The Best Colorful Summer Nails to Try in 2025: Vibrant & Playful Nail Ideas for Any Mood

Hot girl summer? –That is adorable– we are having hot fingertips summer this year.

Consider this your sign to change up your mani mood board, should you have been waiting on one. Whether it be playful rainbow palettes, juicy glossed-up solids, colorful summer nails to try in 2025 are all about big personality and even bigger pigment. But the thing is it is not all about color. It’s about freedom. Expression. That mood of being in line at iced coffee with the new set and seeing your nails and thinking: Yep. She did that.”

So, what colors are we loving this year? What combinations actually work together (without giving crayon box)? And how are you supposed to do-it-yourself the look without going crazy -or losing your top coat?

Let’s get into it.

Summer Sorbet Swirls

These nails are like taking a stroll through a boardwalk whilst holding a creamsicle in one hand and your sunglasses in the other. The combination of fuchsia, peach, lilac, and a glossy goldenrod shrieks soft gelato colors — and each nail has a subtle shift that reads deliberate, rather than excessive. There is something undemanding here, as though you are not really striving so hard, and yet, it is all coming together.

You will need polish colors in the medium range of the creamy family -such as Essie in “Tart Deco” that peachy coral, and OPI in “Don t Tell a Sol” the soft yellow. Use a high-shine top coat to see that glassy sorbet appearance in place. I cannot function with slow-dry anxiety so I always use Seche Vite.

There’s no need for gradients or sponge blending. Then just select five colors that inhabit the same tone family, alternating them, and allow the palette to do most of the work. Not sure which one to choose? Then I would recommend staying within a pastel range and alternate between warm and cool – that contrast will give the appearance a high-end vibe.

When I had a set like this on last summer, a barista told me they were cute in the middle of pouring my latte and asked me if they were press-ons. I tell you I had to laugh – no, only ten minutes and a steady-ish hand. It serves as evidence to the fact that sometimes the simplest styles are the most effective ones.

Neon Pop Energy

Is this look loud? Yes. Will you love it? Absolutely. A complete neon rainbow on both hands, shamelessly over-the-top – that is what you get when you embrace your inner Lisa Frank and conclude that subtlety belongs in spreadsheets, not in summer nails.

You’ll want long-wear pigments that really show up on the nail — think ILNP’s Ultra Brights or Lights Lacquer’s “Beach Club” collection. Start with a solid white base (like Orly’s “White Tips”) if your neons aren’t full coverage, it’ll help that color pop with zero streaks.

For at-home application, I use a tip from celeb nail artist Brittney Boyce: apply a peel-off barrier like UNT’s “Ready for Takeoff” around your cuticles when working with bold pigments — makes cleanup effortless and keeps the look crisp. Thin brush on your dominant hand or go with the mess if you are not afraid.

This is the one I choose when I want to go to a festival or even just dinner with friends and I am in the mood to not look away. People notice. And that’s the point.

Matte Meets Mod

This combination of clay mustard, turquoise, dusty peach and faded mint is reminiscent of retro Palm Springs, but set it in the year 2025. It’s colorful, but grown. Such as the nail version of linen pants and vintage sunnies.

Matte finish is the move here. I suggest you attempt Zoya Velvet Matte top coat -this gives them this powdery effect and tone downs bold colors a notch and makes them feel very editorial. When selecting colors, go with something muted in the undertones, as opposed to neon colors like “Desert Suede” instead of “Slime Green.”

Last spring when I did this look I distinctly remember wearing it with gold rings and denim – something about that combination made my nails look like little art pieces. One tip? Apply polish in two coats, and do not forget to buff your nail beds before applying the polish – matte finish will show every single ridge in case you forget to prep.

I vow by it on work trips or no-makeup days when I still like a pop of color that does not look accidental. Bonus? The shades are universal and do not wash anything out on any skin tones.

Micro French, Major Mood

This is French tip’s cooler, more colorful cousin. Replacing the traditional white with electric colors gives an immediate makeover to the style. The tips are painted with alternating summer shades of mango, sky blue, bubblegum pink, cherry, lavender and it is the manicure equivalent of a fruity cocktail taster.

This appearance is most comfortable with gel polish and fine liner brush. Start with a sheer nude or builder base. My current fav is the Bio Seaweed Gel in the “Natural Clear.” Then chose 5-6 colors and make a minimale arc on each tip. Clean lines = key. Symmetry is not what you want here -the charm is in the asymmetry.

And, if you lack the steady hand, a tip I stole similarly form Olive & June is to apply French tips by keeping the brush stationary and rolling your finger over it. Game changer.

I wore this on a vacation in Miami, and I received three compliments on a single day by the pool. It is casual, fancy, and Instagram worthy – and it made my iced matcha even more adorable. Just saying.

Crayon Crush

This ensemble is serving all crayon box realness — and it is working, as the hues are shiny, vivid, and unashamedly joyful. It is the result of allowing each finger to do its own thing yet having them united in one overall shine and squoval shape that prevents things looking chaotic rather than clean.

These colors require brilliance, — not shimmer, not glitter, but glass. I use the Beetles Gel Polish rainbow set (they have every primary shade imaginable) and always finish with a gel top coat under LED. Well, it is some effort, but the durability of the finish is eternal.

Forget the sponge gradients or negative space, the simplicity in this case is the charm. Each nail is its own statement. It is the nail equivalent of a colorful button-down and jeans, no styling pressure, just vibes.

This was my nail last year during the fourth of July weekend. I recall thinking, Okay, I have never had this many complimented in one weekend, not even on my outfit. It just so happens that people are quite fond of a bold nail.

Peach & Plum Crush

This pairing of peachy corals and deep lavenders is just delicious and juicy. The almond shape is instantly dressy, and the top coat is glossy and gives each color the effect of being almost dripping off the nail – in the very best way. It is sweet, it is bright, and it is completely channeling the aesthetic of colorful summer nails to experiment with in 2025.

I tend to drag out shades such as OPI Summer Lovin Having a Blast in the orange-coral and Essie Play Date in that lilac shade. The pop in this look is all in the extra-smooth glossy finish – personally I always apply two coats of my Seche Vite topcoat to achieve this extra glass-like shine.

I was afraid that when I first attempted this combo it would come out too young. But honestly? It’s chic. The peach makes things hot and the lilac makes things cool and they balance each other. Whenever I put this on, people will tell me whether I got this done professionally and that is always a good sign.

Pastel Macaron Set

That sensation when you enter a French bakery and desire to have everything in the shop is familiar to you, right? That’s this set in nail form. The mint cools, the lemon soft, the baby blue, pink sorbet, and lilac blend into a pastel rainbow, which is breezy, high, and completely wearable.

In such colors, I am in love with the pastel collections by Lights Lacquer. Their formula provides full coverage with no streaking -and trust me, if you have ever used pastels, you know how hard that is to find. I will never fail to use a ridge-filling base coat first to make the canvas perfect.

At home pastels can be a little temperamental, the trick is to apply thin, even layers and allow the paint to dry completely between applications. Pro manicurist Julie Kandalec says she always uses a fan or mini desk fan to accelerate bubble-free drying. I fully cosign this — patience pays off.

Whenever I put on this combo, I feel like having iced coffee and linen dresses. It is feminine, but not fussy, and would be ideal in a summer brunch atmosphere.

Sunset Fade

It is a burning gradient that starts in gentle pinks and transitions through warm oranges and yellows to end in a violet kiss – as if one were to capture a summer sunset on the run. The ombr e blends are so easy, yet there is depth to it that makes it look salon-fresh, even when you do it yourself.

In order to achieve that flawless fade, I apply a latex barrier to have clean lines and makeup sponges to dot on each gradient layer. The key? Use liquid latex (I like Bliss Kiss Simply Peel) around the nail for easy cleanup. Dab with a sponge, blend and then top with a glossy top coat to melt it all together.

As nail artist Betina Goldstein once told us, “summer is the time to have fun with your nails just as you do with your clothes.” The collection is a complete reflection of that philosophy – carefree, daring, and able to be worn with everything, denim shorts to maxi dresses.

Tropical Smoothie Gradient

This hand-all-in mix of sunshine yellow, sky blue, tangerine, fuchsia, and soft purple is a tropical bomb that all but requires poolside cocktails. The gradients are smooth and the effect is that of watercolor, which is very lively yet wearable.

The appearance is best achieved using gel polish since it gives time to blend each color into the desired fade before hardening. I apply Modelones or Beetles gel kits because they give me the best pigment payoff. A fine blending brush will be required, and plenty of patience, thin layers and slow build-up are the order of the day.

I once attended a friend beach wedding dressed in a similar style and no kidding people were more focused on my nails during the wedding ceremony. It felt like wearing tiny pieces of wearable art. That’s the magic of a well-blended gradient.

Muted Rainbow Modern

Cooler, slightly dustier colors are played with in this design: leafy green, periwinkle, butter yellow, powder pink, and bubblegum. The vibe? Summer, but make it chic. The dull colors make it classy yet with that multi-color cheer.

I adore Olive & June on such looks like this one – their colors such as KMC and SC are completely opaque with two coats. To take the entire appearance a notch higher, never forget to prepare nails by applying a nourishing oil before painting them the previous night. Deborah Lippmann suggests moisturizing cuticles before, not immediately after, painting – game. changer.

I felt very put together yet fun when I wore this look to a late afternoon rooftop party, the type of mani that looks amazing when the golden hour rolls in. This is a grown-up summer nail to attempt in 2025 that does not leave out the color.

Desert Marble Vibes

This whirling blend of burnt orange, terracotta, teal, and ivory has something hypnotic. It reminds me of summer heatwaves and cool ocean tides, it is a color story that is earthy but surprisingly fresh. The design is given a gentle motion by the abstract marble pattern, frozen art in motion, as it were.

For this kind of marble effect, I reach for a set of gel polishes with high pigmentation — Beetles’ “Retro Color Collection” gives excellent opacity. A dotting tool or fine liner brush will also be needed to swirl your colors together whilst wet, to blend into natural waves without losing definition.

Tom Bachik, celebrity nail artist, has previously told us that the secret to this technique is working wet-on-wet -polish should not dry at all between swirling or you will lose that liquid effect. I also have a small cleanup brush and some acetone close by in order to clean up the edges before coating everything with a high-gloss topcoat.

When I last sported this look in August someone at brunch remarked whether they were hand-painted by a salon artist. This is the beauty of marble, it is complex to the eye but can most certainly be done at home with time and the proper tools.

Summer Sunset Tips

The low base, the high drama on the tip – this neon gradient brings the traditional French tip into the somewhere much more contemporary place. The hot pink is bleeding into the fiery orange and soft yellow, making the impression of the tropical sunset at the tip of your fingers. It’s one of those colorful summer nails to try in 2025 that works whether you’re heading to the beach or just pretending from your patio.

I like starting with a sheer nude builder gel (try The Gel Bottle’s “Builder In A Bottle” in Teddy) for that glossy natural base. Then using a mini makeup sponge, I layer on neons like Orly’s “Glowstick” and “Beach Cruiser” at the tips, blending them seamlessly into each other for the gradient effect.

To apply, I always use a tip that was given to me by nail educator Katie Dutra: paint latex around your nail bed and then blend with a sponge – cleanup is a dream, and you maintain a clean edge that is professional.

I even donned a variation of this mani to a rooftop happy hour last July and my nails actually glowed in the sunset. It’s one of my absolute favorite summer looks for how effortlessly fun it feels.

Maximalist Pop Art

Alright, so when you have been on Pinterest and seen all the designs and wished: “I want EVERY design” then this one is for you. Checkerboard, swirls, stripes, flames, this is maximum nail art and somehow, it completely works. The orange, pink, blue, black and white make it silly, but not crazy.

Fine detail brushes, striping tape and a lot of patience are what you will need to achieve a design like this. I prefer Gellen gel polish as it is highly pigmented and therefore line work is a breeze. In the case of the checkerboard, a small dotting tool will assist you in having your squares even.

Celebrity nail artist Britney Tokyo repeats colors throughout the mixed design is her mantra: so although each nail is a different design, they feel like they belong together. That is certainly a rule that is applicable here and makes it not feel random.

When I initially styled this type of appearance, my friend actually commented, Your nails are Pinterest board IRL. I couldn’t have asked for a better compliment.

Fruit Sorbet Ombré

This gradient moves us through pink and coral and light citrus yellow – as if strata of rainbow sherbet were melting into each other. The extra glossy finish gives that juicy effect, and this is one of the most wearable ombr e designs to take you through summer days that begin with brunch and end at the golden hour cocktails.

To make it blend perfectly, I apply a nude gel base and then apply colors using a sponge – I personally use Beetles Gel gradient sponge kit as it makes the transition smoother. After mixing, I top coat it using no-wipe glossy top coat to make it as shiny as possible.

I have one favorite trick that I learned from celeb manicurist Julie K: apply your first layer of color in thin vertical strokes before sponging: it will help avoid harsh lines. The end result feels way more professional.

I actually wore this same outfit on my last summer weekend getaway – and, yes, they withstood three days of beach water, sunscreen and endless iced coffees just fine.

Hot Pink Edge Line

Minimal base? Check. Vivid neon edge? Double check. This neon pink almond with a narrow neon yellow squiggle is so futuristic yet so wearable to summer fun all day long. It is bloody, surprising, and quite in fashion to experiment with colorful nails in summer of 2025.

For this design, you’ll want a detail liner brush and highly pigmented neon polishes — I love Holo Taco’s “Hot Wire Pink” and “Lemon Sucker” for that electric yellow. The almond shape is elongating the design, and the graphic outline makes it modern.

A pro nail tip I picked up on to do edge designs: place your pinky on a surface thatwonMy

I felt like my nails were jewelry even to my simplest white tank outfits when I wore these. They attract attention, but not too much of it — and the compliments did not stop either.

Desert Marble Vibes

This whirling blend of burnt orange, terracotta, teal, and ivory has something hypnotic. It reminds me of summer heatwaves and cool ocean tides, it is an earthy yet surprisingly fresh color story. The design is given a gentle motion by the abstract marble pattern, as though it is liquid art frozen in the middle of its flow.

For this kind of marble effect, I reach for a set of gel polishes with high pigmentation — Beetles’ “Retro Color Collection” gives excellent opacity. A dotting tool or fine liner brush will also be needed to swirl your colors together whilst wet, to blend into natural waves without losing definition.

Tom Bachik, celebrity nail artist, previously told Allure that the secret to this trick is working wet-on-wet -do not allow any polish to dry before swirling, or you will not achieve that liquid movement. I have also a thin cleanup brush and acetone at hand to clean up the edges before coating everything with a high gloss top coating.

When I first sported this look last August, a lady at a brunch lunch questioned me whether they were hand-painted by a salon artist. That is the beauty of marble, it is complex looking but can indeed be done at home with time and the proper tools.

Summer Sunset Tips

Low base, high drama tip – this neon fade brings the traditional French tip into the far more contemporary place. The hot pink bleeds into hot orange and cool yellow, giving off the impression of a tropical sunset at your fingertips. It’s one of those colorful summer nails to try in 2025 that works whether you’re heading to the beach or just pretending from your patio.

I like starting with a sheer nude builder gel (try The Gel Bottle’s “Builder In A Bottle” in Teddy) for that glossy natural base. Then using a mini makeup sponge, I layer on neons like Orly’s “Glowstick” and “Beach Cruiser” at the tips, blending them seamlessly into each other for the gradient effect.

To apply, I personally never leave home without a tip given to me by nail educator Katie Dutra: apply latex around your nail bed and then blend with a sponge – cleanup is a dream, and you maintain those edges nice and crisp and professional.

I had a variation of this mani on at a rooftop happy hour last July and my nails actually glowed in the sunset. It’s one of my absolute favorite summer looks for how effortlessly fun it feels.

Maximalist Pop Art

Alright, so if you have ever been on Pinterest and felt: “I want to have ALL the designs” then this one is going to be up your alley. Checkerboard, swirls, stripes, flames – this is all the maximalist nail art and somehow, it completely works. The orange, pink, blue, black and white make it not too chaotic but playful.

Fine detail brushes, striping tape and a lot of patience are what you will need to achieve a design like this. I prefer to work with Gellen gel polish as it is highly pigmented, which makes line work a lot easier. In the case of the checkerboard, a little dotting tool will assist you in having your squares all the same.

Celebrity nail artist Britney Tokyo repeats colors throughout mixed designs are her favorite because, she says, they feel like they belong together even though each nail is different. That is a rule that certainly does apply here and makes it not feel random.

When I initially wore this type of appearance, my friend actually commented, Your nails are Pinterest board IRL. I couldn’t have asked for a better compliment.

Fruit Sorbet Ombré

This gradient moves us through pink, to coral, to light citrus yellow – as though strata of rainbow sherbet were melting into each other. It has a super glossy finish, which also contributes to that juicy effect, so this is one of the most wearable ombr e designs to sport on summer days that begin with brunch and end with golden hour cocktails.

To make it blend flawlessly, I apply a nude gel base and then apply colors using a sponge, I personally use Beetles Gel gradient sponge kit as it gives a smoother transition. After mixing, I top coat it using no-wipe glossy top coat to make it as shiny as possible.

A favorite of mine, courtesy of celeb manicurist Julie K, is to apply your base color in thin vertical strokes before the sponging step – this will also help avoid harsh lines. The end result feels way more professional.

This was the same outfit that I wore on my last summer weekend getaway, and yes, they did not disappoint after three days of beach water, sunscreen, and endless iced coffees.

Hot Pink Edge Line

Minimal base? Check. Vivid neon edge? Double check. This neon pink almond with a narrow neon yellow squiggle is so futuristic yet so wearable to summer fun. It is bloody, surprising, and quite in fashion to be colorful summer nails to experiment with in 2025.

For this design, you’ll want a detail liner brush and highly pigmented neon polishes — I love Holo Taco’s “Hot Wire Pink” and “Lemon Sucker” for that electric yellow. The almond shape is elongating the design, and the graphic outline makes it modern.

A small lesson I picked up with nail artist Betina Goldstein: when creating edge designs, hold your pinky on a steady surface to stabilize your hand – it is a game changer in creating smooth and confident curves.

When I wore these, I felt like my nails were doing the accessories even to my most simple white tank outfits. They attract attention, but not too much of it — and the compliments did not stop either.

Confetti Dot Party

These clear almond-shaped nails with neon-bright dots seem like summer birthday confetti in the air. The matte foundation looks modern but the colored dots are textured and 3D and fun to touch – like sprinkles on an ice cream cone that you want to wear all summer long.

For this design, I use a semi-sheer milky nude gel base — think Bio Seaweed’s “Milkshake” — and after curing, place each dot with a dotting tool using super pigmented gel paints like The Gel Bottle’s Neon Collection. The colors are to be cured as soon as each color is applied so as to prevent bleeding or flattening.

Nail artist Hang Nguyen suggests to refrain from applying another color until the previous one is completely dried to get the 3D effect to the maximum. I recently gave this a go and it certainly caused my dots to pop like mini candy drops.

I attended a pool party hosted by my friend when I wore this look, and people literally took my hand to have a closer look at the manicure, it is that kind of manicure that will get you a conversation starter.

Neon Flame Fade

The hot pink and electric orange gradient is giving us all the Miami heat. The extra-smooth graduation between a natural pink base and neon tips is fiery, bold, and quite up to rooftop cocktails. This is certainly among the most impressive colorful summer nails to experiment with in 2025.

To blend without any flaws, I prefer a fine sponge gradient. Starting with a sheer pink gel base (like Apres “Baby Pink”), I build the neon with Orly’s “Hot Pursuit” and “Glowstick.” Thin layers, multiple blends — that’s the secret sauce.

A trick I heard Steph Stone, manicurist, tell: when blending, slightly dampen the sponge with a drop of alcohol. It softens transitions and avoids harsh lines.

I have worn this to a beach bonfire last summer and I can tell you – it glows like real embers when the sun sets. Perfect for photos and s’mores.

Pastel Candy Pop

These milkshake pastels pink, mint, yellow, lilac) are like summer candy in one stylish manicure. The colors are complemented by a shiny topcoat that is not overpowering and provides a fun and flirtatious yet elegant energy, perfect to wear to brunch and then to happy hour.

I’m obsessed with Lights Lacquer’s “Sweet as Summer” collection for shades like these. Pastels are opaque in two coats or it is non-negotiable, and their formula never misses. To give it an extra shine I seal it always with Gelous gel top coat -there is nothing like a glassy finish.

Pastels may streak when you are in a hurry so I am not in a hurry. I would apply two thin coats with full dry time between coats and finally a quick dry spray before top coating.

Last season when I wore this, I did it with a flow-y linen dress and received the obligatory did you just come from a salon? compliment, which is my favorite kind.

Matte Sorbet Dreams

The same playful pastels — but make it matte. The velvet texture makes yellow, lilac, bubblegum pink, and aqua blue even more modern, and this set becomes wearable color blocking that is somehow bold and soft simultaneously.

Matte finishes demand serious prep. I file the nails smooth using a 220 grit buffer, ridge filler smoother and then top it off with Zoya Matte Velvet Topcoat. It also dries fast and gives that soft-focus appearance without muting the color beneath.

Pro nail artist Miss Pop by swearing by cuticle oil only once the matte top coat is completely dry to prevent any unwanted patches of shine, a small trick that goes a long way.

I had it on during a long weekend getaway last year and it withstood sun, sand, and pool water and still managed to look absurdly chic in all the pictures. Total vacation hero.

Soft Ombre Garden

This romantic pastel gradient blurred over each nail, and pretty white florals are drifting over the top like tiny daisies in the spring meadows. Mint, blush, peach, sky blue, and lemon are the colors that make one of the most feminine and at the same time fun colorful summer nails to experiment with in 2025.

For the base, I love using Aprés Gel-X “Pastel Paradise” series — the fade looks flawless with sponged layering. Next, I use a dotting tool and paint each small flower by hand with gel paint that is pure white, and then cure after every few flowers to ensure that the petals remain crisp.

Manicurist Betina Goldstein suggests applying a thin layer of builder gel on top of the design such as this to make the artwork appear to be floating in the air and in 3D – I personally swear by this technique to make these daisy details appear even more delicate.

I have worn this design to a baby shower of a friend and received countless compliments. It is not sugary but sweet and looks like a real Pinterest board when photographed.

Orange Blossom Bloom

This design brings full-on citrus grove energy. Sunshine yellows, rich oranges, sunset shades and hand-painted flowers mix into a collection that is midsummer in a bottle. The large flowers ground the design and the rest of the nails maintain the palette clean and bright.

Shades I use are OPI Suzi Needs a Loch-Smith to get that nice burnt orange color with Don t Tell a Sol, to get the bright yellow details. The flowers are most easily hand-painted with a fine detail brush and pigmented gel paints – Kokoist has some of my favorites to use with florals.

A favourite tip of mine here is courtesy of nail teacher Sarah Nguyen: apply petal placement with a dotting tool, and then grab a liner brush and pull outwards on each flower to shape it. stack your flowers once each part is cured to prevent smudging.

I had a variant of this to a summer garden party of a friend of mine, it matched my flowy dress and oversized sunnies. Pure sunshine.

Lemon Lavender Split

This yellow and lavender color block design is minimalist yet whimsical, like the best of spring leading right into summer. Two colors and a diagonal divide make this design relatively basic to wear but exciting at the same time – minimal effort, maximal reward.

When it comes to creamy colors, especially this one, I always use Olive & June pastel collection. You can freehand the diagonal line, but to get clean edges you can use striping tape and then paint your second color.

Celebrity manicurist Miss Pop suggests a thicker top coat to seal color block designs, to even out the layers – it evens out any height disparities where the colors meet. Total game-changer for at-home nail art.

I wore this combo and received endless questions where I got my nails done. And that is the beauty of color blocking, plain designs never seem accidental.

Pastel French Refresh

It is French tip reinvented in 2025: the soft pastel tips on top of clean nude base. The pastel shades of pink, lilac, mint, lemon and baby blue make it sweet, and the negative space foundation makes it breathable and light especially in summer.

Sheer base gels such as Apres Gel-X will keep the base flawless and the tips can be freehand painted using a fine liner brush. The pastel collection by Lights Lacquer does not fail to deliver those ideal soft colors again.

As celebrity nail artist Naomi Yasuda previously told us, to make the rest of the look more polished, it is better to maintain your French tips thin and delicate. That recommendation totally altered my process -and frankly, my self-assurance in freehand lines improved rapidly following.

I used this set when I needed to attend a baby shower of my cousin, as it was elegant enough to be used in family photos and at the same time fun enough to embrace the summer mood. Perfection.

Retro Swirl Sorbet

This design is a combination of a summer popsicle and 70s glam. Ribbon-like swirls of coral, blush, aqua, peach, and lavender sweep over the nail beds in an ideal combination of motion and hue. The retro pattern adds serious character without being fully psychedelic.

I use a creamy pastel gel as a base and middle swirls are developed using liner brushes. Highly pigmented colors that do not flood: The Gel Bottle has a line of colors called “Pastel Vibe” which is great to do detailed work like this.

One of my favorite tricks that I picked up on by the influencer nail tech HeyGreatNails: when applying swirls, you must start at the cuticle and sweep up in one movement, this makes the movement more natural and deliberate.

This very style was my go-to last August on a weekend trip away – needless to say my nails were practically the ice-breaker at every brunch.

Skyline Cotton Candy Ombre

This gradient takes me back to observing sunset skies turn baby blue to pink haze as the daylight goes away. The light turquoise and the light bubblegum melt into each other, forming a cloudlike pastel ombr, at once soothing and whimsical.

I use sponges to build this blend, starting with sheer pink (like Apres “Baby Pink”) as my base and layering Beetles Gel pastels for the fade. Thin layers are key for that cloud-like softness.

Nail teacher Julie Ventura suggests having the sponge slightly wet so that it does not get patchy during the blending – and that small adjustment makes your gradient look instantly more salon-quality.

The first time I wore this during my last summer staycation, I could not take my eyes off my hands as I was scrolling outside with my iced matcha. Total cotton candy cloud vibes.

Neon Wave Stream

This design is a combination of fine lines of neon pink, blue, yellow, and orange on top of a transparent nude base, the movement and minimalism are just in the right amount. It looks chic with the sharp almond shape and summer-fresh and fun with the colors.

The neon brights in The Gel Bottle provide me with the most even coverage on those skinny lines and I use a super-fine striping brush to apply. A builder gel is always preferred with the nude base to give that clean glassy base.

Nail artist Britney Tokyo suggests planning out your wave placement by sketching it in with an almost dry brush first – you get the map before you commit to it with all color. This changed my precision game completely.

The weekend I wore this to the beach they resembled little neon surfboards – I could not take my eyes off my own hands when the sun was shining on them.

Summer Berry Gloss

There is nothing like a good solid color sometimes – and this berry gloss is evidence to that fact. Vivid pink-plum color is the touch of just-picked raspberries, it is confident enough to be worn without any other makeup, yet it is neutral enough to suit any clothes, any occasion.

To achieve this type of full pigment payoff, I live by OPI nail polish in “Pompeii Purple” or Essie in “Bahama Mama” to make it a little deeper. Then top it off always with a glassy top coat such as Seche Vite to seal in that mirror shine.

Celebrity manicurist Deborah Lippmann recommends applying polish to your tips first then painting the nail itself to avoid wearing off – such an easy tip but one that really makes the wear of glossy colors last.

I adore this kind of shade to wear when I am in the mood of something that does not require much attention yet looks completely put-together. It’s universally flattering and always feels elevated.

Minimal Heart Bloom

Delicate soft pink and daring cherry comes together in this basic modern design inspired by a heart. The small petal like forms emanating out of the nail beds provide the right amount of detail that makes it interesting but not busy. It is playful, breezy and just right for romantic summer nights.

My base is any creamy soft pink such as Lights Lacquer’s “Rosie”, and my red petal shapes are done with a dotting tool and a liner brush, of which Essie’s “Really Red” provides the perfect saturation. Cure each petal individually to keep your shapes sharp.

Nail artist Hang Nguyen recommends following any designs with a sheer pink afterwards to add additional depth – I gave it a go, and the amount of dimension it gives is seriously next level.

I have this design in a summer date night, and I promise you, it made my whole outfit ten times cuter. It’s subtle but still gets noticed.

Rainbow Wave Party

This full rainbow swirl is giving summer festival energy. Bright streaks of neon pink, green, yellow, aqua, and blue follow an abstract wave design that stretches across each nail and immediately captures the attention without being overwhelming. Like Lisa Frank meets Coachella chic.

The design requires highly pigmented gel paints, I apply Gelish and Modelones neon collections to get the most color payoff. The swooping lines are fully controlled with fine detail brushes.

Professional nail artist Tom Bachik suggests planning out the color placement with pastel pencil before painting to achieve more balanced composition – this particular advice completely rescued me on the first attempt when I was ready to swear off even putting nails on my file.

I wore this to a summer concert last year- needless to say they were blazing nearly as bright as the stage lights. Pure dopamine on nails.

Starburst Pop Art

And when you are feeling bold color blocking and graphic elements, this one is calling your name. On each nail, there are exaggerated star decals in neons of opposite color: cobalt, bubblegum, tangerine, lime, over bright bases. It’s retro. It’s playful. It’s fully alive.

I work with solid gel bases and already cut nail vinyls (in the shape of stars). Paint your base, apply your vinyl, paint the star color on top and peel right away before curing. To get perfect edges, you should always press your vinyls down then polish.

Nail artist Steph Stone suggests sealing designs such as this with two coats of top coat to keep the surface extra smooth and to protect the decals in the long run -she is so right.

I attended a summer rooftop party in this set, and or what? My nails became the entire outfit. Instant mood booster.