Floral nail art? For spring? Groundbreaking. This season spring nails are anything but predictable. Nail designs 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 autumnal tones and dark polishes and welcome in a rainbow of colours, patterns and textures.
‘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, nail expert and manicurist at Shoreditch Nails. It’s not just food stuff that is providing nail inspiration, colour clashing is also having a moment. ‘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’
Colour wise the usual suspects are still in for spring.Nude nails, pastel yellows, and cornflour blues are perennially popular at this time of year. 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. If classic red nailsare 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!’ And, 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.
The Best Spring Nail Designs 2024
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, who predicts that ‘blooming gel or gems’ are going to be the hot requests at the nail bar. 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. 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.
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 Lallaway 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!’
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.
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
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
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.
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
Nude Nails With Accents
Nude nail 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.
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.
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.
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'.
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.
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.
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.
Glazed Blueberry Milk Nails
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.
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_
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
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
Floral French Tips Nails
French tips will never go out of style, add two accent nails to recreate this look. You can even tryDIYthe floral print at home with a bobby pin. Image credit: @sirduh_
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
Glazed Pastel Floral Nails
Glazed nailsbut 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.
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
Main image: @that.nailplace, @beautybyjulesx and @charsgelnails_