Get Ready to Sizzle: Discover the Hottest Summer Nail Trends

Ready to go into summer with style? How else can you express the fiery energy of the season than through your summer nails on fire? Vibrant nails are not just a trend – they are a statement, from Hawaii’s beaches to Europe’s posh streets. If you want something simple but elegant or if You want something that is bold and artistic, this guide is for you too. However, what colours are currently hot and which shapes have characterized 2024’s trends? Well let us explore and get that inspo for your next manicure.

Embracing the French Tip with a Twist

The undeniable beauty of short gel nails, the French tip design with pink and white hints and countless other words keep on playing around. To me, as a professional nail technician this is my summer style which to me will never go out of style.

• Consumables: high quality light pink gel polish, pure white gel polish and a UV top coat for a shiny finishing touch.
• Professional Recommendations: Gelish or OPI are the brands I choose for their strength and bold colors.

For one to achieve this look at home, one needs to be very precise. Start at a clean buffed nail, apply your pink base then cure it gently paint your white tip followed by another curing session. The result is a perfect summer nail type—cool and low-key.

Bright Colors and Summer Designs

Flaunting your stuff on the beach? You won’t get far without vibrant, beachy toenails. The colors of the season for toenails beach are all about making a statement with vivid shades that reflect the summer sky and sea.

• Stuff to get: Marine blue and sandy beige polishes from a summer collection, durable topcoat for longevity.
• Pro Tips: A glossy topcoat from a brand like Sally Hansen ensures your polish stays pristine through beach outings and beyond.

To pull off this look, start with a base coat, add two layers of your chosen polish, and seal with a glossy topcoat. Your toes will be as stunning as the seaside itself.

Bold Patterns and Shapes

Acrylic art designs in this season are a demonstration of bravery and innovativeness. A mixture of colors, patterns, and shapes can give rise to statement nails that are perfect for trendsetters. This vibrant versus pastel color scheme makes for an intriguing contrast making them a priority among the brave ones.

• Consumables: An acrylic nail set, various brands of polish colors that will fit your palette perfectly, brushes with accurate tips for your details.
• Professional Recommendations: Mia Secret has high-quality acrylics which make all the difference in terms of how long your nails would last as well as their appearance.

Achieving this at home is an art in itself. Form acrylic into desired shape and let it settle before you start getting creative with design by layering each pattern so that every layer dries thoroughly.

Floral Fantasy: A Blossom of Blues

Into a fantastic floral dream, we have discovered an astonishing drawing that combines the conventional elegance of nail art and the modern freshness of summer. A natural nail bed is adorned with cobalt and azure petals, representing a vibrant youthful feel like a day by the seaside.

• Materials: sheer nude polish as base coat, cobalt blue and white colors for flowers, doting tool and small brush for fine details.
• Professional Recommendations: Opt for long-lasting products such as OPI Infinite Shine to keep your flowering nails fresh throughout.

In case you would like to perform it yourself start with a base coat of sheer nude. As soon as it is dry make petal outlines using a thin brush then fill them in with blue while adding some subtle highlights using white color. To complete apply glossy top coat which will protect your pattern from damage and add shine of summer.

Garden of Serenity: Soft Pastel Blossoms

This garden is less green and more colorful; the nails here are painted with soft, watercolor-like flowers. A trendy summer look that’ll likely be seen all season long! With a color scheme of pastel pinks, lavenders and greens this creation captures the essence of beauty.

• Consumables: Soft colored gel polishes, a fine brush for intricate petal work, and a matte top coat to finish it off.
• Professional Recommendations: CND Shellac’s pastels are perfect for creating this design due to their creamy consistency.

To do this at home start with a clear base coat then use a small sponge or dabber to stipple on your pastel shades in order to form the flowers. Use a super fine brush for any details you want to add then finish off with applying that matte top coat for an elegant and soft effect.

Turquoise Tranquility: Calm Waters and Leopard Spots

Just imagine the calmness of cerulean waters and the rowdiness of cheetah’s hide. What about a pop of tropical, cool colors summer trend meets animal print in this design? Just for that Hawaiian vacation or any other day out there.

• Eatables: A gel polish in Blue green for the base and Peach and Black ones to make spots with top coat to give it a wet appearance.
• Professional Recommendations: For their vibrancy and longevity, Gelish polishes are preferable.

To get this effect; start by covering your nails with turquoise paint then let it dry or cure. Then create irregular, small dots in peach (partially outlining them in black) using a dotting tool, before sealing with a topcoat for added luster.

Zebra Chic: Monochrome Elegance

No more black and white traditional. This design is a reinterpretation of the monotonic trend, with brave zebra prints that shout I am confident. Ideal for those who want to be bold with their nail designs.

• Materials: White gel polish, black gel polish, striping brush for precise lines and strong glossy topcoat
• Recommendations from Professionals: I find that using a gel system like Bio Seaweed Gel ensures crisp lines that don’t bleed.

Start by applying white gel polish on your nails at home followed by curing it before drawing zebra stripes using a striping brush. Never forget to enjoy yourself; plus jagged edges make this look even more admirable!

Sparkling Simplicity: Glitter French Tips

Simple and sparkling, these French tips are really something. The traditional manicure is given a twist with the addition of a glittery border that’s sure to catch your eye.

• Materials: a nude base polish, fine silver glitter, and clear nail polish for mixing.
• Professional recommendations: use any fine glitter from Martha Stewart Crafts mixed with Seche Vite clear polish for an even sparkle.

To get this beachy look at home, you’ll want to first apply your nude base color. Once it dries, mix the glitter of your choice with the clear nail polish. Apply carefully along the tips and you’ve got yourself a beautiful set of sandy nails.

Olive Elegance: Nature-Inspired Accents

It’s all about the details with this olive design. The delicate metallic effects combined with earth colors give the nail art that sophisticated, summer feel.

• Materials needed: Nude polish base, gold metallic polish and olive green as well as a fine brush for intricate designs.
• Professional Suggestions: Essie’s Ballet Slippers is an ideal starting point for the base while OPI’s Olive for Green and Orly’s Luxe can be used for the golden and green areas respectively.

To copy this look at home, start with a nude base color and then get a hold of some olive tree stencil. The final touch will be added by small gold dots making it appear luxurious. It’s such simple but the ends are nothing less than inspo coffin chic.

Dazzling Dimensions: Glitter and Vivid Hues

Juxtaposing matte and shimmer makes an attractive design. This design uses sparkling accents to create form against the bright backdrop of vibrant magenta, revealing one of the latest fashionable nail designs for those who are ready to shine.

• Materials: Matte magenta polish, gold glitter accents and adhesive for applying the glitter pieces.
• Professional Suggestions: As far as gold glitter is concerned, I will go with Swarovski crystals for their unique shine and OPI’s matte polishes are amazing as well.

To do this at home apply two coats of the matte polish. Then you can strategically place those gold shiny things where you want them to be seen. It speaks volumes with a simple but bold statement that reflects the mood of Europe’s most trendy hangouts.

Starry Sophistication: Purple Glitter Tips

Sophisticated and playful. The clear base reveals the natural beauty of the nail beneath with the purple glitter tips being a fun splash of color, perfect for daydreaming and beach nights.

• Used: Clear base coat, Purple Glitter, Star shaped Decals, Durable top coat
• Pro Recommendation: Essie’s gel couture clear base with a no-chip top will keep your nails going even during sandy vacations.

For DIY, start with clear base then dip just the edge in purple glitter. Wait for it to set before adding the star decals. Seal it all together with a top coat and your look is ready for any summer party.

Candy Clouds: Pastel Pops and Gemstone Clusters

In this playful design, what the inner child needs is nothing short of pastel clouds and gemstone clusters. It’s a distinctive whimsical approach to nail art that combines trendy and conventional aspects in order to achieve an unusual result.

• Consumables: Pastel polishes, different gemstones, and shiny top coat for sealing it in.
• Professional Recommendations: Quick drying times and vibrant color choices are provided by Sally Hansen’s Insta-Dri line for pastel polishes. The gemstones used should have flat backs which make the application process easier and give a smoother finish.

Do your pastel base, then when it is dry but still sticky use tweezers to arrange jewels in cloud-like shape. To preserve your design and add more summer magic on that, apply a glossy top coat at the end.

Ocean's Whisper: Sea-Inspired Elegance

This set is an amalgamation of nail artistry and the grandeur of the ocean, with its trendy long stiletto nails screaming style and excellent workmanship. There are different designs on it ranging from oceans prints to chrome that reflects like materials which can be found deep in the sea and are ideal for those who love bold statement accessories.

• Consumables: Assortment of blue polishes, chrome powder, glue on tabs for nail tips and patterns for accurate designs.
• Professional Recommendations: Specially designed chrome powders and marine stencils will make all details more intricate

Switch between your blue polishes while applying the base coat to each nail. Make use of stencils when you want detailed patterns and add a metallic shine by rubbing chrome powder with a sponge applicator

Soft Geometry: Pastel Tones and Gold Flakes

Indulge in the gentle side of summer styles with this geometric design: combining dull pastels and the luxuriousness of gold leaf. It’s a simple yet sophisticated look that can be perfect for casual days or beach vacations.

• Materials: Dull pink polish, white polish to make geometric shapes, and gold leaf flakes.
• Experts say: Choose a pastel with good opacity so it doesn’t streak, and thin gold leaves that can adhere flatly to the nail surface.

Start off with a light pink base, then use white polish to paint on geometric patterns. Next you’ll want to add in random or structured patterns of the gold leaf flakes and seal it all together by using a top coat.

Tortoiseshell Tips: Modern Take on a Classic

There is a modern twist to the classic tortoiseshell pattern introduced in the nail art scene. This design is made up of blazing orange and black colors that are finished with a glossy shine, making it quite lively and cool for any summer affair.

• Materials: Amber and black polishes, a clear polish for blending, and a glossy top coat.
• Experts’ advice: For an authentic effect of tortoise shell use semi-transparent amber polish or apply black using sponge for blurry look.

Begin by applying amber polish as a base on your nails. Then use a wet sponge to add the black polish that will give you the tortoise shell effect. Finally put some high-gloss top coat over it so as to make them stand out in their color.

Summer Sorbet: Fruity Flair and Floral Whimsy

This design is a delightful mixture of the best things summer has to offer. The nails are decorated with flowers and fruits, which indicate that the artists were inspired by fun compositions for the current period of time. These ideas are cool because they are both flashy and amusing.

• Materials: Diverse pastel lacquers, nail art brushes with fine tips and decoration stones or rhinestones.
• Professional Recommendations: For pastels from Essie and crystals from Swarovski to add glamour.

If you prefer to make your own at home, apply a coat of pastel shade as a base and let it dry. Next, draw on designs yourself or simply stick on decals. Lastly add any 3-D effects and seal with top coat for long lasting vibrant look.

Olive and Botanics: Earthy Elegance

Embrace the revolution of earthly tones, and let its olive-inspired palette transport you. As muted greens shimmer across your nails, hints of botanicals may guide your way. This look pairs both together, making it perfect for any nature-loving fashionista.

• Materials: Olive green polish, nude polish, fine-detail brushes, matte top coat
• Professional Recommendations: Choose high-pigment shades like OPI for the paint and a steady hand to bring the intricate designs to life.

To recreate this look: Alternating between shades of olive and nude, build up a base layer on each nail. With your fine brush in hand, gently apply the botanical designs and then finish everything off with a matte top coat to preserve this beautifully understated result.

Celestial Seas: Mystical Depths and Golden Shores

Taking inspiration from the secret sea and the golden beaches that shine, this nail art design is perfect for a mermaid look. Deep blue and shimmering iridescent greens paired with gold accents serve as an apt representation of the mystical and luxury aspect in trendy summer nights.

• Deep Blue Polish, Iridescent Green, Gold Foil, Glossy Top Coat are required to produce a shiny effect.
• Professional advice: If you want foil nails that stay for long and have vibrant colors, use gel polishes.

Start by applying deep blue polish. While the polish is still wet but sticky to touch, add small pieces of gold foil quickly. To make it look like a moonlit ocean; use an iridescent polish.

Pink Serenity: Minimalism Meets Sparkle

A soft touch of pink combined with subtle embellishments, gives a simple and charming appearance. This design demonstrates that less can be more when it comes to minimalist tendencies, with diminutive gems just brightening up.

• Necessities: Baby pink gel polish, tiny rhinestones or crystals and an adhesive that adheres well.
• Expert Advice: A soft pink Essie Gel Couture gel polish will serve as chip-free undercoat for long-lasting effect while the Swarovski crystals give the most luxurious brilliance.

Paint on your base pink, cure it and then put every small piece in place using tweezers and some glue. Top off with clear nail polish to ensure it holds firmly as well as giving it a perfect look.

Crimson Edge: Boldness with a Touch of Sparkle

A flaming crimson that screams out for your attention. This look will give off the impact it intends to with its mixture of fiery colors and vibrant sparkles. It’s meant for those who aren’t afraid to make a statement.

• Supplies: One bottle of matte red nail polish, some silver glitter, and some detail brushes or striping tape
• Recommendations given by professionals: OPI’s Matte Top Coat can transform any glossy polish into something more velvet-like

First paint your nails with the matte red polish. Once that's dry, take some striping tape and section off where you want the glitter to go. Apply some adhesive in that area and then sprinkle on the silver glitter for a precise, striking line.

Wild Accents: Unleash Your Inner Predator

To channel the wild, this is a sophisticated version of a trendy animal print. It’s a timeless example of wearable art where classic leopard spots against nude bases bring an exotic tinge to any look.

• Nude polish, black and brown polishes for the spots and a fine tip brush are some of the consumables that are used while doing this.
• Professional Recommendations: For the base, choose a polish like OPI’s Bubble Bath for a natural appearance, and use a fine-tip brush for the intricate spots.

Start with nude base. Once dry, use your finetip brush to make uneven brown spots and “C” shapes; then around them add black accents. Seal it all off with top coat to preserve one’s inner beast beauty or something like that.

Lustrous Frost: Sleek and Chic

Epitomizing sleek elegance these nails have a white French tip with a unique frosted finish. This design is both classic yet modern, and offers something new to an age old style.

• Frosted white polish, glossy nude base, and fine striping tape are some of the consumables required.
• Essie’s matte top coat over a glossy nude polish will help to achieve that frosted look thus maintaining sophistication as well as permanence according to professional suggestions.

First apply the glossy nude base, let it dry then use the striping tape for creating your perfect French tip. Then smear on the frosted white polish, remove the tape and voila—a stunning look ready for any occasion.

Oceanic Dreams: Under the Sea Adventure

Dive into the depths with these blue nails. This design captures the essence of underwater moments with its varying shades and aquatic plant life accents, in a mesmerizing look that mirrors the movement of the sea.

• Consumables: A range of blue polishes, sheer polish for overlay, nail art brushes, and white polish for details.
• Professional Recommendations: Pick up a palette of blues from OPI’s collection to get the depth needed, while their sheer top coat gives an underwater effect!

Layer different shades of blue to mimic gradients in water. Add plant designs with a fine brush, overlay them with sheer polish, and finish things off with a glossy top coat!

Flaming Passion: Ignite Your Look

These nails are burning with a design as hot as the summer sun. The lively stream of red, orange and yellow colors are reminiscent of flickering flames; making it an outrageous statement.

• Items: Red, orange and yellow gel polishes, black polish for accenting & detail brush for the flame design.
• Expert Advice: High pigment gel polishes will give you that intense, fiery look; I prefer brands such as Gelish or CND for their wide range of colours and long-lasting formulas.

First paint the base black to create contrast then lose hand-paint the flames using color in layers to build up a gradient effect. Finally, add glossy top coat to give off sizzling shine.

Tortoiseshell Elegance: A Walk on the Wild Side

These tortoiseshell patterned nails are elegantly timeless but with a modern twist. They have the traditional charm of a tortoise shell combined with golden trinkets to make luxurious accentuating your style.

• Consumables: The tortoiseshell designs can be achieved using brown and black polishes, gold foils for the embellishments and a high-gloss finish.
• Professional Recommendations: Gold leaf accents should be added into semi-transparent polishes while trying to achieve the tortoiseshell look.

Layer it up by applying both your brown and black polishes using a sponge for an effect that resembles mottling. Apply gold foil randomly on top of these for that luxurious touch then clear top coat to give you that glossy lasting manicure.

FAQ

• What's the key to a smooth blend in flame nail art?

Dab and smear the colors onto the nail with a sponge for a perfect gradient. Start with the lightest color and work your way up to the darkest. Let each layer have time to dry so they don’t mix together.

• How do you get that tortoiseshell pattern on nails?

Start with a base coat, and then add layers of translucent brown and amber shades. With a thin brush, paint uneven black spots, their edges blending slightly at times. Use depth in your final product by adding top coats.

• Can I use aluminum foil for gold accents in nail art?

Nail art foil is thinner and sticks better than regular old tin foil does, so it’s best to stay away from that here. When working on something this dainty, you need all the help you can get!

• Any tips for avoiding chips in nail art?

You can’t ever escape chips entirely, but following these steps will definitely put them off longer: Buff nails clean, push back cuticles, apply base coat. After applying your design Top it off with another top coat every few days so it’ll last.

• Are there any tips for maintaining nail art on natural nails?

Yes! Keep them hydrated often using cuticle oil or similar products that moisturize and strengthen- Avoid harsh chemicals without gloves as well as wear gloves when doing dishes or cleaning. Don't forget: File nails in one direction only because splitting can occur which will ruin your flawless artwork.

• Is gel necessary for nail art?

Not at all! Gel polish will make things last longer though if that’s what you’re into. Regular polish works just as well — just be sure to let each layer of polish very much dry before moving onto the next.

• How can I remove gel polish without damaging my own nails?

Lightly buff out any shine from the top coat layer first before proceeding to soak cotton balls in acetone. Place the cotton on your nails, wrap it with foil and let ‘em sit for around 15 minutes. Be gentle and avoid picking or scraping away at the polish. It should easily slide off from there!