The sunshine is not only in the sky, but it is at our fingertips. If you’re anything like me, there’s something about August that just asks for a switch-up. It could be the final fling of beach time, it could be that back-to-routine feeling under the surface. Whether it is so or not, our manicures are craving something that can be compared to a long sigh of relief, light, joyful, perhaps even a little nostalgic.
And what is the trend in august nails design summer trends 2025? It is all about color expression, surprise textures, nostalgic floral, and playful minimalism. Imagine a contemporary romance with a gel candy, but no serious stuff. Curious about what designs are blowing up without being too much? So, here we go – with the newest summer sets.
Soft Florals with a Hint of Shine
There’s a subtle magic in blushy-pink nails that still manages to feel new. In this case, a shiny combination of soft pink and coral tones is like a summer sunset in a dream, but with a punch. The three-dimensional white petals with crystal accents give off an elevated DIY vibe (in the best way), almost like tiny floral stickers made luxurious. My favorite thing is the fact that this is so wearable across skin tones and moods. It’s flirty, but not flashy. Classy, but not stuffy. A true August staple.
To replicate this I would use OPI Bubble Bath as a base (it is sheer enough to layer) and contrast it with something like Essie Tart Deco or Lights Lacquer Peach Fizz. For the delicate flowers, you’ll want a tiny dotting tool and a good-quality nail art brush (mine’s from Nail Labo). Put a gem in the middle such as Swarovski Flat Backs and top it off with a thick, high-gloss top coat such as Seche Vite. You will have that gel like cushion without having to visit the salon.
To be honest, this type of nail art is not as scary as it seems. You start with alternating color layers, let each fully cure (if using gel), then carefully paint the petals in thin strokes from the center outward. Put dots on the gem when the top coat is still wet- I do this with tweezers so I do not ruin the polish. The payoff? Pinterest-worthy nails in under an hour.
I had a similar outfit in August last year when I did not have time to do a complete refresh before a wedding in the family. It was glamorous and romantic without yelling, I am overdoing it. And what I have learned about beauty editors at Byrdie and Allure is that polish that can take you to brunch and to a boardroom is gold.
Pastel Tips with a Wavy Edge
It is a bit dreamy, a bit throwback to the 2000s. Pastel French tips have been circulating long enough, but that soft wave detail? That’s what keeps it 2025. Lilac, butter yellow, soft pink, all on a translucent pink base, give a fresh marshmallowy effect that is more mood than statement. It is the sort of design that you want to stretch your fingers in the sunshine because you can.
To get this look, choose ultra-pigmented pastels that don’t streak — Olive & June’s “JM” (lavender) and “EC” (peachy pink) are great for this. You will also require a sheer pink foundation such as Zoya Bella. Apply a thin, curved nail art brush to make that S-curve rather than a straight line on your tips. Your best friend here are clean-up pens, even professionals use them.
Celebrity nail artist Betina Goldstein (yes, the go-to for editorial shoots) has shared a similar tip: use the natural curve of your brush instead of trying to force the wave shape — your hand will move more organically. It’s like painting with rhythm instead of precision.
I like the simplicity of this design and feel put together. I wore it on a spontaneous girls’ weekend to Catalina — we didn’t plan a thing, but my nails still made me feel “done.” That’s the sweet spot, right?
Daisy Dreams in Multicolor
Yellow. Green. Blush. Mint. You can hardly think of a color combination that is more August picnic-in-the-park. These daisy-designed nails are not too crazy but still jovial and creative. Every nail is a canvas, yet the whole appearance remains balanced due to the close pastel palette. It is whimsical, nostalgic, and it makes you feel like you are the protagonist of a midsummer indie film.
I have discovered that when it comes to bright pastel colors, Lights Lacquer and Cirque Colors never disappoint, their coverage is salon-level. Use “Canary”, “Matcha”, and “Blush Milk” as a trio. The daisies can be dotted on with white acrylic paint (less goopy than polish) and sealed with a gel top coat. Bonus: you do not need to be a pro to work with the flowers, the more imperfect they are, the cuter they will appear.
This kind of nail art is all about joy. The steps? Apply a different pastel to each nail, allow to dry, and then apply a dotting tool to make a ring of white petals with a yellow center. No lines, no stress. And if a petal flattens weird? Call it “hand-drawn charm.”
I did this look last summer on my niece (she’s 14 and way cooler than me) and ended up copying it two days later. It is quite stylish, and I received more compliments at the checkout than I thought. In some cases, the nails that are not serious are the ones that make the biggest impression.
Tutti-Frutti French With a Twist
This style brings a lot of energy with a touch of retro sweetness. The squared-off ends and the ultra-glossy surface attract the attention at once, yet it is the hot pink and lemon yellow swirls that take the cake. The nails are solid, others are playful cutouts, and one even adds a small petal pattern. This is not the ordinary French, it is juicy, fun, and unexpectedly sophisticated.
To nail this look (pun fully intended), I’d go with OPI’s “Strawberry Margarita” as your main pink and Butter London’s “Yummy Mummy” or Sally Hansen’s “Mellow Yellow” for the sunny accents. Use a fine-tip nail art brush to create that swooping side French, or tape off the section if you’re going for sharp lines. I also like to add a little Orlys Glowstick to crank up the brightness.
Use a clear or pale nude base and start with the pinkie and work to the thumb. Alternate the solid nails and negative space swirls and seal with a layer of gel top coat. With the mini-petal design, a small liner brush is appropriate, and there is no need to be perfect, organic shapes are ideal in this case.
I can just imagine myself putting on a hot pink bikini, huge sun glasses and strappy gold sandals. It’s confidence in nail form. I did something like this to a pool party last year and people I did not know were telling me how much they liked my nails at the sunscreen table–no lie. That is the strength of august nails design summer trends 2025.
Sunset Pastel Swirl Art
This is a manicure that occurs when the summer sky melts into your nail beds. Lilac, sky blue, peach, and soft white pastel waves are dancing on a light nude canvas, leaving a mesmerizing and dreamy impression. Every nail is a painterly landscape in itself, whether you want to take a golden hour selfie or just enjoy a cup of iced matcha in your warmest knit.
To recreate this, I’d recommend Olive & June’s “BP” (a soft blue), Zoya’s “Spring” collection for the peach and lilac tones, and a creamy white like Essie’s “Blanc”. And you will have to have a long striping brush to achieve those layered curves. It is not difficult, but the swirl takes some patience, it is all about pressure and flow.
Begin by painting your foundation nude and allow it to dry. Then with your striping brush, add each pastel tone in layers. No actual rule of placement, actually the more varied the swirls the better. Seal it all off with a top coat to seal the deal.
This set reminds me of those soft, slow evenings in August when the sun goes down a little bit below the horizon and everything seems to be in suspension. I had a variation of this on when I went to visit a friend in San Diego, every time the wind blew my sleeve of my sweater back, someone would comment. It is soft, creative, and surprisingly stylish, and it is just what one needs to transition between summer and early fall without losing the color.
Sun-Kissed Dots and Rhinestone Trails
The combination of yellow and blush with red accents just reminds me of late summer fruit markets: peaches, cherries, lemonade stands. The combination of playfulness and glam is achieved in this set through the careful application of rhinestones, bright jelly dots and thin white line work on a milky pink background. The yellow nails are like the sunshine, and the crystal trails give us that extra we all secretly want this time of year.
At home, you can achieve this by using DND Yellow Star to get that buttery pop and either OPI Put It In Neutral or Zoya Dot to get that blush base. In the case of the red dots, Orly has the answer with its Cherry Bomb. You’ll need a dotting tool, a fine detailing brush, and crystal gems like Preciosa Chatons or Nailene Rhinestones. I suggest a powerful gel top coat to seal it all in and not lose any gems.
The trick with rhinestone placement? Don’t overcrowd. Leave negative space so the sparkle can breathe. I begin with dots in order to have the space right and then add the gems with a wax pencil. Seal with two layers of top coat — one over the base, and one around (not over) the stones.
It is a vacation design that reminds me of being on vacation, not in the sense of going to Mykonos but rather after work, we need to get sangria on a rooftop. That kind of luxe. It is the kind of manicure that can make a Target visit a mini runway. And isn’t that half the point?
Neon Sorbet Color Blocks
This set makes me crave popsicles. Not sloppy, but not subtle, the diagonal color blocking of neon pinks, corals, and soft peaches is the ultimate summer confidence. Every nail is its own taste, juicy, bright, and shamelessly fun. It is a very straightforward idea with a huge payoff, particularly when you are in the mood to have something bold that does not require any additional decoration.
To achieve this citrus-meets-barbie gradient you will need shades such as Essie Tart Deco, OPI Hotter Than You Pink, and ILNP Coraline. Go for a wide, flat brush and painter’s tape (yes, tape) to carve out those sharp diagonal lines. When applying gel polish, allow every layer to dry before applying the next color to be precise.
Nail artist Tom Bachik (who does JLo and Selena Gomez), is fond of saying that simple shapes in bold colors can be more striking than the most elaborate designs when executed cleanly. This is that.
It is a Saturday in August, errands in the morning, ros by the pool at 3. It is that middle ground freedom that makes these types of nails so good. They don’t need explaining — just enjoying.
Daisies on a Nude Canvas
You have that feeling when the heat is finally over and everything is a bit more relaxed. This design gives that. A nude base is covered with plain daisy flowers – white petals and a mustard center – that are nostalgic without being childish. It is soft, stylish, and can be worn with anything in your wardrobe literally.
To get the ideal foundation, use Zoya in “Sabrina” or Essie in “Ballet Slippers”. You can create the daisy petals using a dotting tool or even a bobby pin dipped in white polish (like OPI’s “Alpine Snow”). The flower center can be filled with a small orange-yellow such as the China Glaze Happy Go Lucky.
To get a salon finish, smoothing ridge-filler base coat your nails and add a semi-sheer nude on top. Put daisies on alternate nails or on the ring fingers only. The style is incredible on almond and square tips.
The last time I wore this, I was going to a baby shower, but I did not feel overdone. It is simple enough to be classic, but fun enough to make you smile when you happen to catch the light with your hand. It’s that balance I’m always chasing.
Minimalist French with an Almond Edge
French manicures are back (again), but this time they’re way sharper — literally. This almond-shaped version of the French tip is clean, shiny and edgy feminine. The white tip is made over-the-top to a smooth point, and the nude base makes it adult. It’s like ballet-core meets boardroom.
There is no surprise here, this design is most effective when used with builder gel or hard gel. Use Gelish as a base, cure, and then use a fine liner brush and Madam Glam as a crisp white tip by painting it on carefully. Top coat? Always. Go high-gloss or even satin-matte if you’re feeling experimental.
Julie Kandalec, a celebrity nail tech, suggests this modern French because it is a clean-slate power look that does not scream but always gets attention. She is correct, it is classy and a little bit fierce.
I turn to this when I want to reset, after vacation, after birthday, after madness. It is earthy to have a neutral nail with a new form. It makes me feel like I’ve got my life together (even if it’s only for a week).
Barbiecore, But Make It Abstract
Vibrant pink is going nowhere, and honestly? I’m not mad about it. The version is more abstract and combines full-color nails and wavy-like patterns in fuchsia and white. It’s artsy, fun, and somehow still polished. This is what Barbie would wear in case she grew up and began reading The Cut.
The pink color in this case resembles Olive & June Wild & Free or Lights Lacquer Cherry Jelly. To do the details of the waves, you will need a nail art liner brush and a steady hand. Apply white gel polish and a light pink to layer on top of each other and remember that less is more when it comes to putting those curves.
When I do abstract waves I always start at the bottom and flick up. It provides better control particularly when your hands are not completely stationary. The edges may be cleaned with a flat brush in acetone. And when you are like me, not always patient, just keep in mind that wavy means forgiving.
I wore it during a birthday weekend in Palm Springs and it went with the desert sunsets and the pool floats. Yes, it’s loud. But it’s joyful. And your nails ought to say sometimes, I am here to have a good time.
Bright Tips with a Bare Base
This French manicure with a twist uses neon pink, orange, and yellow instead of classic white and it simply works. The bare base is light and ideal to wear in August when the weather is hot but your schedule is light. The tips are so juicy and fruit-flavored jellybeans, and the fine rhinestones on two nails make it just high enough.
You will need sheer nude polish such as Zoya in Erika and select bolds such as Essie Big Splash, Sally Hansen Mellow Yellow and OPI A Good Man-darin is Hard to Find. Those rounded accents will be created with the help of a thin angled French tip brush. Nail glue pens are the most effective when it comes to fixing small rhinestones in a short time.
Painting colorful tips, I always suggest to begin in the middle of the nail and sweep to the sides to be symmetrical. Wait till one color is dry and then proceed to the next. It is surprisingly easy to use and even after beach days it stands up.
This design reminds me of ice cream runs in late August and driving around on the weekends with the windows down. It is relaxed and catchy, like a summer playlist in manicure.
Blue Bloom French
This is a complete story in this version of the French manicure. The look is grounded by a blue gradient tip and small hand-painted daisies and florals that creep up the length of each nail in subtle contrast. The foundation is transparent and minimalistic, leaving the flowers to take all the attention. It is like something a painter or a poet would wear- silently artistic and happily descriptive.
To replicate this, I would recommend ILNP Blueprint or Olive & June Angelfish on the tips. Apply a translucent base such as the Essie Marshmallow or Zoya Avery. The petals of the flower can be created using a white striping polish or nail pen, even Acrylic Master 3D Gel Paints will do the trick to be more detailed.
First apply the blue French, and then a small liner or dotting tool to the florals. Ensure the layers dry before adding another to prevent bleeding of colors. Top coat with a thin layer that does not bubble – Seche Vite is a sure thing.
I have had a variation of this to a friend engagement garden party and I swear I looked better with the bouquet than any other thing. It is soft and romantic and yet fresh enough to be included in this season august nails design summer trends in 2025.
Clean Girl Nude
All girls require a reset manicure- this is mine. A traditional almond shape, cool-toned pinky nude makes this look so sleek it can be worn to weddings, and even weekly meetings. It’s elegant, effortless, and immune to trend fatigue. You won’t find art here, just polish perfection.
Such polishes as OPI Bubble Bath, Dior Nude Look or Chanel Ballerina are classics not without a reason. It is all about prep: use a nail dehydrator and ridge filler, and then apply thin and even layers. There is no need to be in a hurry, this appearance is all about that smooth finish.
In case you have naturally irregular nails, a gel builder base such as BIAB by The GelBottle will assist in shaping that ideal almond shape. Shape with a fine file and buff before painting. The cleaner your canvas, the more this style shines.
This is what I put on when I do not want to think too much – when I require peace in a colorful form. It is like a new white shirt or a glowing skin. And honestly? Sometimes simple feels like luxury.
Pastel Crescent Tips
Think of this as French manicure 2.0. The nails are of various pastel colors in a soft crescent shape on the tip, baby yellow, soft pink, mint blue, lavender. It is breathable and chic because of the negative space at the base. It is one of the most multifunctional trends of august nails design summer trends 2025 minimal efforts, maximum appeal.
Use colors like Olive & June’s “BP” (lilac), Sally Hansen’s “You’re So Ice” (blue), and Orly’s “Lemonade”. Use a sheer pink base coat, and freehand each crescent tip, or use French tip stickers, which will give you structure. This set is most suitable on medium-short nails with soft square or almond shape.
In order to maintain it shiny, never forget to roll your brush around the edge of the tip and seal it with top coat. That’s how you get salon-level shine and chip resistance.
I wore this on a long weekend in Charleston, and it was just right with breezy sundresses and iced coffee rings. I think it’s the color-blocking that made strangers smile. The aesthetic is cool girl, just a little off.
Power Coral
There’s no ignoring this one. High-gloss polish: bright coral-orange, no art, no patterns, just pure color. It’s like red’s younger, hotter cousin. It is a bit of a force to be reckoned with to wear a strong solid when all the rest is minimal.
My favorite go-tos? Check In to Check Out by Essie, My Chihuahua Doesn t Bite Anymore by OPI, or Sawyer by Zoya. Use a base coat to prevent staining (corals can be sneaky), and apply two thin coats for full opacity.
Coral is also forgiving to apply, streaks can be easily blended out and it looks good on warm and cool skin tones. Add a glassy top coat to it and you are good more than a week.
I took this outfit to a week of meetings, errands and dinner dates. Not a chip in sight. It is the type of nail that makes you feel good before your coffee. And isn’t that the whole point?
Tropical French with Hot Pink and Tangerine
This twist on the French manicure is a twist of the tradition, literally. The style has a sense of movement with hot pink and juicy tangerine tips painted in a diagonal direction. The naked base allows the colors to breathe and the alternating bright colors make it interesting and summery. It is easily light-hearted, as a pi n a colada with a grapefruit twist.
You will need a sheer nude such as Essie Mademoiselle and then apply Orly Glowstick or Olive & June Wild & Free on your tips. Mark with striping tape or freehand the arcs, they do not need to be perfect to look excellent.
This is one of my travel manicures because it is low-key but with a lot of personality. I was having one on a Miami weekend and it suited my Aperol spritz and my mood.
Strawberry Patch Picnic
This one’s a whole summer picnic on your fingertips. With the shiny reds, traditional French touches, and miniature strawberries that have daisy flowers, this manicure is sweet, fun and impossible to ignore. It is a little capsule of all my favorite warm weather nostalgia: ice cream dates, gingham dresses, and berry scented lip balm.
You will need OPI Red Hot Rio, Zoya Snow White and some dotting tools or nail stickers with pre-printed designs in the shape of strawberries. To do detail work, a nail art brush with a fine tip and acrylic paints may provide more control than polish.
Apply nude, red and white layers, cure or dry between the layers and add strawberries and daisies in small amounts as a balance. And don t forget to finish it with a super shiny top coat to achieve the gel-finish shine.
I had something like this on a bridal brunch of a friend and, to be honest? My nails took people more than my dress. It is sexy, sentimental, and highly sharable, welcome to Instagram moment.
Perfect Beige for the Everyday Chic
Let’s take a moment for the neutrals. It is an almond-shaped nude beige that is clean, polished and luxurious without being overdone. It works for every outfit, every vibe, every plan. This is your August essential, even though you may not be into art, you still want your nails to feel finished and fancy.
Test Dior Nude Look, CND Field Fox or Essie Topless & Barefoot. These are colors that act as nail concealer, they smooth, unify and flatter. Shape with a glass nail file and make it long lasting with a rubberized base coat.
I refer to this as my reset button manicure, because it is ideal following a couple of weeks of extreme color or intricate art. There’s power in simplicity. It gives you the impression that you have your entire life together, even when you have it in a weekender bag.
Golden Hour Glam
This is the manicure to go to when you want to glow, like, actually glow. The combination of a champagne-gold French tip with celestial decorations and glossy nude base is the perfect golden hour effect. It is made pretty to breathtaking with rhinestone stars and sparkles.
The gold can be OPI, Glitzerland or Le Mini Macaron, Champagne Ros. That cosmic detail will be constructed with a nude gel base, some gold foil flakes, and flatback rhinestones. It has a no-wipe top coat which makes it look clean and glass-like.
Mei Kawajiri, a nail artist, has demonstrated comparable luxe styles on the runway, noting, Gold on nude is the new red on black, it is chic, unexpected, and always celebratory.
It is an ideal evening style in August, cocktails, dinner parties, late summer weddings. It’s bold, but never gaudy. It says, “I sparkle, but I don’t shout.”
Butterfly Garden Dreams
This one’s for the dreamers. Your nails become miniature artworks with a glossy ombr of fuchsia and milky pink, shimmering pearl white, and butterflies. It has gold flakes, glitter, and winged designs layered in it, giving it a fantasy edge to the very real heat of summer.
At least, you will require three polishes Beetles Gel Rose Glitz, Modelones Aurora Pearl, and Born Pretty butterfly decals. Apply the ombr to build using a sponge or gradient brush and then dot on butterfly transfers or paint them by hand if you dare. Layer foil flakes while the polish is still tacky.
I would term this your main character manicure, because I wore this to a rooftop birthday party and I felt like I was in a highlight reel. It captures the light, narrates a story and converts every movement into a moment.
Daisy Yellow French Tips
There is nothing more late-summer sunny than a soft yellow tip–particularly when it is accompanied by dimensional daisies. This is the style of floral and French, with clean almond-shaped nails and alternating full tips and daisy artistry. Others have daisies with small rhinestones to add that extra glimmer that glistens in the sun just right. It is the manicure version of lemonade with a sugar rim.
To achieve this effect I would recommend using Essie in Sunny Business on the tips and OPI in Bubble Bath on the base. The flowers should be done in 3D gel or acrylic paint using a fine brush. Preciosa SS3 size rhinestones may be applied with nail glue or a no-wipe gel top coat.
I had a similar design to a summer garden dinner party and people actually grabbed my hands during a conversation. It gives romantic picnic energy — but elevated.
Peach Sorbet Shorties
This one is all about easy elegance. This short, clean manicure is alternating soft shades of peach, dusty rose, and pink and is dessert in nail form. Two accent nails with a touch of micro-glitter give a sparkly surprise without the appearance being too extra.
Try Zoya Jordan, Lights Lacquer Peach Fizz, and OPI A Bloom With a View. Use a short square shape for a clean look. This style is super easy to do as a beginner, all you require is a steady hand and your favorite glossy top coat.
This is my fall back, so to speak, of the week before Labor Day, it is soft enough to get into fall but still carries the summer heat. It’s also ridiculously versatile. Office? Yes. Beach date? Also yes.
Lemon Squeeze Accent Nails
This fruity moment is giving Capri-vacation-in-a-bottle. It is made wearable by a neutral nude base and two statement nails have hand-painted lemon slices with leafy green accents. It’s citrusy and chic — not cartoonish. The white French tips are the finishing touch that completes the whole look in a summery bow.
To this, begin with Essie in Ballet Slippers or Deborah Lippmann in Naked. With the lemons, you can use Acrylic Paint Pens, they provide crisper lines than polish. Put a thin white French on it with a brush or stickers. If you’re new to nail art, try lemon decals instead.
It’s my favorite manicure for summer farmer’s markets. A citrus design is one thing that makes you feel like you have your life in order, even when you are just going to have a coffee.
Peach Waves on Coral Base
This is what sunsets would be a nail set. The tone is determined by a bright coral-orange base, and the retro-sporty touch is provided by white waves. The design is graphic yet friendly, and the square tips give it a fresh and bold feeling simultaneously.
Use Orly’s “Everything’s Peachy” and Essie’s “Blanc”. You will need a striper brush to make those curves perfect. To get clean lines, apply light pressure and maintain polish fluid. This style is advantageous with the top coat being glossy to maintain the color punchy.
This is the one I put on when I want people to ask me where I had my nails done. It goes so well with tanned skin and linen dresses – a total success in mid-August.
Pearlescent Pastel Ends
And finally, something for the shimmer lovers. This dreamy design with nude base and pastel tips in soft blues, lilacs and pearly pinks. The gloss isn’t just shine — it glows. It has a kind of ethereal quality, as though cotton candy and moonlight had a baby and it grew up to be nail polish.
Apply Holo Taco Aurora Unicorn Skin on top of OPI Baby, Take a Vow or Lights Lacquer Milky Way. Get that diffused blend with a sponge or chrome powder applicator.
This was my “moonlight beach dinner” manicure. It felt like wearing jewelry — soft, glowing, unforgettable.
Starfish Charms and Ocean Blues
A bright French tip is something so casual and fun to do, particularly when it is complemented with shiny three-dimensional starfish. The combination of natural pink base and an eye-catching ocean-blue tip triggers the memories of the beachside instantly. This is a great look, but what makes it even better is the inclusion of starfish in pastel colors of coral, aqua and yellow. They don’t shout—they flirt. This style does not merely tip the cap to the sea, it practically wades in it. I adore the stars that are strategically placed to make the manicure look vibrant and young.
To recreate this vibe, you’ll want a sheer nude pink base coat (try OPI’s “Bubble Bath”), a bright cerulean polish like Essie’s “Butler Please,” and 3D nail art embellishments in star shapes, which you can find online or in nail salons. The secret to their days of sun and waves is nail glue or a UV gel top coat.
This design takes a bit of patience. Apply a base coat and then use a fine nail brush or a French tip guide to paint the blue tip in it. Put a thick clear gel where you would like each starfish to be and cure it under a UV lamp. The design is then sealed with a final topcoat-and those adorable sea creatures will not move an inch when you are on your weekend getaway.
The similar style that I wore to a friend beach bridal shower was a success. Strangers commented on the “mini sculptures” on my fingers. It is an August mood, which I shall be returning to, again and again–sun-kissed and happy.
Classic French Twist with Blush Petals
When you combine an eternal French manicure and hand-painted cherry blossoms, what do you get? What you get is a kind of a silent morning stroll in a Japanese garden-in the middle of summer. This is a romantic but down-to-earth style with the softly rounded nail shape, the delicate florals and the creamy white tips. The gold foil decoration is a hint of luxury, yet it never dominates the calmness of the design.
You will require a sheer pink nude polish such as Zoya Bela, opaque white nail polish on the tips and soft rose and brown acrylic paint or nail art pens to create the blossoms. The look is completed with gold foil flakes or a striping tape. I suggest using a very fine detail brush to make the flower petals precise.
Start by shaping the nails into soft ovals. Put your base on and leave it to dry completely then put the white tips on. Freehand them for a modern touch. Then stamp or paint the flowers on or around the cuticles or at the corner of a nail to give an organic look. Seal everything with a gel topcoat.
I’ll admit, this one made me slow down. It’s not a quick job. It is worth it, though, the outcome is understated, romantic and calming, like drinking iced jasmine tea on the patio. It is the ideal style to have a brunch date in August or to spend a sunny afternoon alone with a journal in the park.
Coastal Doodles and Summer Sunshine
This manicure tells a whole story. Aquamarine nails are cool and breezy and the water, and one nail explodes into a sun and wave pattern, whimsical with cartoonish curves and splashy yellow rays. It’s graphic and modern, with a fun, sketchbook charm. This is to the beach-goer, the day-tripper, the sunbeam-chaser on city roofs to the shoreline bicycle rider.
To make it work, you need to get a turquoise polish, such as the Essie one called In the Cab-ana, and a true white to contrast with. The doodles will be enhanced with the help of a fine detailing brush and dotting tools. On the sun nail you will require yellow, sky blue and a little deep blue to make the center of the ocean ball.
These nails are all about layering. First, do all the full-coat turquoise nails. On the accent nails, paint the background first white nail polish on one, turquoise on the other. Then draw the sun and waves using a small brush. It assists in curing every step with gel to avoid smudging.
I did this one at a local music festival and received so many compliments it was almost like a set up. When your nails are as pretty as they should be in a sketchbook of summer memories everyone wants to talk.
Berry Ombre and Gold-Laced Florals
Warm berry colours fade into subtle gradations, turning into rich wine red with glassy finish. The floral decals and gold crackle lines are what make this different, elegant, surprising, and a little mysterious. It’s like sipping sangria on a rooftop after dusk. This is a bit more polished, and just right in late August when summer is a bit more mature, a bit more golden.
You’ll want a nude-to-burgundy ombré polish set or a sponge technique with polishes like OPI “Bare My Soul” and “Malaga Wine.” Put on decals or hand-draw the flower with white or light pink polish and top it off with gold foil or metallic striping gel.
The secret to this look is blending. Gradient can be created with a sponge, dabbing lightly and letting it dry between thin layers. Cure or dry between layers. Use the floral patterns when the mix is done and add the foil touches to make it luxurious.
I wore this when I needed to go to a work meeting and then to a dinner party. It transitioned effortlessly. It is what I would expect a glass of red chilled to be like as a manicure.
Tangerine French Tips for Urban Afternoons
Shiny and spotless with a tangerine accent at the ends, this design is a scoop of sorbet on a hot sidewalk. The foundation is a typical soft pink, and the bright orange turns the entire appearance into something contemporary, minimalistic, and admittedly optimistic. It is ideal when you are in the mood of something simple, yet you want heads to turn.
To this end, a nice sheer base such as Deborah Lippmanns Naked goes so well with a bright orange such as Sally Hansens Sun-kissed. You may use French manicure tip guides, but I tend to do it freehand to add personality.
Make your nails ready, file into a natural almond shape, and apply two layers of the nude base. After it dries, swipe the orange in clean curves along the tip with a detail brush. It is all sealed with a glossy topcoat that reflects the sun.
It is my default when I want something new and I do not want to think. I used to wear it to an outdoor interview-it made me feel good and a little bit edgy. Orange just does that.
