35 Spring Nail Ideas To Take To The Salon

Floral nail art? For spring? Groundbreaking. This season spring nails are anything but predictable. Naildesigns run the gamut of the garden to the galaxy, flitting effortlessly between sweet pops of pastel to bold intergalactic inspired chrome nails. Miranda Priestly will be proud.

Traditionally spring is a time of new beginnings and in beauty speak that’s code for "it’s time to try something new." Shed autumnaltones and dark polishes and welcome in a rainbow of colours, patterns and textures.

Colour wise the usual suspects are still in for spring. Nudenails, pastel yellows, and cornflour blues are perennially popular at this time of year.

The Best Spring Nail Designs 2024

Celebrities are an endless source of nail inspiration. Last summer silver took centre stage thanks to the metallic theme of Beyonce’s renaissance tour. Smiley faces were a cute nod to Harry Styles’ manicure of choice and let’s not mention the parade of pink nails that swept into bars and onto beaches courtesy of little known film Barbie. This year though Madeleine Lallaway, nail expert and manicurist at ShoreditchNails, predicts there will be one person in particular whose nails she’ll be asked to recreate in the salon. ‘This year we can expect to see a lot of Taylor Swift inspired eras mani’s!’

Scroll on for the very best nail designs for gorgeous spring nails - perfect for all nail shapes - that will take you well into summer. Miranda Priestly approved - of course.

Spring Nails: The Sets To Try Now

1. Mix & Match Negative Space

‘Mix-and-match mani’s are also trending and here to stay,’ Lallaway tells Grazia, ‘lately we’ve been seeing it with a mix of nail art designs and textured in a cohesive colour combination, often on a negative space background’

2. Butter Yellow Nails

When Selena Gomez says yellow nails are a thing we listen. Since the popstar showcased her butter yellow mani at easter the term 'butter nails' the second most search lifestyle term on Google. Want in? Put nails a sunny shade in a matte finish and you're good to go. Image credit: @tombachik

3. Glazed Blue Porcelain Nails

Your grandmother's china is the unlikely inspiration for one of Spring's breakout nail trends. Elegant but bold, this classic pattern deserves a place in your saved folder. The ideal combination? A deep, rich blue paired with a cool, fresh white nail polish.

4. Denim Nails

Bored of blueberry? Consider taking your colour cue from the catwalk where denim is currently reigning supreme and ask your manicurist for a denim hue to upgrade your blue.

5. Multi-Coloured French Tips

The new-gen french manicure has been appearing on the talons of the photographed and famous for a while now. Bella Hadid is a fan of yellow tips. A modern twist on the classic french manicure this nail design doesn't just look cute it's perfect for the indecisive too.

6. Cartoon Nail Art

Remember when everyone put smiley faces on their nails because Harry Styles put smiley faces on his nails? Well, they're back. This time round try pairing them with flowers, hearts, stars or any other cute cartoon that you'd doodle in your notebook.

7. Orange Red Nails

If classic red are your usual calling card, heed Lallaway’s advice and opt for a rouge with an orange undertone - ‘they look much more striking in the sun!’

8. Daisy Print Nail Art

If you're a fan of DIY nail art then let us introduce you to your future floral fantasy, the daisy. One of the easiest floral patterns to create yourself - a toothpick, a white nail polish, yellow polish and a steady hand are all you need - the humble daisy still elevates any classic manicure. Image credit: @nailsbypaulin

9. Chrome 3D Nails

According to the in-salon nail pros texture is going to be the big talking point for nails this year. Chrome, mix-and-match colourways and pastel colours will be elevated with ‘various textures and nail art looks,’ observes Lallaway.

10. Swirls and French Tips

Nudenail girls listen up. If you're looking for a way to update a classic nude mani, look no further. Adding a colour tip or a swirl of a brighter shade takes your neutral mani from meh to mega in a flash.

11. Weird Girl Manicure

The high priestess of glazed doughnut nails Hailey Bieber, has been seen flaunting two spring nail trends at once with her recent mix-and-match blooming gel sets proving that they must be a thing.

12. Chrome Neon Mix & Match Nails

If the weather can't provide the spring sunshine then your nails certainly can. Acid greens, electric orange, vibrant purples are a sure fire way to brighten up the greyest of days. Want more? Add a chrome finish to take things up a notch.

13. Pink French Manicure With Embellished Charms

Taking to Instagram yesterday, Kim Kardashian posted her latest nail look, a Hello Kitty inspired nail design by celebrity nail artist Kim Kim over the Easter weekend. If your idea of the perfect nail set involves a pink French manicure with embellished charms, this look is your calling for spring, plus it's quite easy to achieve.

14. Pastel 3D Nails

Lallaway, predicts that ‘blooming gel or gems’ are going to be the hot requests at the nail bar. Pastel manicures are a sure fire winner come spring, try taking yours to the next level with 3D nail art.

15. Balletcore Nails

Coquette nails have been dominating our fees for a while now and the trend for sweet, pink nails that fit into the balletcore aesthetic is an extension of that. Bows, hearts ribbons, ballet slippers...adorn your pretty manicure with accessories that are on pointe.

16. Neon Flame Nails

As the months get warmer and festival season approaches, Kim Kim also says, 'I’m expecting to see colourful and neon shades, bringing the party to the manicure. Neon greens and yellows are classics that give you the brightest effect'.

17. Coloured Chrome Nails

If you’ve dedicated yourself to chrome nail designs then now is the perfect time to experiment with coloured mirror chromes, which - according to Lallaway - are a ‘great way to accentuate any outfit.’ Sold.

18. Glazed Mix And Match Nails

Clashing colour combinations are one of the hottest trends for spring but you don't have to pick bold neons to create nail dynamism, pastels work just as well. Saccharine peaches, lilacs and primrose yellows are toughened up with a chrome over coat. Pastels but make them punk.

19. Blue And White Almond Nails

One pattern doesn't fit all. This spring it's not just colour combos that are clashing, patterns are too. Daisies, stars, checkerboard...get creative with your motif choice and choose a different design for each nail. We love this chic china blue paired with clean white too.

20. 3D Mix & Match Nails

Even if you’re already well acquainted with 3D nails, prepare to take things up a notch. ‘As textured nails become more and more popular, we’re seeing a lot of variation in how people use things like 3D gel to create looks on the nail - the 3D blob look was really trending in 2023, but now we’re seeing a lot of shapes and characters in 3D too,’ says Lallaway.

21. Nude Nails

Is there anything more chic than a classic nude manicure? Universally flattering, nude nails suit every nail shape; long, short, square or round.

22. Ombre Glazed Nails

The trend for ombre nail designs shows no sign of slowing down. Why? It's a fun way to combine two, or even three, of your favourite colours. The shimmery tip is, in our humble opinion, the perfect way to blend a little disco vibe into your nail set too.

23. Glazed Blueberry Milk Nails

‘We’ve been seeing a lot of Glazed or Milky versions of classic spring colours- looks like ‘butter-milk’ or ‘glazed blueberry milk’ mani’s,’ confirms Madeline Lallaway. Why tick off one trend when you could tick off three? Blueberry milk. Tick. Chrome. Tick. Glazed. Tick. Look no further for a nail set triple threat.

24. Mix And Match Nail Set

Indecisivioness is bang on trend. Usher in the mix-and-match trend in bold style with a matte finish. The colour spectrum is your oyster. Image credit: @charsgelnails_

25. Neon Swirl Nails

Get ahead of the summer nail game with this colourful set, in bright clashing colours - no precision required. A stack of rings is the only accessory you need. Image credit: @beautybyjulesx

26. Butterfly Nail Art

Spring is butterfly season. Delicate wings fluttering onto nail tips make a lovely change from daisies and primroses. Add some detail to any simple set. Image credit: @morellolondon

27. Floral French Tips Nails

French tips will never go out of style, add two accent nails to recreate this look. You can even try DIY the floral print at home with a bobby pin. Image credit: @sirduh_

28. Striped Nail Design

Take a pale base colour and pair it with a bold version of the same shade (we love this pale pink contrasted with a neon fucshia). A solid stripe down the centre of each nail is an easy way to nod to the graphic nail trend.

29. Retro Floral Nails

Yes, we know we said that florals for spring were boring but bear with us. Bold colours, graphic petals, this floral nail design is anything but saccharine. It's punchy - petals, but make it punk.

30. Watermelon Aura Nails

Watermelon sugar! To create this fruity set, ask your nail technician for a mix of aura nails and a barely-there french manicure. Image credit: @that.nailplace

31. Glazed Pastel Floral Nails

Glazed nails but with a touch of spring. Pro nail artist Sonia, better known as @klawsbysonia knows how to finesse intricate nail art. Yellow and lilac make for sweet springtime clashing with jazzy gems making a bold centre piece.

32. Flower Nail Art

This nail set is showing us 'spring has sprung'! The flowers have been neatly hand painted and give the illusion of growing straight from the ground. Image credit: @clawmafia

33. Minimal Mani

You can't go wrong with a delicate wash of nude-meets-pink for a spring or summer wedding. This bridal set was created by manicurist Milly Mason. Ask for a sheer polish - the trick is still being able to see the whites of the nail.

34. Pearl Party

Think nude with a touch of glamour, adding some subtle, pearly accents with a splodge of nail glue can be a simple way to create elevated look. @Iramshelton never fails to impress with her dazzling manicures.

35. Glitter Tips

@nailsbykhristy gives lessons in the perfect sheer nude for spring. The micro French manicure ticks many trend boxes, plus we adore the sleek, almond extensions for elongating finger tips. Screenshot now!

How To Make Your Manicure Last Longer

‘Cuticle oil!’ According to Lallaway a daily dose of nourishing cuticle oil is, ‘the best thing you can do is keep your nails and cuticles moisturised, as it helps with both nail health, and manicure retention.’ She suggests wearing gloves when participating in things like cleaning because it stops the nails being used as a toll and taking a hit.’ Noted.

Main image: @that.nailplace, @beautybyjulesx and @charsgelnails