20 Summer Nail Art Ideas That Scream Fun In The Sun
Summer is the season for standing out, from epic swimsuits, to fresh hair, to summer nail art. Instead of sticking to simple colors for your seasonal mani, get ready for a slew of new ideas that will carry you from outdoor happy hours to boardwalk shenanigans on date night.
Whether you love flashy colors or sophisticated finishes, we have all the inspo you need for your next trip to the nail salon (or your next DIY spa night). Ready to get inspired? Scroll down to see some of our favorite summer nail ideas that’ll have you ready for vacation.
Bold Florals
This groovy floral print is tailor-made for weekend road trips. We love all of the colors, because in our opinion, the brighter the better.
Ocean Blues
Inspired by the ocean, this wave-like ombre is ready for your next beach vacation. Add some gold glitter for some extra glam + dimension.
Subtle Leaves
For the minimalistic gal, these light leaves make for the perfect nail design. Color combos like gold, green, and white keep thing from looking too autumnal.
Multicolor Gradient Nails
Just grab your nail polish collection and a small cosmetic sponge to create an eye-catching mani like this one that's full of gradients!
Glazed Donut Nails
Chic and sophisticated, we love the glazed donut nails that Hailey Bieber's been rocking and can't wait to try it out for ourselves. Add the World's Your Oyster Babe Iridescent Nail Polish ($11) to your mani to get the look.
Watercolor
Can’t decide on just one color? Incorporate all of your favorite polish tones into one watercolor design. Check out our watercolor nail polish techniquefor some extra inspo.
Colorful Gems
Try enlisting the help of some mini colored gemstones to amp up the energy of a classic French tip.
Flamingos
Any *extra AF* girl knows that summer isn’t summer without a flamingo on your nail. We're loving this pink and green combo!
Daisy Negative Space
Negative space nails are still having their moment, and who doesn’t love this iconic bloom? If you have another favorite flower, just swap your colors to match your favorite floral.
Get Groovy
Get wild and wavy with summertime colors in a bold graphic design. Bright colors and negative space make this pick extra eye-catching and we can't get enough!
Statement Nail
Trending colors like cobalt blue look amazing when paired with a glittery accent nail. Catch the light in just the right way and it makes your mani look totally different!
Groovy Wavy Nails
These nails remind us of Daphne from Scooby Doo, which is why we need a paint job like this now.
Minimal Blooms
For a simple nail design, nestle abstract flowers near your cuticle. Have the designs move away from your cuticle on some nails and away from the tips on others to keep things visually interesting.
Pineapples
If you're in a tropical mood, try out this pineapple mani. Add some banana leaves or go full piña colada and add some coconuts instead!
With Sprinkles On Top
Have your cake and eat it too with a rainbow sprinkle mani. Pick your favorite icing flavor for your base color inspo and paint tiny strokes in different directions for a fun look.
A Mani For A Rockstar
Pop on these star-shaped press-ons from BettyCora for a rockstar mani.
Neon Cacti
Cacti get a ’90s jolt when they’re painted in neon polish. Switch up your base color every few nails to make it more summery.
Banana Leaves
Millennial pink gets even trendier when you couple it with fresh banana leaves and gold accents. Sophisticated, simple, and beautiful.
Aura Nails
Gradient nails, or aura nails, are suitable for summertime since you can get playful with color pairings. This mani embellishes each nail with colorful gemstones, too, for a shiny lewk!
Peachy Florals
Pair sorbet-inspired hues with petite blooms for your vacay nail design. We love the square shape, but it would also look amazing with oval nails!
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This post has been updated.
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