Summer is the perfect time to debut cute summer nails that complement the fun looks you’re planning to wear this season. Your nails can truly be the perfect finishing touch to any outfit, and summer is the ideal time to experiment with a different design or bright colors that you might not gravitate toward during other times of the year. Summer nail ideas are truly endless if you start searching for ideas!
If you’re anything like me, you might face a little bit of decision paralysis when you walk into the salon and are faced with rows and rows of color options (not to mention deciding what shape, and if you want any extras). To help narrow your search, I’ve rounded up 60 designs to serve as inspiration for your next nail appointment!
Summer Nail Ideas
1. Shades of Red
If you loved incorporating red into your looks this winter for a pop of color, you’ll love this first nail color that’s trending for the summer season. Shades of red are staying with us through summer, albeit with a slightly different take than the darker hues and rich burgundy tones that were everywhere this past fall and winter.
The red shades that are trending for this summer include brighter hues that lean more toward orange and coral, which result in a cheery shade to make your summer outfits (and your summer glow) pop. As I’m writing this I have OPI’s Cajun Shrimp on my own nails, which I think is a great embodiment of this trend.
2. Fruit
Speaking of bold colors, bold patterns are also trending for 2024 summer nail ideas. If you lean toward solid-colored clothing and like to make a statement by adding a pattern or design to your nails instead, try asking your nail artist about the possibility of adding a fruit theme for a fun nail design.
Mini strawberries, blueberries, watermelon, or tomatoes are all a fun way to incorporate a nod to the best season foods of the summer months.
Below you’ll see that there’s a lot of creativity your nail artist could have with incorporating these summer nail ideas into a design, whether it’s utilizing a French tip, a repetitive pattern, or a few nails to feature the colorful produce.
3. Florals
Floral designs are a classic choice that also happens to be trending this summer. There are a lot of ways that you can incorporate florals into your nail art, which makes them a versatile choice – the options are endless!
Whether you like to keep it simple or give your nail artist (or yourself) a challenge, there are a wide variety of choices when it comes to the floral patterns out there. You can also lean into bright colors, or stick to a more muted palette – or maybe just one bright accent color on a more neutral backdrop.
4. Chrome
If simple is your preference when it comes to nail art but you’re still looking to try out a nail trend for a fun summer look, chrome nails could be for you. This look is actually achieved with a chrome powder that typically is brushed over a base nail color, and then sealed with a top coat. The effect is a mirror-like finish and subtle shine on your nails.
You can choose to stick to a solid base coat of one color, mix multiple hues, or try a white base for a pearlized effect. If you’re just beginning your journey into more elaborate nail art, chrome nails can be a great place to start!
5. Kelly Green
Warm weather is the perfect excuse to try out fun, bold colors. Whether you’re painting your own nails or having them done by a professional, bright summer nails are fitting as they complement the fun tones and mood of summer itself!
Kelly green is another trending color that will help to bring out your summer glow, and will look great on every skin tone. Green nails are a fun departure from the more muted tones of winter, and are the perfect way to lean into spring and summer. Whether you like short nails or long nails, this shade will look great no matter what.
6. Bright Yellow
Just like pale or butter yellow is trending in fashion, so is it trending in nails as well! I think there’s a lot to be said about the correlation between the two, and this incorporation of the pretty yellow shade in summer nail ideas for 2024 supports that theory.
This is another perfect shade to help bring out any color you may get this summer (don’t forget your sunscreen though!). If you love light colors on your nails like white or pale pink, this could be a natural foray into something a bit brighter for summer.
7. Lemon and Lime
These next summer nail ideas are a great spin-off of one I mentioned earlier – the fruit trend. To be even more specific, citrus fruits! Lemon and limes are great symbols of summer (and the perfect additions to your favorite summer beverages).
Once again, you could have fun with a repetitive pattern here, play around with incorporating them in different ways on each nail, or even just take the essence of the fruit to use as inspiration. If you like the idea of citrus fruit nails but aren’t into patterns, try a solid lime green or lemon yellow instead.
8. Sheer Pink
If you prefer to stick to a classic nail look rather than follow trends, sheer pink is the best of both worlds. This look is a less opaque look that reveals the natural shape and tones of your nail beds underneath.
For those who prefer neutral nails, this is a great way to go. Your natural nail color still shines through, but the sheer color on top gives them a more polished look. If you still like to have something on your nails but are worried about them not complementing every outfit you wear, this could be a great solution for you.
9. Bubble Bath Nails
Speaking of pink shades, bubble bath nails are another look that is simultaneously classic and trending. This pale shade of pink complements almost any look. Plus, it’s not too far of a departure from your natural nail shade. If you prefer a more muted approach to your manicures, this is a great way to go rather than vibrant nail polishes.
There actually is a real shade called “Bubble Bath Pink” by OPI. This is a well-known shade across the Internet, and for good reason. It’s adored by everyone for the chic and classic look it provides. If you have a moment of panic when you’re at the salon, this is always a great choice!
10. Shades of Blue
Various shades of blue are also having a moment this summer. From sky blue to baby blue to a bold electric blue nail look, it’s a fun way to add a pop of color to your look. Plus, this a great color to tie into your patriotic looks this summer – from Memorial Day to the Fourth of July. I always tend to reach for my blue clothing pieces most in the summer, and so it’s fitting to have nails to match.
Another specific shade of blue you might want to try is cobalt. It’s another shade that’s flattering on all skin tones and is a brighter take on a navy shade while still being relatively neutral for a bright color.
11. Orange
Summer manicures are the perfect time to step out of your comfort zone to try a trendy color. For example, if you’ve never thought about trying orange before, you may find you love its cheeriness, and a great color if you’re heading somewhere tropical.
Nails are a great option to incorporate vibrant shades into your overall look if you prefer wearing more muted colors. Orange is also great to incorporate into fun designs, or can make a statement on solid nails as well.
12. Classic French Tips
Classic French tips are the perfect accessory to any outfit, all year long. If you prefer a more understated, classic look when it comes to manicures, you can never go wrong with classic French tips.
And if you want to stay up to date with the latest trends when it comes to shape, a nice almond shape is a great option. They’re the perfect summer nail ideas if you’d like to incorporate more color into your wardrobe for the warmer season. With classic French tips, you don’t have to worry about them clashing with any of your outfits.
13. Pastel Metallics
Pastel metallics are the perfect blend of edgy and soft. This look can be created by layering a chrome layer on top of your favorite color, or choosing a metallic shade in the color of your choice, such as a rose gold or metallic baby blue.
You may have heard the term “aura nails” as well. This technique includes a base color, layered with a blended-out second color in the center of your nails that is more concentrated in the middle of the nail. This could be an interesting trend to incorporate with pastel colors and a metallic sheen.
14. Aquatic Colors
Cool nail looks for summer don’t have to be complicated! In fact, sometimes simple is best when it comes to eye-catching looks for the season. One way to choose a festive summer manicure is to emulate the best parts of summer.
For many, that may be the beach! Sky blue, white wavy designs, or light pink coral are perfect examples of ways that you can bring summer to your nails with simple design and color choices.
15. Colorful Micro French Tips
Speaking of classic French tips, there’s a trend you might like if you’ve thought about mixing things up. If you love the look that French tips give your nails but want to incorporate some form of color, consider trying a different color for the tip instead of the base part of your nail.
It’s an easy but effective way to try out different colors on a smaller scale – you could even try multiple different colors, a different one for each nail. I’ve seen these done in pastel tones, neon shades, or even gradient tones of one color.
Nail Shapes
Beyond just trendy nail designs, you may also wish to try out some of the trending nail shapes in 2024.
Almond – Almond nails feature tapered sides and a rounded tip. They create the appearance of longer fingers and lend to a more feminine look.
Deep Square – Deep square nails feature a flat edge and an elegant, elongated shape.
Natural – Embracing your short, natural nail shape is not only trending, but also is a healthy, cost-effective solution to have your nails done in a classic way.
Oval – Oval nails are a slightly softer shape than almond, but feature a similar rounded silhouette. They can make your nails look longer, and can suit a variety of nail lengths, but they look best on medium-to-long nails.
Holiday Nails
Summer holidays are the perfect time to try out playful designs on your nails.
Patriotic
Celebrate the Fourth with patriotic nail ideas. If you prefer a neutral base, try a subtle star pattern to add a bit of shine. If you love to go all out with vibrant colors, embrace bright colorful nails with a red, white, and blue pattern. They will be sure to complement your Memorial Day or Fourth of July looks.
Nail Your Look This Summer
Summer is the perfect time to play around with new styles and colors for the season. Whether you’re looking to try out a different shape, color, or design, your summer vacations, holidays and wedding season are all great occasions to get your nails done by a professional and get out of your comfort zone. Hopefully one of the ideas above gave you some inspiration to prep you for your next appointment!
Looking to splurge on new nails this summer and save elsewhere? Up Next: 27 Cheap Things to Do in Summer That Won’t Sacrifice Fun
