This Brilliant Student Uses Her Manicure to Get on the Subway

Aura Nails

Auras are the colors you radiate in the world based on your overall vibes and energy. Taylor Swift's aura may or may not be moonstone, but what's yours? Use your nails to express yourself in a new way with these aura nail designs.

Pink Aura Nails

Aura nails start from the center of the nail, beaming outward in all directions to create just that: an aura. This trend can take on any color scheme for the coolest looks.

Purple Aura Nails with Stars

It's obvious that we adore aura nails. The trend can be translated into any color palette, which is why we love this purple take.

Tiny Silver French Tips on Neutral Aura Nails

Take on French tips with a twist! This style lines the top of the nails with a little sliver of metallic silver, and can pair with any nail color you please! This gorgeous example delicately paints over subtle aura nails.

Multicolor Aura Nails with Gems

Like our queen Taylor Swift said, "Best believe I'm still bejeweled." And with these nails, you'll be bejeweled, too. This look combines French tips, aura nails, and decorative gems to create a vibrant look fit for spring and summer.

Multicolor Nails

Picking a polish at the salon can be quite a dilemma. There are just too many good colors to choose from! So...why not choose them all? Here are some of our favorite daring designs that feature more than one color.

Muted Multicolor Nails

Multicolor nails are a unique style you can rock any time of the year. Use more muted colors like this example for fall, and then brighten things up once summer rolls around. Pastels are perfect for multicolor nails for this spring!

Multicolor Star Nails

This nail look presents gorgeous color pairs and spiky stars for a one-of-a-kind mani. The best part? You can buy them as press-on nails to wear year-round!

Multicolor Chrome Nails

Chrome is everywhere these days, but we're not complaining. This look takes multicolor nails and chrome-ifies them for a palette that'll turn heads.

French Tips

This mani may seem like a played-out classic, but we can't get enough of these stylish spins on the French tip! Plus, we've got a hot hack on how to get the perfect French tip without stepping foot in the salon...

Colorful Ombré French Tips

Combine your French tip faves with a subtle gradient for a softer payoff. This example paints a dainty stripe across the nail to distinguish the tips, but that part can be optional if you're already an ombré expert. Go with one hue, or bask in more of a multicolor look.

Silver Chrome French Tips

Chrome polish puts a shiny spin on your spring mani. This look uses silver, but you can use any hue to recreate these French tips.

Purple Chrome French Tips

Make some noise for more chrome! This example is doused in a purple chrome polish to craft the best French tip.

Striped Tips on Matte Nails

TBH we thought matte nails were so 2015, but this look totally changed our minds. This style works with any color combo you can think of, so you can coordinate with the seasons or even your current mood.

A Genius Hack For French Tip Nails

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Paying for French tips at the salon? Couldn't be us. Take on this super easy nail hack at home using a makeup sponge and any of your favorite polishes! You can go micro like this example does, or press the sponge further on your nails for a full-fledged French tip.

Fun Nail Art

Statement nail art stays on our minds these days. From delicate designs to playful patterns, these unique takes on nail art are a fun way to stand out in a crowd.

Heart-Shaped Nail Art

We're suckers for heart-shaped anything, so heart-shaped nails are definitely on our manicure roster this season. Step away from the typical French tip, and flaunt this flirty shape.

Marbled Nail Polish

This marbled nail look takes us back to the days when dipped, swirled nails were all the craze. For a total throwback nail look, pull inspo from this tie-dye-esque example.

Layered Neon Colors

If nailscapes could be lived in, we'd immediately move into this one. The bubbles of vibrant color are a quirky way to coat your nails, and we're here for this absolutely eye-catching example.

Outer Space Nails

These outer space nails use dainty aura designs and stars to form a wearable galaxy that you can show off any time. Paint them over a clear coat, or experiment with other colored bases for the background.

Nude Jelly Nails

Think lip gloss nails, but with a hint of shimmer. These jelly-like nails sport a more neutral nude color, so you can make a statement without having to worry about matching your nails to your outfits.

Squiggly Lines

Get playful with your nails this season and freehand some joyful squiggles in different colors. We love this example because the colors flawlessly feel like spring.

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Cherry Mocha Nail Color

You don't always have to wear a look full of intricate nail art. Sometimes one color is enough to make a statement, and this cherry mocha shade proves it.

Spiral Nail Art

Put onlookers in a hypnotic trance with these spiral nails. Well, an actual trance may not be the best idea, but they'll be captivated for sure.

Eclectic Multicolor Gradients

This color palette is truly showstopping. We love how this nail look translates the multicolor trend into simple three-tone gradients for a unique mani.

Rainbow Pastel Gradient Nails

In case you haven't caught on yet, we're all about rainbows and multicolors when it comes to pinning nail inspo. This gradient manicure is springtime's ultimate companion because it's painted in pastels!

Wavy Lines with Sparkle Nail Art

Y2K vibes come to life in this nail look full of wavy lines and glittery colors! Use a pink and green palette for your mani to up your nostalgia game even more.

Chartreuse Jelly-Metallic Nails

We love the transparent look that metallic jelly nails bring. If you wanna go bigger than the nude look above, the sunny shade of chartreuse is a trending color we have to hop on for our springtime nails.

Mismatched Seashell Mermaid Nails

If you're all about embellishments, these seashell nails are for you. Mismatched styles are also an interesting way to keep your nails fresh and unique to you.

Dark Gradient Nails

Want to embrace colored nails, but aren't ready for the electric hues? Take your gradient manicure and paint with darker shades for a look that's still colorful, but not overly distracting.

Wavy Lines with Star Embellishments

These adorable nails are embellished with a pistachio green polish, then topped off with tiny star and moon details. We're obsessed with the silver additions that would pair perfectly with silver jewelry.

Outlined Nails

Outline your nail shape using a fine brush. Dip into one or a range of hues to perfect the look! Colors with more contrast will really make them pop!

Coral Orange Chrome Nail Color

Coral orange is a beautiful shade that works for your nails any time of year. This example coats the color in chrome, giving a cool, new vibe to this bright color. Need this on our nails ASAP!

Navy Blue Jelly Nails

These navy nails are like a deep sea of color. They're also jelly-like and metallic to create dimension that we can't take our eyes off of.

Wavy Line Details

Get your hands on a tiny brush to craft wavy line decorations on a few or all of your nails! This look is easily recreated with the colors of your choice.

The Origins Of Square Nails

Just like most of today's fashion and beauty trends, the revival of square nails draws direct inspiration from the 90s.

Square nails were popularized by Black and Latinx communities back then, with women of color typically donning long, square-shaped nail extensions – often with elaborate decoration – as a vehicle of self-expression.

Though now widely admired for their intricacy and artistry, these nails weren’t always positively received, especially if they were connected to communities of color.

Even as recently as 2021, the nail style has been publicly criticized: track athlete Sha’Carri Richardson’s long, decorative square nails drew unwarranted disapproval from critics commenting on her character and skill after she was barred from the Olympics for failing a drug test – despite being the fastest woman in the world.

No matter how you wear square nails, acknowledging their origins is undeniably important considering Black and Brown communities have historically been scrutinized and miscredited for the trend.

How To Get Square Nails

To achieve square nails at home, you’ll want to start with a sturdy nail file. Square nails are mostly defined by tips with 90-degree angles, which you can easily translate to any nail length using a good-quality file.

Short to medium-length natural nails might be easier to work with if you’re aiming for square nails with your at-home manicure, but you should be aware of snags or tears from the sharper sides, says Sally Hansen Global Partner, Sigourney Nuñez.

"Short square nails are always going to be the most manageable, but you need to watch out for the corners," Nuñez says. "The edges can get stuck on things, like your hair or clothes, if you’re just not used to that shape and they can unintentionally break. On the flip side, a long square nail is really the perfect canvas for nail art."

Breakage is also a slight concern with longer natural nails since they’re more prone to chipping and splitting throughout everyday wear. To eliminate this, ensure you’re conditioning your nails with cuticle oil and strengthenerwhere it’s needed.

Press-on nails and tipsare another great option for achieving square nails at home. You can buy them ready-to-go in a square shape, and adjusting the length to your liking is a very simple process!

"I think a fun, and non-committal way to try a new nail shape, like square nails, is by trying press-ons," Nuñez says. "They can last as little as one night or up to two weeks depending on the application. This can give you a good sense of whether or not the shape and length suits your lifestyle and signature look.

No matter the length of your nails, any kind of square nails provide ample surface area for cool and creative nail art. From stripes to dots, and metallics to mattes, let these ideas for square nails guide you to experiment with your next mani!

Square Nail Designs You'll Wanna Wear ASAP

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Black French Tips

Make a bold statement with black French tips! These are super simple, but pull off a very classy vibe.

Rainbow Aura

These square nails are beaming with color. The electric green, blue, pink, and orange are so lovely for wearing during warmer months.

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Spring Palette

Mismatched nails are super adorable, and you can customize the colors you use based on your outfit or the season! These pastels are just perfect for spring.

Colorful Gradient

Anyone can pull of gradient nails. The soft, yet vibrant color palette of these square nails is sure to turn some heads.

Retro Swirls

Tap into some retro 70s influence for your square nail designs with multicolored swirls like these!

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Angel + Devil

Using contrasting nail colors on opposite hands can work wonders! This opposing mani is boosted by the angel + devil theme, along with eye-catching metallic decals.

Baby Pink

Use Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish in 'Silk is...' to achieve the coquette mani of your dreams! Light pink is such a great shade for embracing all things feminine, and the square nail shape will only amplify the elegance.

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Floral Gems

A pack of small nail gems can go a long way in helping you secure a cute mani. These tiny blooms are super cute for springtime, and even cuter when placed onto square nails.

Aqua Jelly

Jelly nails are such a captivating texture – just use some sheer gel polish to achieve the see-through look! This blue color feels very aquatic, perfect for wearing all seasons.

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Croc French Tips

These crocodile-inspired patterned nails are everything. They look even chicer with the square shape! You can use any color scheme and apply it to this fun look.

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Barbie Doll

Live in your very own Barbie world by sporting pinks upon pinks for your next square nail manicure. This design balances out solid + French-tipped nails for a unique take!

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Brown + Pink Aura

These square nails are sooo soothing. The best part about this design is that it's easily adaptable for short and long nails alike.

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Iced Out

These bling-y square nails boast the perfect combination of metallics, gems, and starry nail art. This mani is truly out of this world!

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Citrus Tips

Warm weather couldn't come soon enough, and this bright orange shade is sure to pop against your summer skin.

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Multicolor Tips

White tips are tired *yawn*. Give the classic nail design a colorful boost by incorporating all the colors of the rainbow!

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Matcha

These green press-on square nails will match your favorite matcha latte!

Are square nails dated?

Square nails are not dated. They're a 90s trend revival that are super cute, easily customizable, and very elegant.

Who should wear square nails?

Everyone should wear square nails! Trying the trend out for yourself is fairly easy, no matter your nail length. As long as you have the tools (or a great nail tech) to file and shape your nails into the square shape, you can wear them. Discover more square nail designs in this post!

1. Full Coverage Foundation

There was a time where wearing full-coverage foundation was all the rage. From drugstore to high-end brands, it seems like they were consistently shoved in consumers’ faces to help us achieve a ‘full beat’ without sitting in a makeup artist’s chair. Also, those of us with dark spots or hyperpigmentation may have relied on them when we were in the thick of our skincare woes.

But these days, wearing too much foundation isn’t as popular as natural and skincare makeup are prioritized. If anything, more people are interested in wearing light-to-medium coverage foundation, skin tints, or tinted moisturizers.

2. Too Much Concealer

It wasn’t until I watched this video by makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes that I realized some of us have been too heavy-handed with our concealers. There’s no reason we should be slapping products under the thinnest parts of our face, but we didn’t know any better!

Now that you know you can still get the desired effect with a minimal amount of concealer, don’t revert back to painting your under eyes!

3. 'Baking' Your Setting Powder

Before you throw away your setting powders, step away from your makeup drawer and have a sit-down chat with me. There isn’t anything wrong with applying them to your face to help ‘set’ your foundation and concealer. However, spending over 10 minutes ‘baking’ your powder (AKA letting it sit untouched) doesn’t work for everyone.

It can lead to creased makeup which can derail your look, plus it’s a pain to correct when you’re halfway through your routine!

4. Overlining Lips

I love a good lip liner, especially if it mirrors my favorite ‘90s makeup look. But, there’s such a thing as overdoing it. The key to lining your lips is following the natural flow of them. Going out of your way to draw above and under your lips’ lines comes off as comical and exaggerated. If anything, use a lip plumping gloss to help your lips look fuller.

5. Overtweezing Your Eyebrows

I don’t even have the words for this outdated makeup look besides wanting to say “no” 20 times in a row. But, I’ll bite and say why this shouldn’t be on your 2025 beauty moodboard.

Some people naturally have thinner eyebrows which is A-okay! However, purposely tweezing your eyebrows to smithereens is cringey. If you truly want to wear this look, here’s what you can do instead of tweezing:

• Create a faux bleached look by applying a skin tone colored setting powder all over your brows.
• Once they’ve ‘disappeared,’ take an eyebrow pencil or eyeliner to draw a thin line over them.

I’m…wondering what the ramifications of telling you how to do this will be, but only use go for this look if it’s a part of a themed party…like Halloween.

6. Exaggerated Highlighter On Cheeks

The shimmery look is in since it’s winter, but please don’t make it look like you dipped your cheeks into a vat of glitter. You can lightly dust highlighter onto your cheeks for a more natural glow that flows with the rest of your look. Otherwise you’ll look like a walking disco ball which could be the opposite of what you were going for.

7. Heavy Contour Or Bronzer

I know the ‘sculpted’ look is popular, but too much contour or bronzer can overpower the rest of your makeup and face. While it’s not impossible to fix if you do it by mistake, using the wrong shade of contour or bronzer may still peep through no matter how much you try to buff it out.

When in doubt, be gentle with your contour or bronzer application!

8. Incredibly Matte Makeup

Matte makeup that didn’t budge was the ‘It Girl’ look for oily and combination skin girls! We thought it was the answer to our skin’s incessant need to hydrate our faces instead of actually using skincare products that focused on combatting that issue (psst…Vitamin C serums help!).

But now’s the time to break up with this look for good for one reason: dewy skin looks healthier.