I used to think I could never have stylish nails.
With bitten cuticles and a shaky hand for polish, my nails always looked messy.
But once I discovered nail art templates, dotting tools and no-chip top coats, I realized anyone can DIY beautiful nails!
Now I love trying trendy new nail inspo.
From abstract prints to 3D charms, the options are endless for taking your tips to the next level.
Table of Contents
50+ Must-Try Nails : Photo Gallery
1. Marble Magic
Marble nails are a hot trend this season.
The stone-like veining looks so luxe and stylish.
Use a makeup sponge to blend polish colors for an easy faux marble effect.
Start with a neutral base color like beige, gray or taupe.
Next, add drops of contrasting polish colors like white, black, gold or blue.
Use a cosmetic wedge sponge to swirl and blend the polishes together before they fully dry.
Lightly dab and smooth toward the nail tips to get soft veining.
Apply multiple thin coats to build up the marbleized look.
Finish with a fast-drying topcoat to seal and smooth.
For neon marble, use bright vivid colors like orange, pink and lime green.
2. Barely There French
For a modern take on French tips, try a sheer nude color on the ends.
The minimalist tips are chic and understated.
Start with a bare nail or neutral base color.
Paint the tips using a very thin coat of nude polish, leaving it translucent.
Try soft beige, pale pink or sandy shades.
Resist the urge to apply multiple coats.
The key is letting the natural nail show through slightly.
Finish with a glossy topcoat to smooth and even out the tips.
For polished perfection, use acrylic guides or striping tape.
Clean up edges with a brush dipped in acetone as needed.
3. Glossy Glitter
Glitter doesn’t have to be flashy.
A sheer pink, gold or blue sparkle layered over a neutral base adds elegant shimmer.
Start with a neutral nail color like pale pink, beige or gray.
Apply 2-3 thin coats and let dry completely.
Next, sweep on a sheer glitter polish in a complementary tone.
Try rosy gold, iridescent pink or pale blue glitter for an opalescent sheen.
The key is applying it lightly for a subtle sparkle effect.
Finish with a shiny topcoat to smooth any texture and amp the shine.
Avoid chunky or brightly colored glitter, which can look messy.
Sheer and fine glitter gives off an elegant, grown-up vibe.
4. Mismatched Shapes
Why match when you can mix?
Paint each nail with a different geometric shape like circles, squares, triangles or squiggles.
The abstract look is so artsy.
Start with a blank canvas of bare nails.
Use a nail art brush dipped in polish to hand draw different shapes on each nail.
Try circles, rectangles, zigzags, dots, squiggles or triangles.
Mix up scale and placement – make some shapes big, others tiny.
Stick to a muted color palette like blacks, whites and nudes.
For dimension, outline shapes first, then fill in.
Finish with a matte topcoat to tone down shine.
5. Chainlink Chic
Real gold chainlink pieces glued onto your tips take nail art to new levels.
This high fashion texture upgrades any mani.
Start with short chainlink pieces from jewelry findings.
Cut them down to size to fit each nail using pliers.
Glue them vertically onto the tips using strong nail adhesive.
Apply glue near the cuticle and set the chain end into it, pressing 30 secs for full adhesion.
Paint any exposed glue with matching polish to hide it.
For extra bling, glue on a bead, rhinestone or charm at the end of each chain.
Seal on embellishments with a glossy topcoat.
6. Dark Florals
Deep burgundy roses and black leaves are a moody twist on floral nails.
So vampy and romantic at the same time.
Start with a base color like black, navy or burgundy.
Use a thin brush and white polish to outline roses.
Fill them in using deep burgundy or oxblood polish.
Paint spiky stems and leaves in dark green or black.
Try different rose sizes and placements across nails.
Finish with a shiny topcoat so the moody florals really pop.
7. Holographic Sparkle
Holo polish has an out-of-this-world iridescent shine.
One coat takes you straight to Euphoria.
Layer over nude or neon colors for mesmerizing effects.
Start with a neutral base color like pale pink, beige or gray.
Apply a thin, even coat of holo polish and wait 30 secs before curing.
This allows the rainbow reflectors to fully emerge.
For extra intensity, layer it over a bright neon shade.
The holo effect works best on its own without topcoat.
It creates a hypnotic color shift in the light.
8. Minimalist French
Barely-there white tips keep it minimal.
For an edgy twist, paint black lines instead of classic white.
Start with bare, neutral nails.
Use striping tape to guide straight French tips.
Apply a thin coat of white or black polish just on the ends.
Resist making the tips too thick.
Let the base color show through slightly.
Finish with slick glossy topcoat for a polished look.
For cleanup, use an angled brush dipped in acetone.
9. Fruit Nails
Have fun with fruit-inspired nails!
Paint watermelon slices, lemons, cherries or pineapple on an accent nail.
The juicy summer motifs look so fresh.
Start with a base color like mint green, melon pink or yellow.
Use nail decals, squishy stamps or tiny brushes to create different fruit.
Try stacking slices or tangy lemon wedges.
Paint cherries with red polish and add green stems.
Etch pineapple skin texture with a toothpick.
Seal the artwork with a shiny topcoat to look juicy.
10. Embossed Tips
Textured polish creates cool embossed effects.
Dip tips in mollusco gel, then quickly wipe the raised pattern before it dries.
Your nails will have futuristic dimension.
Start by painting nail tips with standard polish.
Next, use a small brush to paint on mollusco gel polish.
While still wet, blot gently with a plastic bag to create the imprint.
Work fast before it dries fully and don’t over-blur.
Build up layers for more intense texture.
Finish by sealing with regular topcoat.
11. Opal Swirls
Opalescent nail polish contains tiny iridescent pearls that reflect rainbow colors.
When layered over a black base, it creates a dazzling oil slick effect.
Start by painting nails black.
Apply 1-2 coats of opal polish, letting each dry between coats.
Gently swirl a small brush in the wet polish to create curves.
As it dries, the opal will shimmer with mesmerizing rainbows.
Less is more – resist adding too many swirls.
Finish with a fast-drying glossy topcoat to amplify the shine.
12. Minimalist Polka Dots
Tiny polka dots along the tips keep it simple and chic.
Use a dotting tool dipped in nude polish to stamp them on.
Start with a neutral base color like blush, beige or tan.
Paint just the tips with dots using a dotting tool or toothpick.
Keep them small, clean and minimized to the edges.
Try a single line of dots rather than scattering them.
Stick to a monochromatic color scheme for simplicity.
Finish with slick matte topcoat to tone down shine.
13. Bold Colorblocking
Make a graphic statement by painting half your nails one vivid color and the other half a contrasting bright.
Try coral and mint for summer.
Start by painting the base color straight across your nails.
Let dry completely before moving on.
Use striping tape to guide the second color on the opposite half.
Press it down firmly for clean lines.
Go for bold, complementary shades like orange and blue or purple and yellow.
The contrast makes them pop.
14. Metallic Accents
Add luxury with gold, rose gold or silver foil overlays.
They instantly glam up a plain mani.
Start with neutral nails in a color like pale pink or nude.
Cut metallic foil into small pieces that fit your nails.
Use nail glue to adhere them on top, pressing gently.
Try silver on the ring fingers or gold on the middles for subtle accent pop.
Finish with slick topcoat and avoid using your nails for an hour to set.
15. Matte Top Coats
Take shine down a notch with a matte topcoat.
The velvety finish makes colors more muted and chic.
Apply two thin coats of any polish color and let fully dry.
Finish with matte topcoat, allowing to dry between coats.
The flat finish looks best on deeper tones like blues, greens and burgundies.
Matte topcoats also help nail art details pop.
16. Minimalist Shapes
Sometimes less is more.
Paint different simple shapes on each nail like circles, lines or triangles in muted tones.
Start with a bare, neutral base.
Use a thin brush and minimal colors like black, white, nude or gray.
Paint on small shapes like circles, stripes, zigzags or dots.
Try just one per nail and vary the placement.
Finish with glossy topcoat for a polished effect.
17. Hidden Lines
Black graphic lines peeking out from underneath a sheer pink polish are so cool.
Try different abstract line designs on each nail.
Start by painting your nails with a sheer pink or nude polish.
Next, use a thin brush dipped in black polish to draw lines and shapes.
Try stripes, waves, triangles, squiggles or grids.
The pink base color will make them peek out subtly.
Outline shapes first, then fill in for boldness.
Finish with glossy topcoat to smooth.
18. Jewel-Embellished Tips
Take tips to the next level by gluing on mini jewels or pearls.
Perfect for weddings or special occasions.
Start by painting nails a neutral shade like pale pink or beige.
Next, use tweezers and nail glue to attach small gems or pearls on the tips.
Press them on firmly for 30 secs to adhere fully before releasing.
Try crystals, silver beads or mini gemstones for bling.
Seal them on with a layer of shiny topcoat.
19. Neon Lights
Electric neons instantly brighten any look.
Try pink, green, orange or yellow – the vibrancy makes a statement.
Start by applying a white base to make the neons really pop.
Paint on vivid neon shades like coral, lime, magenta or yellow.
Apply multiple thin coats to get them opaque.
For extra intensity, layer two neon colors.
Finish with glossy topcoat to intensify the glow.
With the right tools and inspiration, DIY nail art is fun and achievable for everyone.
Elevate your look by trying these trendy nail inspo ideas.
Show me your fresh mani pics!
20. Negative Space French Tips
Negative space French tips are an edgy take on the classic look.
Paint your tips with a sheer coat, leaving a gap in the middle for a modern accent.
Use striping tape to get straight lines on the French edges.
The negative space flash draws the eye.
21. Minimalist Cow Print
For subtle animal vibes, try abstract cow print nails.
Use a dotting tool to stamp on tiny black and white spots.
Keep it sparse and imperfect for an artistic look.
22. Rose Gold Foil
Apply rose gold foil on accent nails for an instant glam effect.
The warmth of the gold pairs beautifully with pink, nude and brown polish.
23. Tortoiseshell Nails
Recreate the trendy tortoiseshell pattern with layers of brown and gold polish.
Use a sponge to dab on and blend the colors in abstract shapes.
Finish with matte topcoat for a vintage vibe.
24. Minimalist Checks
Tiny black and white checks as an accent look chic and tailored.
Use striping tape to create precise lines and squares.
25. Patriotic Polka Dots
Celebrate summer with patriotic navy, red and white polka dot nails.
Layer the colors over a sheer background for a subtle effect.
26. Chunky Glitter Tips
Amp up your tips with fun chunks of glitter polish. The playful sparkles transition any look for summer.
27. Neon Checkerboard
Bold neon colors in a checkerboard pattern grab attention. Use striping tape to get straight lines between the electrifying shades.
28. Abstract Watercolor
Channel your inner artist with abstract watercolor designs. Use a damp brush to bleed and blend vivid polish colors.
29. Minimalist Crescent Moons
A simple crescent moon accent nail adds subtle flair. Outline in metallic silver over a dark base for night sky vibes.
30. Ombre Pink to White
An ombre fade from blush pink to white looks airy for spring. Use sponging techniques to blend the gradient smoothly.
31. Dried Flowers
Real dried flowers give a romantic touch. Glue tiny roses or baby’s breath onto nails with strong adhesive.
32. Queen of Hearts Nail Art
Recreate the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland with fun details like a crown and scepter accents.
33. Minimalist French Fade
For an edgy twist, fade your French tips from black to neutral. Use a makeup sponge to blend the ombre effect.
34. Chrome Nails
Mirror-like chrome polish acts like a liquid metal mirror on your nails. The futuristic finish steals the show.
35. Angled Colorblocking
Bold angled lines add drama to colorblocked nails. Use striping tape to create the geometric shapes.
With so many options, you’ll never get bored with your nails! Let these inspos spark new ideas for self-expression through nail art.
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