40 Fresh Spring Nail Designs and Trends to Try This Season
A new season calls for a new mani!
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With spring in the air, it's time to retire those moody winter nail colors and the heavy duty hand cream and replace them with a fresh manicure that's a bit more cheery and colorful. Whether you're looking for holiday-specific nail art ideas for Easter and St. Patrick's Day, or something that just captures the general magic of springtime, you're in the right place. There are lots of beautiful new spring nail polish colors to try this season, and these are our favorite ways to wear them.
From geometric designs to pastel pinks to fresh takes on the French manicure, there are so many different ways to show off your spring joy. Whether you're giving yourself a DIY at-home manicure or you're visiting the salon, let these cool and colorful spring nail designs serve as inspiration. Here, we've gathered all the best spring manicure (or pedicure!) ideas you'll want to steal as soon as spring has sprung.
Orange Stripes
These dreamy tangerine stripes remind us of creamsicles and beachy sunsets.
Subtle Pink Shimmer
Amp up a subtle sheer pink with tons of shimmer. The wavy designs keep things interesting.
Green Squiggles
With greenery making its return after a bleak winter, it's fitting to add some emerald doodles to light green nails.
Cherry Print French Tips
French manicures are having a moment, but if normal French tips are too subdued for your taste, don't fret. Make this style your own with bright colors, cherries and stars.
Marble Nails
These nails might look difficult, but they're actually easier to achieve than you might think. Start with a neutral base coat (like the sheer lavender shade used here) and swirl a few colors together in water. Dip your fingers, clean up the edges and you have DIY marble nails.
Red Half Moon Nails
Let's all agree that red polish is basically a neutral at this point. Give your normal red nails a makeover by using negative space to create half moons.
Sea Foam Green
Green-toned manicures are here to stay. This seafoam green look looks amazing with expertly placed dots.
Martini Tones
Shaken, not stirred. Bring the colors of your favorite drink to your fingertips with these olive-toned nails.
Dreamy Clouds
Keep your head in the clouds with these pastel watercolor nails. Alternate white and black tips with stars to stay on cloud nine.
Asymmetrical French Manicure
Love a classic French mani but thinking of switching it up? Instead of a rounded white tip, draw a straight line on one side.
Dark Red Ombré Nails
If springy colors aren't your thing, opt for a red ombré look. Paint your thumb your lightest red shade, and paint your pinky the darkest.
Picnic Plaid
Spring is the best time for a fun outdoor picnic — not too hot, not too cold. Try this picnic blanket-inspired design to celebrate a perfect sunny day.
Cute Bunny Rabbit
Who doesn’t love bunnies? This cute nail design is sure to show off your springtime spirit.
Simple Flowers
When you think of spring, you think of flowers. You can achieve this colorful flower design by using a handy dotting tool.
Green Foliage
Let the budding leaves around you inspire your spring nail design.
Stylish French Tips
This take on a French tip manicure is so classy yet simple. Just add a single white arch that follows the natural curve of your nail.
Pink Garden
If you love spring flowers, turn your nails into a romantic garden. You can use floral nail foil or stickers for an easy at-home manicure.
Gold Accents
Brighten up your French manicure with a glittery gold streak along the edge of your cuticle.
Party Nail
The perfect nails to celebrate the return of daylight savings time. Add a sparkly accent nail on your ring finger and a dark blue accent nail on your pinky to spice up this pale pink mani.
Fluffy Clouds
What’s more relaxing than laying in the grass as you watch the clouds float by on a warm spring day? These clouds are so cute and fluffy like cotton candy.
Katie Berohn is the Beauty Assistant at Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day and Prevention magazines, all part of the Hearst Lifestyle Group. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her Master’s Degree at NYU’s Graduate Program of Magazine Journalism. In addition, Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life Magazine, Yoga Journal, and Cosmopolitan, a digital editorial internship at New York Magazine’s The Cut, a social good fellowship at Mashable, and has freelanced for HelloGiggles. When she’s not obsessing over the latest skincare launch or continuing her endless search for the perfect shade of red nail polish, Katie can be found in a hot yoga class, trying everything on the menu at New York’s newest restaurant, or hanging out at a trendy wine bar with her friends.
Tatiana Velasco is a New York City-based beauty writer who joined Good Housekeeping in 2020 as a Beauty Intern and continues to produce stories for the brand as a freelancer. She received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism at New York University where she also worked as a writer and editor for the student newspaper, Washington Square News. She is passionate about skincare, hair care, health and fitness. When she’s not researching and sampling beauty products, you can find her working out at the gym, hiking on the Appalachian Trail or relaxing with a good book.
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