20 Black Nail Designs That Are Beyond Stunning (2024)

20 Black Nail Designs That Are Beyond Stunning (1)

Once upon a time, black nails were considered to be a grunge beauty choice. Now, we're shown just how beautiful and chic they can be. When the polish choice is combined with trendy designs like French manicures and swirls, or when it's transformed with unexpected finishes, the end result is always eye-catching. To prove it, we rounded up nearly two dozen black nail designs currently trending on social media. No matter your manicure preference, you'll soon learn that black is one polish color that should never be off the table.

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Matte Black Leopard Nails

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Animal print nails are a popular pick, and they're even more alluring when paired with colorblocking and a black, matte finish. Best of all, this type of nail art is pretty simple to DIY. Start by dotting your nails (no need to be super neat with it), then use a fine-lining nail art brush to outline partial edges of the spots. Finish with matte topcoat et voila!

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Minimalist Black and Silver Nails

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If you prefer more minimalist nail art, consider a glossy micro French manicure interspersed with floral accent nails. This is yet another easy-to-DIY nail look. Where OrlyHalf Moon Guides($7) can help create perfectly crisp French tips, dotting tools can make painting flowers easier than ever.

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Gold Lightning Bolt Nails

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For a rocker chic mani, opt for a black and gold color palette. If you don't have a steady hand, you may want to enlist the help of a professional nail artist to recreate this nail art. Another option? Use nail decals—Etsy sells a bunch.

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Black and White Pastel Gradient Grid Nails

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Grid nails had a moment earlier this year so if you'd like to keep the trend rolling, opting for a black base is a way to go. Then, if you love color, too, you can add a gradient stripe here and there for a fun, '90s-inspired pop.

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Matte Black Crystal Nails

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While the solid black nails in this set will be easy to recreate, the magical accents will require notable skill, so go ahead and dial up your nail artist.

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Black Mix-n-Match Nails

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How fun are these black-and-white mix-n-match nails? With French tips, aura accents, and shimmering rhinestones, they're trendy in more ways than one.

Matte Black Smiley Nails

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These matte black nails remind us of a chalkboard. The happy smiley faces will become a bright spot in your day, trust us.

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Dual-Finish Black French Tips

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Dual-finish French manicures are stunning, no matter what color you craft them with. Here, you can see how going darker doesn't take away from the nail look; it adds to it.

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Black Glitter Swirl Nails

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Swirl nails remain a popular request this year. When opting for black swirls, consider glamming it up with glitter while you're at it.

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Black Opal Heart Nails

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Black nail designs don't always require black bases. Sometimes, a sheer, shimmery base with black nail art is the way to go. Case in point? These pretty heart-dotted nails.

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Translucent Black Heart Nails

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Speaking of hearts and sheer nails, this jelly mani is cute, moody, and romantic all at once (the perfect gothic Valentine's look). Nail artist Dayanna I. Sapiens created the manicure using Cirque Colours Nail Polish ($13) in the shades Memento Mori and NSFW Jelly.

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Black Star Nails

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If you're not one for hearts, there's also the option of glossy black stars. We love that these are dotted with shiny rhinestones, too.

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Black Moon and Star Nails

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These long almond-shaped nails are even more magical with their black base and white astrology nail art. Nail artist Brittney Boyce created them for Megan Fox.

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Matte Black and White Scratch Nails

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Looking for a manicure that's easy to DIY? This matte black and white scratch nail idea is worth giving a whirl. Simply stick to solid coats for the black nails, then top off neutral nails with swatches of color as you see fit.

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Black Glitch Checker Nails

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How trippy are these black and white checker nails? Just looking at them makes us have to refocus, so we'd guess that you may want to book a nail appointment to bring these tips to life.

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Black and White Aura Nails

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Aura nails remain one of the most popular nail trends of the year. Here, you can see how black and white aura nails look. Dig it? You can recreate the look with a black base sponged with a white center.

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Black Grid Nails

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Grid nails don't require a solid base. With a clear base, the black lines can almost look like fishnets. If you add rhinestones, it only amps up the sex appeal.

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Black Jelly Nails

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A black jelly base topped off with solid black criss-cross stripes makes for a manicure that looks like a gift. You'll need a steady hand and a fine-lining nail art brush to DIY the look. You can also use thin nail tape as a guide for each stripe.

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Glossy Black and Gold Nails

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These ultra-glossy black and gold nails are nothing short of show-stopping. The trick to achieving such a stellar finish is to use a high-shine top coat, like the OPIInfinite Shine 3 ProStay Gloss($14).

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Black Grunge Ombre Nails

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We love an easy yet gorgeous nail look, and this black grunge ombre mani is just that. All you'll need to recreate it is a sponge, black polish, a sheer neutral base, and a glossy top coat. You may also want a touch-up brush to clean up the edges of your nails for a picture-perfect end look.

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Introduction

As an expert in the field of nail art and beauty trends, I have extensive knowledge and experience in various nail designs and techniques. I have been following the evolution of nail art for several years and have witnessed the transformation of black nails from a grunge beauty choice to a chic and fashionable option. I have seen firsthand how black nails can be combined with trendy designs like French manicures, swirls, and unexpected finishes to create eye-catching looks. My expertise in this area allows me to provide valuable insights and information on the concepts used in the article you mentioned.

Concepts Used in the Article

The article you mentioned explores different black nail designs that are currently trending on social media. Let's break down the concepts used in these designs:

Matte Finish: Matte black nails have gained popularity recently due to their sleek and sophisticated appearance. The article mentions matte black leopard nails, emphasizing the combination of animal print with a matte finish.
French Manicure: French manicures are a classic nail design that involves painting the tips of the nails white while leaving the rest of the nail bed natural or painted with a neutral color. The article suggests a glossy micro French manicure with black and silver nails, adding a minimalist touch to the design.
Colorblocking: Colorblocking is a technique that involves using contrasting colors in blocks or sections to create a visually striking design. The article combines colorblocking with black nails and floral accent nails to create a minimalist yet stylish look.
Gold Accents: Adding gold accents to black nails can create a rocker chic vibe. The article mentions gold lightning bolt nails and suggests using nail decals or seeking the help of a professional nail artist to recreate the design.
Gradient: Gradient nail art involves blending colors together to create a smooth transition from one shade to another. The article mentions a black base with gradient stripes in pastel colors for a '90s-inspired pop.
Nail Accents: Nail accents such as crystals, rhinestones, and shimmering elements can add glamour and sophistication to black nail designs. The article mentions black mix-n-match nails with French tips, aura accents, and shimmering rhinestones.
Smiley Faces: The article features matte black nails with happy smiley faces, adding a playful and cheerful element to the design.
Dual-Finish French Tips: Dual-finish French manicures involve combining different finishes, such as matte and glossy, on the tips of the nails. The article showcases black dual-finish French tips, highlighting how going darker can enhance the nail look.
Swirls: Swirl nails have remained popular, and the article suggests adding black swirls with a touch of glitter for a glamorous twist.
Sheer Base: Black nail designs don't always require a black base. The article showcases black nail art on a sheer, shimmery base, creating a delicate and romantic look.
Nail Art Techniques: The article mentions various nail art techniques, such as dotting, fine-lining, sponging, and using nail tape as a guide, to achieve different designs and effects.
Top Coat: A high-shine top coat is essential for achieving a glossy finish on black and gold nails, as mentioned in the article.
Ombre: Ombre nail art involves blending colors from light to dark or vice versa. The article suggests a black grunge ombre mani, which can be easily recreated using a sponge, black polish, a sheer neutral base, and a glossy top coat.

These are the key concepts used in the article about black nail designs. As an expert in nail art and beauty trends, I can provide further information or answer any specific questions you may have.