Summer finally seems to be on the horizon — in fact, it’s so close that we can practically taste refreshing lemonade. But before we dust off our sandals, load up on SPF, and declare it yet another hot girl summer, we’re starting with the easiest summer upgrade to enjoy right now: nail polish. The upcoming summer nail trends truly have something for everyone, each of this summer’s nail shades will undoubtedly add a welcome dose of sunshine to our manicures. If you want to add a nail design to your summer manicure, you’ve come to the right place.
We rounded up 5 of the coolest summer nail designs to consider for your next mani, courtesy of Tip and Toe Nail Club
Metallic Nails
Want to be the center of attention? Metallic Nail Polishes are the way to go! Metallic Nail Polishes are smooth application polishes. They have the perfect chrome finish for those picture-perfect Instagram-worthy nails! These are some of the most eye-catching and eye-catching nail polishes of all time. This style is ultra-high-shine and reflects light and is the perfect choice for a high-impact look.
French Manicure Nails
The French manicure is a classic for a reason. It’s a simple neutral that can go with anything and offers a clean look for all occasions, formal or not. Many might reminisce on the good memories of French manicures and the elegance it gave to some who wore them. You might be picturing stylish mother, Elizabeth James, in the 1988 movie Parent Trap who sported a subtle French manicure. Others, however, might be sadly taken back to lesser-beloved versions of the French manicure that led to it being dubbed “dated.” Imagine thickly painted, bright-white, squared tips on top of a candy-pink base coat.
Aura Nails
Aura nails are meant to reflect the aura of the wearer. Choosing colors that resonate with you and what you’re currently feeling is the simplest way to pick a color-ways for your set unless you can sense auras yourself…or find someone who can! Using blooming gel or an airbrush, the cloudy, gradient ‘aura’ look is achieved. While not every nail tech has an airbrush, most do keep blooming gel in the artillery, and it works quite well. While a plain set of aura nails looks beautiful and ornate on its own, the aura idea also makes a good base canvas for finer, more intricate art. Keep it plain and simple with your choice of gradients, or go bold and add some art to your set, too.
Cayete Nails
This fall, the cat eye flick is breaking out of its liquid liner paradigm and landing directly on your nails. A new nail trend, nicknamed “cat eye nails, is making the rounds on Instagram. The look involves a diagonal line drawn directly through the middle of your nail, and much like actual cat eyes, the lines vary. Some are straight, some are wonky, some are thick, some are thin. Most of the versions we’ve seen use a metallic stripe to create a luminous design, but you can create this look with any two nail shades. Also much like actual cat eyes, this trend is harder to recreate than it looks. After painting on a base coat, use metallic nail polish to create the diagonal stripe. According to PopSugar, the key to making your nails look like cat eyes is moving the metallic pigments on your nail bed in your desired direction using a small magnet. Depending on how you point the magnet, the shape of the metallic polish will change.
Pastel Nails
Pastel nails may bring to mind country club sweaters and Easter egg hunts, but they don’t have to be so predictable. Pale pink will always be a classic, of course. There’s a reason Ballet Slippers is one of the top-selling shades of all time. But there are also plenty of unexpected twists to try now: Think creamy lilacs, offbeat greens, and sky blues. And paired with trendy nail art like checkers and French tips or elongated acrylics, pastels feel fresher than ever. They’re also the perfect contrast to all the black sweaters we’ll be wearing until spring gets going. More of a classic kind of gal, No worries pastels have you covered as well. Try a ballerina pink or almost-nude peach. No matter what your vibe, we rounded up the best pastel nails to try from now until well through the fall.