Summer is starting to show up, bringing sunny days, long weekends and lots of sandals. I think the best thing about a change in seasons is getting the chance to update your nail art. This year, you’ll see Juicy Watermelon Nails featured on Pinterest and on the menus of many salons. If you like your nails simple and short or fancy and long, you’ll find something to love about this summer.
Not only are watermelon nails popular, but they’re also fun, refreshing and can be worn in many different ways. If you want to make a statement, use neon red and green or if you’d rather be subtle, try pastel colors and pink polish. Ready to find your next mani crush? Let’s look at the different art design ideas you should book your next appointment for as soon as you can.
Classic Watermelon Rind Meets Glossy Realness
It’s very satisfying to see a watermelon design that actually looks like a watermelon and this one is so clean. It’s amazing how you can see the bright red flesh, black seeds and green rind, all separated by a white line. It is fresh and vivid, just like fruit you’ve just sliced in your own backyard. Its almond shape makes it look feminine, but it’s not too eye-catching.
To get this gel manicure just right, I’d use OPI’s “Big Apple Red” for the watermelon base and “I’m Sooo Swamped!” for the rind green. You’ll need a high-gloss top coat (like Seche Vite or Essie’s Gel Couture) to bring out the 3D shine. Black seed shapes can be made easier with a dotting tool or a very fine brush.
Creating this at home? After your nail bed is ready, paint two-thirds of it with red polish. After drying, use the white strip, then the green tip. The seeds are the final flourish. Trust me, patience makes all the difference. According to celeb manicurist Naomi Yasuda, the secret is in the finer parts of the design. When it’s small, it still speaks big.”
I actually wore this outfit to a Fourth of July barbecue last year and three people I didn’t know complimented me as I was holding a popsicle. I don’t know what counts as summer inspo if this isn’t it.
Pop Princess Pastel with a Hint of Fruit
How does neon yellow and cotton-candy pink look when they’re combined with a touch of art? You get this dreamy, high-energy take on watermelon nails. What really catches my eye is the accent nail which has a pinkish-nude base and black and silver “seeds” on a curved melon shape. It’s whimsical and very “girl on the go,” but make it editorial.
If you want a finish that won’t easily chip, use gel polish with this cute combo. You can find similar colors to Orly’s “Lemonade” and Zoya’s “Confetti.” Using a fine glitter topcoat or single flecks from nail art kits is the best way to use tiny art acrylic glitter seeds. Those curves look clean and sharp when you use a good nail brush.
If you’re using press-ons, you can just buff, stick them on and you’re ready to go. The best part? You don’t need perfect symmetry. This art is all about that imperfect, fresh-picked vibe.
It’s a set that’s perfect for hanging out with your friends on a rooftop or just to brighten your Monday. No matter what, it offers a little more with a friendly touch and I’m totally hooked.
Fresh French With a Summer Twist
I’m always happy to see a French manicure come back and this one does it perfectly. The fun part is that it’s a twist on a classic salon look: soft pink base, white tips and one nail styled like a half-cut piece of watermelon. It’s not too flashy, but it really stands out, thanks to the squoval nail shape.
It’s a good idea to begin with a polish like “Watermelon” by Essie or “Flamingo Feather” by Londontown. After that, place your white and green polish on the accent nail. If you’re going DIY, use French tip guides to keep those lines neat—and don’t forget a silicone cleanup tool dipped in remover for crisp edges.
If you want a fun style that isn’t too bold, this is the look for you. For me, it’s the weekend manicure you can still wear to the office when you’re on a Zoom call.
Pro tip? Just apply a matte top coat to the watermelon nail to create a different texture. It gives the design a bit of extra color, just like a watermelon popsicle on a hot day.
Minimalist Bold With High Contrast
Here’s a way to look confident with very little effort. This look is done by putting bright green polish and soft pink slices together. A little bit of 3D is created by the rind lines and shiny drops of the seeds and I enjoy the way the square shape looks modern and stylish.
It’s actually quite easy to make this acrylic or gel design. Rich and pigmented lacquers are best, so choose Olive & June “Grinch Green” and Lights Lacquer “Cherry Jelly.” You’ll find it helpful to have a precision striping brush for the rind.
I find this is great for summer evenings or events like festivals, because it’s youthful but not silly. Just don’t forget the SPF on your hands. Manicures this cute deserve to stay vibrant all season.
Last year, I tried something like this and it always made me smile when I saw myself. And that’s the goal, right?
Cherry Bomb Meets Watermelon Babe
Bold red, glassy shine, and floating watermelon slices? It’s the opposite of minimalism in many ways. I’m referring to full art design, where you add little floating fruit pieces onto your clear nails. It’s fun, flirty, and made to be noticed.
You’ll want to start with a nude or clear base (try Aprés Gel-X or The GelBottle Inc’s BIAB). Then layer on stickers, decals, or hand-painted watermelon slices. Make sure to put on two layers of a high-gloss top coat to get that nice glassy effect.
These are giving main character energy. Whether you’re at a pool party, on a date or just going to Target, you’ll make a statement with these.
You’ll find that sometimes you want a nail polish that feels as smooth as a cocktail. These? They’re the watermelon margarita of 2025.
Barbiecore Meets Melon Dream
Talk about a juicy collision of trends. Here, the acrylic is high-shine and neon pink and the two middle nails are completely covered with slice-perfect watermelon designs. It’s giving vacation in Miami, but also cute enough for brunch on your best friend’s rooftop. With the clear base, the melon manicure looks like the fruit is just hanging in a soft, bubbly drink.
To recreate this gel look, go for Kiara Sky’s “Pink Passport” for that head-turning pink, and use a nail decal set for the watermelons (Daily Charme has adorable fruit ones). Don’t forget the finishing touch of Bio Seaweed’s “Clear Builder” to get the glassy effect.
For me, this style is a mood, especially if you’re trying out dopamine dressing this season. It’s full of energy, it’s beautiful and it screams the best of 2025 summer vibes.
Micro Melon French Tips
Now this one? She’s the understated queen of the bunch. The look is easy to achieve by painting short, rounded nails with a soft melon French tip. It’s the perfect combination of red-pink flesh, green skin and tiny black seeds. Minimalist, yes—but with maximum seasonal impact.
All you have to do is pick up Lights Lacquer “Juicy,” Essie’s “Off Tropic,” and Sally Hansen’s “White On” for this look. Paint the melon curve at the tips with a fine nail brush and use a pin or dotting tool to put on the seeds. If you would like to make your nails look modern, use a matte top coat.
I wore this last summer on a business trip to LA and it seemed like I had my own mini party with me, thanks to the fun artwork.
Watermelon Sorbet Ombré
This is what a gelato cone’s nail alter ego would look like. The softest art easy design shows this colour blend moving from coral-pink to leafy green. The shape of the eyes makes them more elegant and the change of color creates a nice sorbet effect. It’s not literal, but still so clearly watermelon-coded.
I find that using a sponge method works best when applying Olive & June’s “Grateful & Green” and “Sweet & Gracious.” Use both polishes on a makeup sponge, touch the nail and blend until you like the fade. Two rounds usually do it. After everything is dry, seal the nails with a jelly top coat.
You’ll want to try this one in late summer, when the weather is warm and your outfits are lighter and your nails should reflect your easygoing mood. Low maintenance, high reward.
Watermelon Pop Art With a Twist
If you’re looking for something different with your fruit, this nail art is for you. Black seeds on hot pink, with a white outline to make it 3D and a single black nail with big polka dots give this design a fashion magazine look, not a farmer’s market one. I live for the creativity here.
You can duplicate this with Beetles “Flamingo Pink” and basic black and white gels. Dotting tools help you apply polish evenly, so use them and make sure every layer is cured if you are using gel polish. Don’t rush this—each seed and line matters.
People will often stop you just to ask about the look you get with this acrylic. If you’re bold, creative, and just want something that screams “I’m here for a good time,” go ahead and book this now.
Glossy Summer Melon Perfection
If you’re after a classic manicure that’s both stylish and polished, this gel manicure gives you watermelon with crisp seed details and a summer color scheme. The oval shape ensures elegance and the gradient on the ends makes the look more soft.
You can use “Strawberry Margarita” polish from Gelish, as well as “Green With Envy” from Sinful Colors. Start by outlining the white part of the rind and then the green part, to make sure the art stays clear. Finish off with a really glossy topcoat such as Gellux Clear Shine, to make sure the shine stays put.
If you’re getting married, going on a summer trip or just want your nails to look both fruity and formal, I’d suggest this. Add a pinky blush or a watermelon-scented hand cream and the whole look is complete.
Sweet & Striking Half-Moon Melons
It combines structure with an enjoyable experience. The color moves between a deep watermelon red and nails with layered pink, white and green arches—just like a simple slice of melon. What I like most is that the art follows the shape of the nail, giving it a chic half-moon look and keeping the summer fun.
You’ll need a bright red nail polish such as “Forever Yummy” by Essie and a soft pink base, like “Ballet Slippers.” Section the rinds off with striping tape and paint the white stripes before the green ones. If you’re using gel, cure every layer with an LED lamp to get a glossy finish.
If you’re looking for an easy summer wedding mani or a classy everyday option, I’d recommend this look. It’s still sweet, but not too sweet and the art design is just enough to make a subtle impression.
Soft Pink Base with One Bold Bite
Let’s talk subtle glam. This set gives a light blush color to most nails, but adds a watermelon design to the ring finger to make it stand out. What makes it special is the pink color, the smooth rind and the large, curved black seeds—it looks good on almonds and is quite addictive to look at.
This pair of polish colors looks great on every skin tone. Try making the base with “Coconuts Over OPI” and the melon with “Pink Pompadour.” Apply the black polish with a dotting pen and use a fine brush for the rind.
It’s a type of nail art that can be both dressy or playful. I took this on a city weekend and found that it was like carrying around a tiny fruit sticker everywhere.
Pastel Matte Watermelon Fields
Here’s where art acrylic gets dreamy. A pink-peach base is the base and then the center nails are decorated with full-sized painted watermelon slices. The seeds, slightly bent rind and matte look make it seem like a painting you’d find in a gallery.
If you want a matte finish, use matte polishes or put a matte topcoat over glossy paint. My go-to? Zoya’s MatteVelvet Top Coat. You should use brushes that give you control and apply polishes like “Tulip” by ILNP and “Leaf Me Be” by Lights Lacquer. Make sure your strokes are neat and in control to get the best summer design.
It makes me think of a beach picture Hailey Bieber would share, with a classic style and a hint of cool-girl art.
Lime Bright and Pretty in Pink
It’s giving Skittles, but in the chicest way. The set is made up of lime green and bubblegum pink, with a pattern of stylized seeds on top. It’s bold, it’s youthful, and very 2025 forward. To be honest, Barbie would wear these nails if she took a summer vacation to the tropics.
You can get those juicy tones with ORLY’s “Glowstick” and OPI’s “Tutti Frutti Tonga.” Because the shape of these nails is so nice, I suggest going for sculpted square tips or press-ons if you’re in a hurry.
If you’re looking for something shy, this isn’t it—it’s sure to be noticed. Pool parties, rooftop cocktails, or even girls’ night in? Instant conversation starter.
Gradient Rind to Tip Realness
To finish, we’ve got this 3D, ombré watermelon-inspired set which brings summer fun to life. The flower starts out as pale pink, turns to hot fuchsia and ends with green tips, all covered in glossy black seeds. This is what nail dreams are made of.
Blend “Pink Bikini” by China Glaze and “Green With Envy” by Revlon by using a nail sponge. Dot black polish on the nails with a dotting pen and finish by covering them with a high-gloss or twinkling top coat.
This look is bold and artful—and screams trendsetter. Tom Bachik, a nail pro, believes ombré is the perfect way to try out new colours without making your nails too serious and I think he’s right.
Glossy Almond Watermelon Blends
There’s a special, cool quality about this eye shape — it’s like the first taste of chilled watermelon on a hot August day. It’s both adorable and lovely, using a peach base and a bold art design of pink, black and green watermelon slices. I like that the polish color moves from a nude to a red tone and the pointed shape keeps the look both fancy and fun. It’s perfect for summer and looks just like a designer beach bag on your nails.
If you want to get the acrylic look, use OPI Infinite Shine in ‘Samoan Sand’ as your base and apply Gelish’s Pop-arazzi Pose as your neon pink top coat. Draw the small dots with a pointer brush and outline the rind with a thin brush that’s been dipped in mint green and white. A good way to keep your nails shiny is with a top coat.
According to nail artist Betina Goldstein in Allure, both shape and color are key to making a fun nail design look mature which is definitely the case here. You might decide on matte, but this much shine? It hits different.
I’ve worn something similar to a BBQ last July and people are still asking about it. It’s a feminine color, but it looks surprisingly neutral when matched with gold rings or peachy makeup. Trust me — you’ll want this one on repeat.
Square-Tipped French with a Fruity Pop
This version takes the basic French manicure and adds a pop of fun by making just one nail stand out. The bright pink base is fun, but not too much and the watermelon slice gives the design a unique 3D touch that fits both art and design in summer. Because it’s a short square, this style is perfect for anyone who wants a natural length and some playfulness.
If you’d rather not do it yourself, Olive & June and ManiMe nail stickers are easy to use. But if you’re game for painting, try Essie Gel Couture in ‘Model Clicks’ for that pink and a tiny art brush dipped in green, white, and black polish. The different layers of colour make that watermelon slice look so real and the glossy finish is like a sweet ending to a meal.
Because I was leaving on a weekend trip and didn’t have much time, I went with this simple look. It only took a moment and I still felt a little special when I checked in. A win in my book.
Sunset Ombre with Abstract Seeds
This one is actually an art design all on its own. This ombre style reminds us of the peaceful moment when the sun sets and everything becomes softly magical. The addition of those bold black seed designs makes it look like high fashion and a Miami pool party at once. The design stands out on the nails thanks to the radiant finish which includes a bit of twinkling shine.
You’ll need a sponge technique for the gradient effect — think Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in ‘Peachy Breeze’ and ‘Lemon Chiffon’ as your starting points. Because the details are more involved, it’s a good idea to buy a striping brush and a topcoat like Seche Vite to make the art acrylic look last.
This one’s a total showstopper. I’d wear this to a bachelorette, a music festival or a workplace that encourages you to dress up. It balances artistic edge and summer ease perfectly.
Dark Green Sparkle with Bold Accent Fruit
Here’s where things take a bold, unexpected turn. A rich green acrylic and a shimmery finish are topped off with a 3D watermelon accent — and it’s like a high-end fruit bowl. The colour is rich and feels expensive, yet the red and green of the slice makes it feel more cheerful and fun. If you want your nails to let everyone know you’re extra but not shout it, this is for you.
I decided to go straight to my tech and not do the DIY for this. We chose a gel base in metallic emerald from DND’s Mood Collection which we applied over a black base to get the marbled effect. The accent nail? Hand-sculpted using 3D gel molds, sealed with topcoat polish.
Nail artist Mei Kawajiri has said, “Your nails can say everything you want, without having to speak.” This set embodies that philosophy. They’re enjoyable, have a bit of drama, but can be worn with any summer dress or a simple monochrome look.
High Gloss Pink with Drip Art Detail
This one is dedicated to the girls who wear neon pink all season. The color of the gel polish looks almost like it’s glowing — it’s bright, shiny and very girly. The art easy drip detail reinterprets watermelon juice as a graphic and editorial image. It’s not too noticeable, so it doesn’t seem cartoonish, but it does make the game more interesting. Design summer, but make it fashion.
I applied Beetles Gel Polish in ‘Cotton Candy’ for this mani which is one of my favorite quick and easy nail looks and then did the drip effect with a dotting tool and fine liner. Apply Top It Off from Kiara Sky to get a glassy finish.
I love how it gives off poolside popsicle vibes and I can’t get enough. My advice? Don’t overthink it. Team it with shiny lipstick, a linen dress and let your nails send the message.
Playful Oval with Seed Burst Accent
I’m getting the best of art and glam on vacation with this set. The main image is a 3D-style watermelon seed explosion, placed on a soft pink base that looks ready to be eaten. When paired with bright pink nails and a single yellow line on the index finger, it doesn’t seem too much. It looks great, it’s cheerful and it’s totally cute, making it like a fun smoothie bowl at brunch.
The best way to get this color is to use OPI GelColor in ‘Pink Flamenco’ and Le Mini Macaron’s ‘Lemon Sorbet’. The watermelon can be made using a soft builder gel, then painted in black and green by hand. I prefer to apply a clear top coat that doesn’t need to be wiped off to keep the nail color looking great.
Honestly? I’m impressed by how this mani mixes fun and mature looks. I dressed the same way during a staycation week and almost every barista, grocery clerk and neighbor mentioned it. It’s a vibe — and it doesn’t go unnoticed.
Squared-Up Watermelon Graphic Vibes
If you’re after art acrylic that’s bold and a little cheeky, this squared acrylic set is your match. Picture bright yellow, juicy pink and the black seeds carefully arranged to look like a clean graphic design. The watermelon shapes are soft, while the nails are sharp and straight. It’s summery, yes, but it also feels runway-ready.
Use DND Gel in ‘Yellow Sun’ and ‘Hot Pink Coral’ as your background. I used a rounded detail brush to paint the watermelon and then added white and green rinds on top. I find Bio Seaweed Gel is best for my 3D art because it’s easy to layer and doesn’t need much build.
This piece brings to mind something I noticed at Miami Swim Week — it’s bold, you can wear it, but it’s also very editorial. You can definitely rock this poolside, but don’t be surprised if someone asks what salon you went to (and how fast they can book).
Glossy Gradient Pink with Watermelon Tips
Rather than painting watermelon design on the nails, this design blends it into the gel which makes it look more natural. The pale pink base blends nicely with two watermelon nails, each with green stripes and black and white details. It combines art and design, acknowledging nature and gives everything a fresh look.
You should use Madam Glam’s ‘Pink Addict’, Leafgel’s ‘Green Apple’ and a thin brush to make the rind. The trick? Thin coats and careful layering. I prefer to use a matte detail brush when I am painting the seeds. For a glass-like finish, you need to use Gelish Top It Off as your top coat.
I love how everything in this style looks like it belongs together. I chose a similar pair for a weekend trip and the gel made sure the paint didn’t chip. You can count on this color to last and it’s just as simple to apply as it is to admire.
Pointed Pink with Watermelon Accent
Here’s a sharper take — both literally and stylistically. A pair of almond acrylic nails in flamingo pink and soft nude, with one big watermelon slice attached at the sides. Having an almond shape gives the design drama, but the colors are still fun. This style is simple, but it still has a big effect.
I think Apres Gel-X Almond Tips is a good base and Essie’s Expressie in ‘Throw It On’ and ‘Crop Top & Roll’ work well for the pink and nude colors. The watermelon detail? A nail look that is painted by hand with CND Shellac for a perfect finish.
If you’re looking for a style that’s unique but still wearable, this is the one for you at work, brunch or a summer wedding. It’s that versatile. I find it fascinating that the combination of sharp shapes and soft colors makes its own kind of balance.
Green-Tipped Squared Neon Melons
We’re finishing off this batch with a major design summer party happening here. All the nails are painted with a bright pink gradient and finished with green French tips, plus stylized black seed patterns. It’s very loud, proud of itself and absolutely tasty — this place doesn’t shy away from being fun.
Be sure to use the Beetles Gel Neon Collection and in particular, try ‘Lustful Lime’ and ‘Hot Pink Candy’. You’ll get the best shape by using acrylic tips and filing them square. Applying seeds with a dotting tool is a great way to work and adding a glittery top coat gives it an extra sparkle.
My personal take? It’s the nail polish version of running your feet through the grass during the golden hour. I love that it’s not trying to hide its message — it’s right out there. It’s bold art acrylic with zero apologies.
