who like a more understated nail appearance. The white tips and neutral nail beds are the hallmarks of a classic French manicure, and the pattern blends the two hues together to produce a delicate ombré effect. Celebrity nail artist Julia Diogo, based in London, adds, “I remember doing [Baby Boomer nails] a couple of years ago and people weren’t sure if they were into it.” “I’m seeing it everywhere now.”
The greatest thing about this style is its adaptability. Diogo claims that it works with conventional polish or gels on long, mid-length, and short nails. It’s also really simple to accomplish. You’ll need two polishes: one opaque white (Diogo suggests Dior Vernis in Jasmine or Essie nail paint in Blanc) and a translucent pink or nude that matches your skin tone for the base. After your base color dries, take a makeup sponge in the shape of a wedge, dip the narrow end into some white polish, and dab it onto the nail tip to create the ombré effect. Seal the look with a glossy top coat.
French Micro Neon
The micro French manicure is still the most popular summertime manicure for nail professionals, but this time it has a bright twist. According to Koon, who designed the looks above, “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.”
In order to make the bright tips appear even brighter, start with a neutral base coat that almost exactly matches your skin tone. Next, paint your preferred neon color at the very tips of your nails using a tiny, fine liner brush. Make careful to paint slowly and steadily to achieve accuracy. According to Koon, “It’s just a nod to a color on the very edges—not quite a full French.” Diogo adores this summertime ensemble in vivid green. “This is a great way to try the shade without having full-on green nails; it’s been having a moment,” she explains.
Pop-Art Nails
Among the simplest methods to create a stir? Colorful explosions. “The current trend is pop nail art on a sheer base, and adding abstract paint or curvy lines really captures a hot summer vibe,” explains Choi. On a sheer rose basis, she suggests playing with vibrant hues like coral-reds and magentas. But embrace your inner artist with this trend—pretty much any hue works. We adore the breezy combination of punchier, poolside tones like aquamarine and turquoise with sherbert-inspired hues like soft coral and pale peach.
French Cat-Eye Colored-Chrome
2019 saw the rise of the cat eye manicure, a nail art that combines magnetic polish to provide a striking metallic sheen. Since then, it has been increasingly popular. On TikTok, the word has had 57 million views, and between March and April of this year, Google searches for the trend increased by 1000%. It comes as no surprise that the trend is continuing for the summer, if in a simpler, more fresh way.
Say hello to Sarah Chue, a nail artist based in Los Angeles, and her latest obsession: the colored-chrome cat-eye French. It’s quite the mouthful. Chue adds, “It’s simple, elegant, and fun, and you can do all these arrays of color.” She like the look best on almond-shaped nails, but any shape with considerable length would do. Magnetic polish works best with a gel kit to cure the design if you’re doing this at home. Chue says, “You could use chrome polish, but it will look flatter.” “You get that intense reflection that looks especially beautiful in the sun with the magnetic polish.”
Apply one coat of Bevimee Silver Cat Eye polish to the tip of your nail once your base coat has dried and set. Chue uses the Spontaneous Beauty Premium Kolinksy French Brush, which has bristles that form a precise “U” shape.) After applying the magnet to the polish, give it a 15-second flash cure. After doing the procedures on each of the five fingers, give them a further 30 seconds to cure. After that, cure the French tips alone by covering them with a vibrant jelly polish (Chue suggests Varnail Jelly Polish in Turquoise Water).
Press-Ons Are the Easiest DIY Nail Art Technique
Not only are press-on nails the simplest way to achieve almost any design, regardless of your skill level or budget, but they are also not a trend. The newest styles—from companies like Chillhouse and Glamnetic—are superior than ever, with more elegant forms, a wide range of sizes, and much stronger adhesive (so you can reach into your purse without one popping off).
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