There’s something deliciously rebellious about August. It is the final act of summer and it almost demands we take chances, particularly in the area of beauty. Maybe it’s the heatwave energy or the way golden hour hits just right, but this month is all about boldness, nostalgia, and just the right amount of sparkle. Last time your manicure was a mood board of your entire vibe? So, when?
Whether you’re the type who always has a fresh Pinterest folder or someone who books nail appointments when you’re emotionally inspired (guilty), August nails color ideas 2025 are all about letting your fingertips do the talking. Ready for a little color therapy?
Let’s dive in. No rules—just vibes.
Groovy Sunset Playground
This design is basically what happens when summer festivals, ’70s retro graphics, and a box of crayons have a baby. The look is loud, but not crazy, with cherry pinks and sun-kissed oranges, banana yellow and shiny bubblegum checks. The micro stars, polka-dot art, and that poppy checkerboard are such a personality, each nail is a scene in an old comic book or a street-style photo of the Copenhagen Fashion Week. It is eclectic, whimsical, and literally shouts, I am the main character.
This style takes a lot of patience and a good supply of colors. I’d go for Essie’s “Watermelon” and “Tangerine Tease” for the base colors, OPI’s “Sun, Sea and Sand in My Pants” for the yellow, and a crisp white detailing brush for the stars and outlines. It can be softened by a matte top coat but a glass-glossy finish leaves it deliciously toy-like.
And now, in case you are feeling adventurous and want to do it yourself here is what I would do: First, clean, shaped nails. Apply base coats by color-blocking nails with nail art brushes (or even tape for the checker one). Use the micro details with dotting tools and fine liners. Seal the deal with a quick drying top coat such as Seche Vite to seal the look. Manicurist Betina Goldstein always reminds us in her tutorials that “tools matter more than talent,” and I couldn’t agree more.
I took a version of this to a rooftop happy hour in SoHo, and two strangers and a bartender told me I looked great before I had even sat down. It’s that kind of manicure: a conversation starter. If your mood board says “fun, fearless, and flirty,” this is the set for you.
Celestial Breeze
This design gives “dreamy dusk over Malibu.” There are soft blue gradients, sheer nude base, and golden constellations that sweep across the tips like an astrology Tumblr post in 2012-the best way. The atmosphere is relaxed, spiritual, and ideal to any person who wants a manicure that speaks in a low tone. It’s elegance with a sprinkle of whimsy.
I have tried ILNP Summer Stargazing previously and it has that soft shimmer that is so good here. When it comes to the constellation lines, I adore gold nail foils or star stickers in the celestial pack by Olive & June. It maintains the appearance elegant and spares you the heart-break of attempting to draw constellations by hand in the middle of the night.
Honestly, the steps are simpler than they look. Sponge on the blue-to-clear gradient over a nude base. Use the small stickers or decals in strategic places, and finish it all with a layer of clear jelly to get that layered dreamy effect. According to celebrity nail artist Mei Kawajiri, she suggests applying the decals when the top layer is still tacky so that they can melt in naturally-game changer.
There’s something almost meditative about this manicure. It’s ideal for evenings when you’re listening to Lana Del Rey and journaling by candlelight. Okay, or when you’re just grabbing a lavender matcha and want your nails to sparkle as you hold the cup. Either way, it’s magic.
Lemon Fizz Pop
If summer had a flavor, this would be it. Imagine zesty lemon slices, bubblegum pink and juicy drops as confetti. It is that fun, a little surreal vibe of a summer pool party with a citrus twist. The 3D bubble effect? Chef’s kiss. It is childishly fun and yet grown-up, fresh and fruity.
The combination of jelly polishes and semi-transparent artworks is essential. I’d recommend Lights Lacquer in “Cherry Jelly” as a base and using a fine brush for lemon slice detail (you’ll want white, yellow, and lime green polish on hand). Dotting tools help make those glossy droplets extra dimensional.
This one does take some patience. I would begin by painting the pink bottom, and then I would freehand the lemon slices with layered semi-circles and a few negative space tricks. To make the droplets pop, literally, add the last drops of clear builder gel. Let each layer dry completely to keep things crisp. According to nail artist Brittney Boyce, to cure every layer in gel, in case you go that way, do not hurry the charm.
My nails were the same color as citrus spritzes on the table when I wore this design to a Sunday brunch. Someone even asked me if they were press-ons (in a good way!). It’s like wearable lemonade, and I’m so into it.
Golden Wheat Fade
Subtle? Yes. Boring? Never. This gentle ombr to nude to golden wheat yellow is the countryside in August. Add the thin botanical line art in glossy black and gold foil and suddenly it’s giving “sunset meadow” sophistication. This is what I would wear to wine tasting in Napa or a simple coffee run, soft glam.
The secret to this is a gradient sponge, which is lightly rubbed up the cuticle with light colors such as Buttermilk by Static Nails or Golden Hour by Orly. It is possible to apply the foil using a light transfer gel and seal it with a milky top coat to create that hazy feel.
There’s an elegance to this design that always wins. I prefer to sketch the branches myself with a liner brush that has been dipped in metallic polish, it seems more natural. Other salons have stamping plates and that is terrific as well, but I like that hand-drawn, not-so-perfect look.
This appearance is as classic as your favorite linen dress: it looks good, it fits, and it makes you feel a little bit confident. I turn to it when I am a bit nostalgic about the end of summer.
Glassy Mermaidcore
High-shine, chrome-kissed, iridescent blues. This set practically hums with ocean energy. It’s giving mermaid-in-Manhattan. It’s giving dolphin-skin realness. It is the kind of mani that reflects the light when you are hailing a taxi or drinking something cold in the fairy lights. It is not a surprise that chrome did not disappear in 2025, it only changed.
You will need a chrome powder such as Daily Charme Aqua Holo or OPI Tin Man Can gel chrome. Apply a base coat of pale baby blue polish, cure and rub on the chrome powder with a sponge applicator to give it that glass look. Top coat it with a gel top coat and bang-a mirror magic.
This is one of those “less is more” manicures. No art, no patterns—just shape, shine, and shimmer. It’s perfect for short or medium nails too, since the reflection does all the work.
I love this look for its versatility. I had something like this to a weekend wedding and then to work on Monday-still felt like a sea goddess. It’s a great reminder that minimalist doesn’t mean boring, and shimmer never goes out of style.
Sorrento Summer Tiles
Now this one? It’s giving Amalfi coast realness. The combination of royal blue tile patterns and hand painted lemon slices transports you to a Mediterranean getaway with the touch of your fingers. It’s fresh, bright, and refreshingly maximalist. The crisp cobalt and sun-yellow details are so contrasting that they make your nails the art you could see on old porcelain plates in a trattoria by the seaside.
To replicate it, I would pick up something similar like the blue, such as Butler Please by Essie, and the lemons, such as Exotic Birds Do Not Tweet by OPI. The floral tile design is quite daunting, though stencils or stamp plates will do much of the work. In the case of the lemons, you need a steady hand and an ultra-fine nail art brush.
It is not a beginner level, but it can be done at home with patience and a small dotting tool. Begin with a base coat, block in your tile patterns and then top it all off with your lemon halves and details. And don t forget a glossy top coat to bring out those fruits.
I have been to a backyard garden dinner with friends and was instantly questioned as to whether I had had it done in Italy. (I hadn’t.) But that is the beauty of it, this mani is all vacation vibes, even when you are in your kitchen sipping limoncello spritz.
Orange Creamsicle Bloom
Sassy, fruity, and simply joyful, this collection is a sunshine in a manicure. That tangerine gloss is so bright it might awaken you before your espresso and the floral details on a white canvas bring just the right touch of softness and frivolity. It is a sunset picnic in your backyard or a popsicle that is melting a bit too quickly in the sun.
You will need a full coverage orange like Lights Lacquer in Mango Ice Cream and a creamy white like OPI in Alpine Snow as the base. The tiny flowers? Apply dotting tools and micro brush with red, blue and yellow gels. Seal with a top coat that enhances the contrast.
I begin by applying two coats of orange, and I save the ring finger as the floral spotlight. Next, paint the flowers with dots on top of dots and dragging a little outwards. Add a dot center last. According to nail instructor Julie Kandalec, one should leave the flower petals irregular to achieve a hand-painted effect, which I completely support.
It is that type of mani that just makes you feel good. It brings me back to childhood drawings and summer art projects in the most positive way. It is light, it is playful, and it is not too serious, August perfection.
Pastel Racer Stripes
If you’re not into loud prints but still want something fun, this stripe design is a subtle flex. The lilac, mint, and baby pink thin pastel lines are racing over a shiny nude foundation to form a minimal, modern, and seriously cute manicure. It is a type of look that implies: I am concerned, but I am relaxed about it.
No need for an elaborate palette here. Sheer nude gel (like Bio Seaweed’s “Naked Base”), and striping tape or a striping brush with pastel gels in mint, lavender, and blush pink will cover it. I would suggest Olive & June pastel set- they go on so smooth.
Clean lines are everything, so prep is key. When your nude base is dry, tape or freehand your lines approximately one-third of the way to the tip and top it with a super-glossy top coat. When you screw up a stripe, you can call it abstract. It still works.
This mani lasted me a full week of work travel and it did not budge. It went with all my clothes and even made me feel slightly fancy when I typed an email or held a matcha. That is the sort of balance that we all want in August, is it not?
Cool Capri French
You remember that light in August when everything is cooler, calmer? That’s what this look reminds me of. A plain reverse French of aerial, ocean-blue tips on a natural pink ground. It is clean, classy and it makes short nails even sleeker without being overdone.
The only thing you require is a soft pink base such as OPI Bubble Bath and a cornflower blue polish such as Saltwater Happy by Essie. A short liner brush makes drawing that soft curve easier than you’d think—start at the side and drag gently across.
This one’s beginner-friendly. Use your pink foundation and trace your crescent shaped tips. Take a brush and use polish remover to tidy any wobbles. Then seal with a hard-gloss top coat. Simple. Effective. Pretty.
I always return to a blue French in August. It is as though it were ending summer with a wink and not a shout. And bonus? It goes well with white dresses, straw bags and tan lines.
Tangerine Dream Dip
Now we’re heating things up. This spicy orange half-tip set is contemporary and spicy- a daring twist of the traditional French. The transition between bare to neon is not smooth by design, it is graphic, deliberate, and a bit rebellious. Consider urban girl in flip-flops who is about to order the hottest dish on the list.
You will need a neon orange gel such as Essie Tangerine Tease and a nude base to contrast. Nail tape can assist in making that clean half-moon shape or you can freehand it using an angular brush to add more edge.
Start by applying your nude shade and curing fully. Then mask the tip area, use your orange and take off the guide prior to top coating. To make it even more punchy, put a matte top on the nude and a shiny one on the orange- texture contrast is underestimated.
This set made me feel powerful. Such as, open your Notes app, we have to plan a trip energy. It is clean, electric and unashamedly hot just like August is.
Spiced Terracotta Vine
Bold but rooted. The design provides warm terracotta nails, with soft white botanical details- a bit rustic and a bit romantic. It brings to my mind clay pottery under the sun, or wild garden vines climbing a stone wall. This one has a matte-meets-gloss finish that makes it textured but not shouty.
To get this appearance, I would begin with a burned orange such as Desert Suede by DND or Brick Sidewalk by Holo Taco. The leaf pattern is easy enough with white gel paint and a detail brush, no stencils on this one, you want that natural sweeping line.
This is my process: base two coats of the terracotta color, cure between coats, and then lightly draw vines and leaves with a liner brush. To get that earthy softness, use a matte top coat for a velvety finish, or go all gloss to stay modern.
This style is like a natural progression of hot July to pre-fall August. It’s grounding. I took this on a weekend trip to the desert and spent the weekend putting everything around my nails, straw hats, linen trousers. They became the whole outfit.
Blue Bloom with Gold Dust
This design is soft, artistic, and honestly… museum-worthy. The neutral nails are used as a canvas to the hand-painted blue flowers and flecks of gold leaf. It’s like wildflowers dipped in champagne. The palette is relaxed, yet there is enough sparkle to make it festive.
Use a milky nude base (think “Bare My Soul” by OPI) and pair it with a navy and cornflower blue for the petals. That finishing touch of luxury is provided by gold foil sheets or flake gel such as Daily Charme. Seal it all with a non-wipe glossy top coat.
DIY: prepare a soft nude, then using a detail brush or water decals apply the florals. Gold foil ought to be pressed on the semi-tacky polish and smoothed lightly. Nail artist Hang Nguyen is a believer in tweezers when it comes to getting foil just right–she tried it, loved it.
I put this on to a family brunch and my aunt was caught taking a picture of my hands in the middle of a scone. It is one of those sets that make you feel so chic. A little garden, a little glam.
Opal Glazed Chrome
This is the summer version of the glazed donut nail trend, in case you love the trend but are looking to upgrade it. Pearly chrome is iridescent on a pale pink base, mint, gold, and blush in different lights. The effect is nearly hypnotic–as though your nails were in the moonlight.
Start with a soft baby pink gel base like “Light Elegance Baby Pink Builder” and then rub chrome powder (like Unicorn Chrome by Magpie Beauty) on top after curing. Apply no-wipe top coat on the bottom to have the powder stick smoothly.
This is the technique one: polish, cure, apply powder, buff, top coat again. It is work but it is somehow satisfying, like polishing pearls. Keep the nail shapes to almond or oval to go with the natural glow.
This is the most complimented thing I have ever worn in a Trader Joe line. Even the cashier asked what it was. It’s like jewelry… but for your hands.
Minted Orbit
Clean lines, soft greens, and futuristic vibes. This mani is a sage polish to define a floating negative space oval, which is a cool optical illusion without being complex. It is mod-meets-organic in its look, which is refreshing late-summer.
Choose Sage Advice by Olive & June or Pistache by Cirque Colors. I would use a striping tool or nail art brush to do the inner ring design. The nude base beneath is sheer or matte as you feel like it.
Put on your base coat and form the mint into half-moons at the ends. After the curing, draw the inner halo with a white liner brush. Patience pays off here—don’t rush the symmetry. According to the celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik, structure is style.
This mani made me feel that I was at an art gallery opening or a nice lunch in L.A. It does not overdo it- but still, it makes you feel that you are certainly sure of what you are doing.
Sun-Kissed Tangerine Swirl
It is an entire vibe transformation: abstract, juicy orange swirls on a creamy blush base. Think orange creamsicle meets 2000s lava lamp art. It is shiny, young, and unrealistically cool, which is precisely what I pick up when I want my nails to be fun yet sophisticated.
Apply a neutral pink that is a little darker such as Essie Ballet Slippers, and then apply swirls of hot coral or tangerine with a thin detail brush. Add a shiny finish to those curves to make them glass like.
You can do full swirl on all nails or do solid and swirled accents. There’s no wrong move—just let your brush dance. Make strokes flowing and a bit varied on each nail to achieve that hand-painted effect.
When I wore this look the first time, I found myself looking at my hands throughout the day. It’s cheerful and a little wild, like August itself. The type of set you put on when you are meeting your best friend and you just want to feel like you are in it- summer, style and everything.
Azure Dip & Dual-Tone
This look is a masterclass in gradient cool tones. This manicure ranges in color from rich cerulean blue to negative space half-moons and smooth ombr blends, but it still has a good sense of depth and focus. The nails are solid, gleaming like a tiled pool and the half-painted diagonal tips add that architectural flair we have been witnessing all summer on the runways.
To make this happen, I would grab either Butler Please by Essie or Sky High by DND to get the saturated blues. Sweep those diagonals with a sheer nude base and angle brush. You will need tape guides or simply a good liner in case you are into freehand.
This is the appearance of the person who does not mind being a bit precise. Solid nails first, then line out the diagonals carefully, fill them in and top coat the whole hand to a uniform shine. It’s crisp, fresh, and unapologetically bold.
I have only worn this palette once on a beach weekend and I would say, it looked better with tan. Like my nails were their own accessory. It’s the definition of simple-but-stunning.
Rusted Rosewood
Lush, sexy, and surprisingly earthy, this dark cinnamon-red manicure is a transition fantasy. It is not summery, but it is late-August evenings, earthy cocktails, and the first chill in the air. It is classic, complimenting, and yet it makes any hand look classy without requiring any additional accessories.
This one’s all about the color, so you need a polish that delivers full drama in two coats. Try Zoya’s “Lisa” or “Roxie” by Lights Lacquer. Make your nails smooth by buffing them out first and follow up with a hard-glaze top coat such as Essie Gel Couture.
This is the manicure I apply when I want a fresh start- no design, no art, just color. It causes my rings to shine and my outfits to be more put together. Effortless elegance.
Pearled Siren Story
This is not your average “beach nails.” This collection combines the shapes of seashells, 3D pearls and carved details that seem to have been taken out of a jewelry box of a mermaid. The washed-out nude foundation keeps it high, and the creamy white highlights and the small pearls provide fantasy without the kitsch.
Apply a pinky-nude base such as the OPI Bare With Me. You’ll need builder gel for the raised details, and half-pearl studs or starfish nail charms (check Daily Charme or Etsy). Apply with tweezers and cure between each 3D layer.
This design is time consuming but pays you each time you look down. In a summer trends article, nail artist Queenie Nguyen added, “We are going into elevated coastal, not seashells and sparkle, texture is the new luxe.” And she’s so right.
I had this on at a special dinner and I could not keep my hands off my nails under the candle-light–they were like little jewels. It’s absolutely for the dreamers.
Lavender Cashmere
A soothing lilac that is exactly in between pastel and muted sophistication- this polish is like a compliment that is spoken in a soft voice. It is not attempting to take the limelight but it surely deserves it. The creamy texture makes it cashmere-sweater soft, which is day, date, or downtime friendly.
In this shade, I love the OPI shade called Do You Lilac It? or Olive & June called Pli. Buff, base, and apply two clean coats. You might want to do matte to be more editorial, but this is where glossy makes a difference.
It’s a palette cleanser of a manicure. As when one has finished a good book. It is subtle, but it puts you in a good mood that you have made a good choice. And it looks so well with gold jewelry and soft knits.
Coral Cream Ombré
A coral ombr has something about it that shouts sunburnt summer skin and mango sorbet. This set goes from natural nail to that creamy tangy coral that is almost edible. This gradient is gentle yet deliberate, and it has a semi-jelly texture, which makes it so serious.
Apply your tip color as Hot & Spicy by OPI or Peach Tease by ILNP. Apply it to the cuticle with a sponge or an ombr brush and build it up until the blend is a fading sorbet on a spoon. Top coat to seal and shine.
Tom Bachik, a celebrity nail tech, will tell you, always, to blend, and never rush the fade. And he’s right—this look is all about restraint.
I have used it to go to a barbecue barefoot and to a meeting. It’s that flexible. Daring to be noticed, yet not so flashy as to be out of place anywhere.
Watermelon Pop French
This design is adorable, let’s not lie. Green tips? Check. Juicy pink mid-band? Check. Black dot “seeds”? Obsessed. This version of the traditional French is a pool party in your hands. It is not too literal, it is playful, it is a childhood snack with a new, glossy polish feel.
Start with a sheer base. Then go in with a curved green polish like “Sundance” by Holo Taco for the tips, and layer a bright pink (like “Shorts Story” by OPI) above that. The seeds can be done with a dotting tool or bobby pin dipped in black gel.
It’s a fun one to recreate at home. I suggest to begin with the pink band, cure it, and then add green tips. Lastly, draw or dot on the black seeds. A glossy top coat brings it to life.
I have taken this design to a weekend BBQ and it received more attention than my outfit- people were charmed. It is ideal during the last fun weeks of summer when your nails are supposed to be as cheerful as your mood.
Glossy Coconut Milk
This pearly white polish is a bit bridal and beachy. It is creamy, milky and has a glow that is luxurious, but not straining. The tone is iridescent, a little, which varies with the light–as waves reflect sunlight.
Find a polish such as Marshmallow by Essie or Coconut Milk by Lights Lacquer. The trick is in application: thin, even layers. Three coats max to get that lush, milky opacity. Seal with a top coat that is high-shine to enhance the shine.
No design here, but that’s the beauty. It’s clean, wearable, and elevates everything you touch. I myself tend towards this style when I travel- it goes with everything, feels luxurious, and does not demand attention.
Golden Hour Sunflowers
A sunflower manicure is a celebration of the energy of peak summer, and it brings on the cheer in saturated waves. The petals are bright yellow and orange painted with glossy brown centers to give dimension. It’s a happy nail design—but done with taste.
You will need a tan-nude base, and then you will apply yellow and orange petals using a flat nail brush. In the case of centers, apply a dotting tool with dark brown polish. An additional movement is provided by a layer of white micro-dots- it is as though the petals are dancing.
I adore this style to go to the market or to have a picnic on a sunny day. It is somehow happy to have flowers on nails- and sunflowers, in particular, exude confidence. This is the set you wear when you’re feeling yourself and don’t mind showing it.
Zesty Citrus Charm
Orange you glad this made the list? (Sorry, had to.) This manicure combines the bright orange solids with the complexly painted citrus slices and leaf decorations. The result? A fruity, tangy atmosphere that is like being in an Italian fruit orchard.
You will need a bright orange such as Mimosa by Olive & June and a nude base to put the slices of fruits on. The thin brushes are useful with detail, but there are fruit decals available, in case you want to cheat the process. Seal it all with a long-wear glossy top.
Painting the oranges? Start with semi-circles and segment with fine white lines. Add a light wash of yellow for depth. Bonus: tiny green leaf details keep it feeling lush.
When I wore this, I immediately felt sunnier. It’s like color therapy through nails—fun, fresh, and oh-so-summery.
Popsicle Fade
This easy ombr is peach to strawberry-pink, and has a creamy, popsicle-like melt in the middle. It’s low-effort but super eye-catching. It is like a frozen dessert on your hands with a glossy finish that is not too loud to wear every day.
You’ll need three tones: coral, warm pink, and red. DND has a good choice of guava, OPI has strawberry margarita and ILNP has persimmon. To achieve the smooth gradient, mix shades when they are wet using a sponge.
It is a perfect mani to those who desire color but not patterns. I have sent so many of my friends to this who want something different but not too wild. It always delivers.
Sun-Kissed Swirl Vibes
These almond-shaped nails are bursting with playful energy, thanks to the swirling mix of hot pink and sunny yellow tones against a sheer nude base. The uneven, near lava-lamp-like movement of the colors makes this manicure dynamic- fun, flirtatious and completely fearless. The shiny finish gives a slick touch to the casual style and this style can be as much at home at a late summer brunch or a rooftop party in the August sun. It’s giving Y2K but with a grown-up confidence. Bold, without being loud. 
This takes a fine detailing brush and some patience. I applied the OPI Infinite Shine in Suzi Slinging Mezcal to the yellow, and Essie Big Spender to the bright pink. To preserve the translucency at the base, I recommend applying Orly’s “Bare Rose” sheer polish as a soft foundation layer. Then top it off with a glossy coat such as the Seche Vite Dry Fast to lock the colours in.
I always begin with a neutral base and cure it using an LED lamp to make the swirls. Then I put the yellow and pink alternating, beginning each swirl at opposite ends, to give that ribboning look. Here you need a thin nail art brush, nothing too broad, you will lose the curviness. Once layered I finish it off with two coats of clear gel to make it pop.
The thing I like about this style is that it breaks the notion that brights are only worn during spring. August requires this type of energy- it is the final gasp of the summer and it should have nails that talk louder than words.
Bubblegum Classic with a Twist
This is the kind of pink that doesn’t whisper—it sings. This bubblegum color is so nostalgic, yet it is not simple. The almond shape takes the appearance to a different level of timelessness and the daring gloss finish makes it contemporary. Perfect for when you’re not in the mood for nail art but still want your hands to feel dressed. Pink is having a moment again, and this version is one that feels both playful and chic. 
I applied Olive & June Wild Orchid, but Essie Mod Square is an excellent option, as well. The most important thing here is the gloss- do not spare a good top coat such as Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat. To get a moderately translucent base that has depth, apply Zoya Dot as a primer.
This manicure couldn’t be easier to recreate at home. Begin with shaping-this one is best in almond or rounded almond tips. Use two coats of the pink, drying in between coats. Put a thick layer of gloss on the top, and allow it to dry under a lamp in case of gel polish. I usually apply cuticle oil after it dries to keep the skin hydrated—it makes a surprising difference in how “done” the manicure feels.
There’s a confidence that comes with pink like this. It takes me back to my teenage summers but is completely new in 2025. It is the color of rosé on ice and gossip that is good on a warm night.
Sunset Ombre Dreams
Here we have a melt of peach, nude, and flaming orange-red—a true gradient of golden-hour colors. The ombre gradations are light and perfectly blended, producing a diffused heat on each finger tip. The layout is soothing and naturally sophisticated, like in the final rays of the sun. Perfect for balmy August evenings when the sky looks just like this. 
I love using a sponge technique for this. Apply Beetles Gel Polish in the base color of Peach Blossom and mix in Modelones in the Burnt Orange at the tips. You might also want to put a latex barrier around your nails to make cleanup easier when you are sponging.
Ombre nails are a challenge without a touch of blending magic. I apply polish on a small sponge and press it on each nail, adding layers, as required. Don’t overload the sponge. A smooth buffer afterward can soften any harsh lines. Top with a fast-dry top coat to have that sunset shine.
This one is never criticized–it is subtle but impressive and leaves me with the feeling that I have just returned after a spa vacation in the desert. You know that feeling when you’re glowing from the inside out? This is the nail version.
Daisy Carnival Bloom
Cheerful, floral, and a little bit retro—this manicure bursts with daisy designs over a clear nude base and soft pink tones. Painted petals are something that reminds me of carefree summer days. It’s not just a look, it’s a mood—a mini bouquet on your fingertips that keeps the energy light and festive. 
I tend to apply OPI Bubble Bath as a base, and then apply AIMEILI Nail Art Gel Liner in white, yellow and assorted brights to add the flower details. The center circles are made with the aid of a dotting tool and the petals require the use of a thin striper brush.
This one is a little longer, particularly when you are doing both hands. I leave the flowers to the end after the nude base has cured and allow each flower to dry before top coating. I occasionally apply a matte finish to the flowers only to contrast, but gloss is also fine.
Florals in summer are not that innovative, but this one is personality-filled. It takes me back to the sidewalk chalk art and fairs, sun on your skin, cotton candy in the air. A manicure that knows how to have fun.
Cobalt Glaze Perfection
The depth and shimmer of this electric blue are mesmerizing—think Mediterranean waters meeting polished chrome. The squared and short shape provides it with structure, and the shine provides it with the effect of liquid metal. It’s sophisticated yet bold, and just different enough to turn heads without needing a single embellishment. 
There’s no real trick to this one, just Lights Lacquer’s “As If!” or ILNP’s “Harbour Island”—both give that hypnotic blue shift. You will need a ridge-filling base coat to smooth it out, and a gel-type topcoat to give the maximum reflective effect.
Easy as that might sound, using metallics such as this requires attention. Thin, even layers prevent streaks. I tend to seal the edges with polish to prevent chips and I always dry completely between coats. To make it even glossier I apply a second layer of clear the following day.
Some colors just speak to me. This one states: I am strong, and I did not have to use nail art to demonstrate it. It is an assertive color- just what I want as we come into the last leg of summer.
