Painting your nails is always a great idea to not just look good but also feel confident and cute. It is also a great way to express your personal style and unique preferences. Whether you match your nails to your outfits or love styling looks around your fits, exploring new and trendy nail art designs will help you find the inspiration you need. With the varying innovative developments in beauty, many brands are also offering unique nail colours with metallic and shimmering finishes as well as nail tools to make manicures at home a breeze.
So, if an incognito tab of your mind is always planning your next nail art, you clearly agree life’s too short to have boring nails. After all, aren’t your nails always in the spotlight, no matter what you’re doing? Even right now! Enough reason to opt for vibrant nail art that speaks for itself. From minimal looks to elaborate nail art, this curation has something for everyone and will definitely help you find your next nail art inspo. Without further ado, let’s dive right into the most trendy and popular nail designs and how you can recreate the manicures at home!
Explore 15 Trendy Nail Art Design Ideas
1. Negative Space
This cute and trendy nail art idea is the most popular on social media right now and you should definitely try it out. The negative space adds a minimal touch while the colourful accents add just the right amount of whimsy to make it appropriate for daily wear. Recreate it with the Elle 18 Nail Pops pack of 5 that has all the right colours you need. You can free-hand the designs with the enamel brush or use a nail art brush for a defined look. For the base, use the long-lasting Nykaa Matte Nail Enamel Polish in the shade of Corny Creampuff.
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2. Preppy Pop
Taking the internet by storm, pop art is everywhere – from bags and sneakers to hyperrealistic cakes. Obviously, the beauty world didn’t hold back and jumped right on with makeup inspired by the trend and the very wearable pop-art nail designs. Create this cute design with the Nykaa Matte Nail Enamel Polish in Lavender Gelato, which has a pigmented formulation. You can also use any of your favourite colours and add a matte coat. For the highlights, use the super bright and pigmented Faces Canada Splash Nail Paint combo that has both black and white shades for all your needs.
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3. Iridescent Polish
This one is for all the minimal girlies who want to shimmer but in a subtle way. Iridescent nail paints should be on your wish list for everything from casual outings to parties. Get this magical look with the Nykaa Unicorn Potion Nail Enamel Polish which has a rich pigment. The long-lasting nail polish is chip-resistant and paraben-free. Lock in the nail paint and make it last for weeks with the Inglot Dry & Shine Top Coat that adds a glossier, almost 3D finish. It also makes the nail polish dry faster because we need those hands for boss-girling – don’t we?
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4. Trendy Bows
Bows are everywhere in 2024 and it’s time to embrace the trend with this super cute nail art design. However, if you’re not one to draw or simply don’t have the time, using a nail plate will make the process much easier. Try the super convenient Pippin Paris Nail Art Plate that has different bow and floral designs for varying nail lengths. Use their stamper and scraper for the best results. For the base coat, we’re in love with the Kay Beauty Nail Nourish Nail Enamel Polish in the shade Firecracker 36. It has the deepest red pigment ever and will stay on your nails for days.
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5. IT-Girl Gems
All the IT-Girls are wearing gem-encrusted nails and we can’t deny that they embody the weekend vibes to the max. If you’re planning to get these party-ready nails, don’t skip out on the Bronson Professional Nail Art Dotting Pen to make the process easy. You can use it to pick stones, gems, rhinestones, as well as crystals with ease. For the cute and natural pink base, you cannot go wrong with the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in the shade Plush Blush.
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6. Gel Effect
If long-lasting nail paint sounds too good to be true, try dipping your talons in gel paint. Gel nail art, with its glossy finish, can last for as long as a month. If you’re down for a DIY, apply a pink gel base coat. Once the pink coat has dried, power up your creative mode and doodle with a white or black gel lacquer and a fine-tipped nail brush. Go crazy – the more abstract your designs, the quirkier the impact.
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7. Acrylic Appearance
Wouldn’t you rather have a manicure that looks equally good during the night as it does in daylight? The variations of blue, punctuated with shimmer, in a bomb acrylic finish, give you a mani that can be effortlessly carried from a mid-day brunch to a late-night party. The acrylic-like finish with a glittery accent nail is not as difficult as it looks. All you need is paint and oodles of confidence to get it right.
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8. Cool Geometric Designs
The beauty of geometric nail art is that you are the deciding architect of the structural design. If you’re down for a DIY all you need is some tape and plenty of patience. The key is to pick two accent nails and do an artistic, vibrant job with them. The world is your oyster, fill each grid with a contrasting shade and use thin black borders to bring out the definition. Ensure just the right amount of soft purple for the rest of your nails.
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9. Elegant Florals
If you think floral nail art is all about dainty flowers against a pink backdrop, let’s help you redefine it. On the black base, create a busy floral print, using white and yellow. To draw the flowers freestyle, use a fine-tip brush and don’t bother about perfection. Sure, these tiny flowers are not the real deal but they grow on you – pinky promise! Paint the rest of your nails a poppy yellow to enhance the vibrancy.
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10. Cute Unicorn
A unicorn and you – both equally unique. Adorning an accent nail with a unicorn portrait is a subtle way to show your love for the mythical creature. And it’s a little less in your face, which makes it perfect for everyday wear. Amp up your unicorn support with a magnificent horn right there, on your fingertip. Paint the rest of your nails with a solid candy pink to keep it simple and poppy.
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11. Gilded Gold Foil
Black matte nails wrapped with traces of gold foil = the manicure of our dreams. What makes it more inviting is that steady hands are not really a mandate to recreate this nail art. On a matte black base coat, simply press a sheet of gold foil and gently lift. Feel free to go bold or stick to subtle — there’s ample room for customisation with this one. Stick to only two golden fingernails, this helps maximise the effect of this Midas-inspired nail art.
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12. Love-Filled Valentine
What better way to show boo that you love him with all your heart (and nails)? The Valentine’s nail art with solid red hearts for tips has got you covered for special date nights. Imagine how enticing your mani would look as you swirl your glass of wine. Ooh la la. Start off with a clear base coat and then move on to the heart. You can finish off by running a glossy top coat. Well, we’re swooned by this nail heart.
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13. Mystifying Matte
Did you hear? Nail art is no longer reserved for those with super-long tips. This matte nail art complements short nails by playing on the contrast of the two extreme ends of the colour spectrum – black and white. All you need are the two shades in pure-matte formulas and a thin paintbrush to get the abstract right.
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14. Stand-out Ombre
Quick tip: When you can’t decide between red or black, go ombre. That way you have the best of both worlds on your tips. The lighter colour (red) blends into a darker colour (black) toward the tip to build a flattering colour gradient. To get the ombre twist at home, you can dip a makeup sponge into a few drops of both shades and dab it directly onto your nail.
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15. Reverse French
We admit there’s nothing groundbreaking about going all pink but an unexpected speck of glitter lining your cuticles can definitely take things to the next level. The reverse French nail art is an experimental and refreshing take on the popular French manicure. Sprinkle glitter over the lunula (the half-moon-shaped base just above your cuticle) of your nail, paint the rest of your nail a gorgeous, blush pink and seal it with a clear top coat.
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Conclusion
We hope you found the inspiration you need to create your next nail art masterpiece. All the above nail art designs can be easily created at home and you can even swap out the colours to match your preferences. Be open to experimentation and use different combinations of nail polish colours as well as finishes for unique looks. Follow these nail care tips to ensure your nails are prepped and ready for the best results. After creating the masterpiece, ensure let it dry completely and protect the nails by staying away from chemicals and overexposure to water.
FAQs on Nail Art
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What are the benefits of gel nail art?
- Lasts longer than a regular manicure
- Provides added protection for your nails
- Dries off quickly to reduce chances of smudging
- Gel nail polish art does not require much aftercare
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What is chrome nail art?
Chrome nail art includes nails with a metallic finish. The result is a high-polish reflective surface. In order to achieve the chrome finish look, chrome powder is dusted on the base coat. This chrome powder is made of glass, metal and pigments.
Try This: Lakme Ultimate Glam Chrome Nail Paint
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What are some hacks for DIY nail art designs?
- You can creatively use stationery supplies such as stickers and stencils to create nail art designs.
- Grab the stones and crystals with your eyebrow tweezers to place them on your nail.
- You can use both ends of a toothpick to nail a dotted nail art design.
- A makeup sponge works well at achieving an ombre or sunset effect on your nails.
- If you don’t have nail striping tape, stick clear tape on your nail in the desired shape and peel it off.
- If you’re out of a nail paint shade, simply drop the closest eyeshadow pigment on a spoon and pour a bit of clear polish into it. Mix it with a brush and your new nail paint is ready.
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How to care for nails?
- Keep your fingernails dry and clean – this inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria.
- Furthermore, a study says that healthy nails are shiny, smooth, and uniform in consistency both on the surface and in free-margin views. Therefore, use a sharp pair of scissors or clippers to maintain their length.
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How to make your manicure last longer?
Nail prep is key to making your manicures last longer. Wipe the nail clean and ensure it is dry before applying the nail polish. Ensure to buff your nails to make the nail paint stick better. Post-application stay away from chemicals and excess exposure to water.
