35 Stunning Designs for Spring Nails to Try in 2024

35 Stunning Designs ideas for Spring Nails. The spring season often means fun in the sun. From pool days with friends to flights overseas with family; spring is often the season of more relaxation and exploration; which also makes it the perfect time to experiment with new nail colors and designs. 

From pastel shades to bold and bright hues, there are countless choices to choose from to brighten your spring manicure.Whether you’re heading to your favorite salon or doing your nails at home you can indulge in trending spring nail fun. 

Spring manicures go beyond color palettes. Many nail enthusiasts use the spring season to take their manicure from dull and routine to bright and unique by adding florals, and indulging in nail art.Whether you’re a fan of intricate designs or prefer a more minimalist approach, there are plenty of options for everyone’s style and all occasions.

Spring Nail Care

Before we jump into the glitz and glam of trending spring nail colors and nail art, let’s first consider the overall health of our nails. 

Before you visit a salon or prep for your at-home manicure, consider these tips. 

• Unruly cuticles can lead to premature lifting 
• Swimming in chlorine or saltwater  can weaken your natural nails 
• Sand and dirt can dull your polish faster than normal 
• Thin, brittle nails may need a gel, acrylic or polygel base to prevent them from chipping or cracking

Pastel shades are timeless and always resurface during the spring season. Soft pinks, lilacs, and light blues are particularly popular this time of year. You can enhance your next manicure by merging the pastels with an ombre blend. Ombre can be achieved by combining two colors; usually one lighter shade and another that is slightly deeper pigmented. There are several ways to achieve the perfect spring ombre including pigment powders and airbrush.

Once spring has sprung so do the floral nail art designs.Wheather you prefer dainty flowers or bold blooms, there is a floral pattern to fit all ages and styles. This year ditch the floral across all ten fingers and lean towards adding your floral design to one or two fingers per hand. Flower nail art can be easily achieved at home using a dotting tool, nail stickers, foil transfers or hand drawn in the salon. Ask for a textured floral design for a not-so-basic approach.

Geometric patterns are a unique way to create a one-of-a-kind nail art design.  You can create a variety of looks using  triangles, squares, circles, and other shapes. You could try a simple approach using a single shape on one or two nails or try something a little more in depth by combining different shapes and colors across every finger.

Keeping it simple can sometimes be the most chic. If you are new to the nail party, and or are currently growing out your nails a sheer or pastel pink is a simple way to partake in the spring trends. Combining two layers of OPI’s Bubble Bath and one layer of OPI’s Put It In Neutral creates the perfect soft spring pink for any skin tone.

For the nail enthusiast who is looking to go bright and bold neon colors are all the rave.  Bright yellows, oranges, and pinks are all on-trend this spring. To make them even more dynamic apply a gold or silver cat eye polish under a neon jelly polish. This will add an eyecatching shimmer that reflects in the sun.

Glitz glam and rhinestone nail art are perfect for the person who believes sparkle makes everything better . Glitter, rhinestones and crystals can be a great addition to any simple or  live-out-loud  manicure. What I love most is whether you are going to a nail salon or giving yourself a DIY manicure; the glitz can make your nails look like a million bucks. Be sure to only use glitters that are made for nails. Secure stones with nail glue. Never apply a topcoat over rhinestones; it will dull the shine. We simply don’t need anything dimming our light this spring season.

Negative Space Art

Negative space art involves leaving some parts of the nail bare while painting designs on other areas. This creates a unique look that is perfect for spring. You can try a simple design with a few lines or dots, or you can go for a more complex look with intricate patterns. Some popular negative space designs include stripes, polka dots, and chevrons.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and abstract nail art is just that. Abstract nail art is beautiful and fun especially with spring colors. The key to abstract nail art is to keep an open mind and have fun with it. 

Switch up your traditional French manicure with a variation of spring french  tips. Ditch the white lines and opt for a lavender, or mint and pair it with a nude base. If you are really living life on the edge opt for a variation of pastel colors on each finger.

Watercolor nail designs are one of the simplest DIY nail art designs. Watercolor nail art has been popular for a few years, and it’s still going strong. It’s soft, classy and perfect for all ages, nail lengths and shapes. Watercolor nail art is surprisingly easy to achieve, and can be done with gel polish or traditional polish

If you are looking for a mature sophisticated nail art option look no further. Marble nail art never truly goes out of season, and using pastels or neon colors can give it more of a springtime feel. With marble art no two nails will look completely identical which adds character and charm to a fresh set. 

Whether you choose to wear your natural nails, tips or even press-on nails this spring season stickers and decals are an easy way to add personality to  your manicure. There are nail stickers for every shape and object under the sun. You can even make your own by tracing any object on a piece of plastic using gel polish, curing it under a LED or UV lamp and placing it on your finger using tweezers. 

Prep for a future beach vacation or reminisce on one of your past vacations by adding a beach setting to your manicure. Personally, if I wanted something this intricate I’d opt for a nail tech who is willing  and ready to do some hand drawn art. However, there are also some amazing beach views that can be created using stamps and decal stickers.

Not only are metallics fun to look at while you sunbathe and sip your favorite frozen drink it’s a fairly quick way to spruce up a traditional manicure. You can add a metallic or chrome coat to any single color or multicolor gel manicure. 

The spring season also serves as a reminder that we are either on our way to achieving our New Year’s goals or that we have fallen off-track. Either way adding a montra to your nails is on trend for spring. Although adding letters, words or phrases may look like a daunting task it’s  doable by using stamps, booking a talented nail artist or even utilizing a nail printer. 

Gradient nail art can often get confused with ombré. Truly, they are both extremely similar and will both yield many compliments during the spring season. What sets gradient nail art  apart is that it  typically includes two or more colors. With ombré typically two colors fade into each other. With gradient nails two or more colors can hold dominance. 

Vintage-inspired nail designs include a mix and match of all things spring. This is a great choice if you  can’t decide what design to choose. Some of my favorites include, pastel or neon checkerboards, sunflowers, smiling faces, and multi color polka dots are a timeless choice for spring. 

Boho chic nail art is honestly great anytime of the year and certainly doesn’t disappoint during the spring season. Boho art usually includes nudes,  whites, and clean lines and or feathers and simple geometric patterns. 

Whimsical spring nail art is a great choice for nail and art enthusiasts who love a wow factor. Whimsical art usually includes bold colors and a lot of imagination. Whimsical nail art can include cartoon characters, rainbows, clouds and anything else that brings your childhood imagination back to life. 

When it comes to nail shape and length, the “best choice” depends on your nail length,  the shape of  your nail bed and fingers. Unfortunately, sometimes finding the perfect shape lands somewhere between what’s best for your hand shape and lifestyle. Here are a few popular choices to consider.

Almond-shaped nails are a classic and elegant choice. Almond shaped nails can often help make your  hands and fingers appear elongated. This length works best on medium to longer nails. Almond nails are versatile and work well with both bold and subtle colors.

Oval-shaped nails are for individuals who wish to indulge is a timeless appearance. It can also be the best choice for individuals who have shorter, thin nails. Oval-shaped nails can also be a great choice if you are active with your hands and want to prevent breaks.

Square-shaped nails never go out of style in my opinion and can be worn on short or long nails. Square -shaped nails are also fairly easy to achieve if you choose to do your nails at home.

Nail art is a great way to add personality to your manicure, but it can also sound like a titius task to a beginner. Here are a few easy and simple popular nail art techniques.

Nail art stamping is a technique that involves using a stamping plate and a stamper to transfer a design onto the nail. The trick to a flawless stamp is using a polish with a thicker consistency and constraining colors: Ideally gel polish or stamping polish.

To use this technique, you need a stamping plate, a stamper, and a scraper.  First, apply the contrasting nail polish to the design on the stamping plate. Then  use the scraper to remove any excess polish from the plate. Lastly use the stamper to pick up the design and transfer it onto your nail.

Marbling is a technique that involves swirling together different colors of nail polish to create a marble effect. This can be done using traditional or gel polish. This design also works best with contrasting colors.

Take a few drops of two or more nail polish colors, and put it into a cup of water. Next, use a stick to swirl the colors together to create a marbled effect. Finally, dip your nails into the water to transfer the design onto your nails. Using a white base on your nail first works best. If you aren’t using gel polish make sure the base layer is completely dry before applying the marble.

Stickers and Decals

Stickers and decals are pre-made designs that can be applied to nails. First, apply a base coat of nail polish to your nails and wait for it to dry. Next, apply the decals to your nails and press it down firmly. Finally, apply a top coat of nail polish to seal in the design. Be sure to size the decal to your nail before adhering. Use a file to gently  remove access from the free edge.

Tips for DIY Nail Art at Home

I think we’ve all heard the saying it’s not as easy as it looks. I don’t want that to be the case during your DIY nail session. So, here are a few essential tips.

• Nail polish remover
• Cotton balls or pads
• Nail file
• Cuticle pusher
• Base coat
• Nail polish in spring colors
• Nail art tools (optional)
• Top coat
• Nail buffer
• Toothpicks to clean around cuticles / free edge  (optional)

When doing your nails at home, especially when using traditional polish, be sure to allocate time. Ideally, you will need at  least two hours. You should make sure one hand is completely dry before polishing the other hand. Sometimes it can take at least an hour before traditional polish dries.

Make sure your nail beds are free from dirt, dust, debris and oil before polishing. Failing to do so can cause premature lifting and chips.

If you haven’t mastered polishing just yet; stick with light colors and alway cap the free edge to seal the color into the nail.

Always apply base layer unless recommended by the nail polish brand. Base layers not only protect your nails but, also allow the polish to adhere smoother.

If possible, use a peel off cuticle guard to help give you clean lines around your cuticles and side walls. Keep a toothpick or a short -hair clean up brush on hand to wipe away polish that gets on your skin.

How to Maintain Your Spring Nail Look

Whether you decide to visit a nail salon or have a DIY  nail session at home the goal is to keep your nails looking as good as possible for as long as possible. Here  are a few tips to keep your nails looking fabulous throughout the season.

1. Keep your cuticles moisturized. It’s important to keep cuticle oil only around  the cuticles. Oils applied on the nail bed can cause gel and regular polish to lift.
2. Fingernails and toenails need protection too! Opt for a sun protective top coat if you plan to be in the sun for more than an hour at a time.
3. If you plan on spray tanning, or using a self tanner wear gloves, or apply petroleum jelly  on top of your nails so it doesn’t stain them.