It's official - summer is nearly upon us, and what better way to ready yourself for the warmer weather than with a holiday-ready manicure. After a winter of classic nudes, jet blacks, and the Hailey Beiber-approved cocoa brown, there's a real appetite for a dose of bright new colours and shapes.
Grazia turned to celebrity nail aficionado Chaun Legend for summer manicure guidance, he's the man behind the manis of stars like Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Zendaya, and Dua Lipa. Who better than a top tier LA beauty pro to show us how it's done? And there are three trends that he recommends we dip into.
What will be the biggest nail trends this summer 2022?
'A big trend over the winter months was the muted nude nail, now as we go into summer that continues with the barely-there mani look but with a huge twist - hints of colour added,' Chaun tells Grazia. 'I’m seeing a lot more playful manis with bold, out-there colours, pops of orange and whites, as well as neon greens and pinks creeping in. People are really excited to get playful and expressive this summer!'. Duly noted.
Bottega Green
Not quite apple, not quite fluro, this bright emerald tone gets its name from Daniel Lee's use of the shade on the Bottega Veneta runways, and it's now almost as coveted as the brand itself.
It’s bold, bright, fun, and a whole vibe in itself
'A huge trend for the summer is the Bottega green on nails,' says Chaun. 'I just love mixing green tones to create a really bespoke look, and the colour is super versatile too. It’s for any season really, from forest greens to neons. It’s bold, bright, fun, and a whole vibe in itself as well as my fave colour!'
Top Tip: For a modern take on green, opt for a matte finish. This bold colour makes a statement, and a matte topper polish adds texture to the look.
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Graffiti Nail Art
If you thought summer nails meant gearing up for pretty, floral designs, think again. According to Chaun, this season's nail art has an edge. 'Graffiti and architecture is a big trend in nails. My clients are asking for bespoke graffiti looks which are a really fun chance for them to express themselves and also send a message.'
Top Tip: Can't make up your mind on the design? Switch up your look at a moment's notice with press-on nails.
'People are getting way more experimental with their at-home manis with more and more opting for more versatile looks, ranging from longer nails to more playful designs that can be mixed up and changed quickly without a trip to the nail bar, so I'm excited for people to try my Lottie London x Chaun Legend Stay Press’d press on nails collection that comes in four designs inspired by my love of LA.'
SHOP: Chaun Legend's Collaboration With Lottie London
Chaun Legend X Lottie London Collection
1 of 4Lottie X Chaun Legend Stay Press'd- Baby Girl, £7.95
2 of 4Lottie X Chaun Legend Stay Press'd- French Twist, £7.95
3 of 4Lottie X Chaun Legend Stay Press'd- Emerald City, £7.95
4 of 4Lottie X Chaun Legend Stay Press'd Sunset Strip, £7.95
Neon Colours
'People are moving away from the nudes and darks from the winter months and looking for more playful colours that are super expressive. You can really elevate a basic look with a bright neon nail. My clients are loving the bold prints and designs. One that I loved doing the other day was a bespoke neon swirl which looked incredible in the summer light!'
Top Tip: Nod to the trend with a twist on the classic French manicure. Opt for a fine line of neon pink, yellow, green or orange in place of the usual white for a style that works on short nails too. Chaun's colour of choice? 'Hot and neon reds have also been a must-have in my kit in the past month with clients getting fired up for a new take on the classic red nail'.
Main image credit: @Chaunlegend
SHOP: The best summer colours for nails you need this season
What summer nail collections you need this year
1 of 7nails inc. Inside Scoop Nail Polish Set, £22
There's nothing like summer than digging into a fresh ice cream scoop and nails inc has dedicated its summer collection to exactly that. With a highly-pigmented formula,
2 of 7Manucurist Green Flash Quad - Licorice Bronzé Pomegranate Hortensia 60ml, £42
Manicurist is vegan and cruelty-free, a sustainable and eco-friendly choice for nail fans. Their Green Flash set has summer staples you'll want to invest in - from baby pink to a timeless red.
3 of 7Jimmy Choo Sweet Pink Nail Polish, £35
Bring in the summer with a pink choice from Jimmy Choo. Elegant and subtle, this will work well on any skin tone and leaves a high-shine finish.
4 of 7Mylee Spring Summer Colour Gel Polish Collection - 10x10ml
Gel nail lovers, you'll want to grab this Mylee Spring Summer set which includes a variety of pastel and brights. Perfect for the summer scene.
5 of 7OPI Power Of Hue Nail Lacquer Mini 6-Pack, £19.90
If bright and bold is more your style, OPI has this vibrant Power of Hue collection which sings summer vibes. It also celebrates the LGBTQ+ community.
6 of 7GUCCI Vernis À On, £24
Mint is so in at the moment and it works perfectly on nails as a muted colour. This GUCCI choice in mint is a timeless summer classic.
7 of 7Essie Bustling Bazaar Nail Polish Collection, £38.40
Essie's Bustling Bazaar collection is full of bright colours, including a watermelon red, earthy orange and dusty cyan. Unique bold colours made for a summer set.