Nail art has come a long way since a toothpick-dotted flower made your middle school dance outfit feel extra special. Now most salons feature at least some sort of design option — a simple dot of glitter at the cuticle or a half dip — if not an entire menu of colour-coordinated choices. Nail art is officially mainstream, but that doesn't mean it has to be predictable.
This spring 's coolest looks are restoring that special feeling with unique trends that are pretty, wearable, and most importantly, fresh. From a new spin on florals to unexpectedly chic and cow prints and spots (courtesy of Kendall Jenner and Ariana Grande, respectively), we've rounded up the breakout nail art looks that you're about to see everywhere, ahead. Scroll through and find the manicure you love.
Spotted Nails
Like a trendier take on polka dots, Ariana Grande wore a speckled, hazelnut brown and white manicure and we were immediately reminded how chic and spring-y spots look sprinkled across our fingernails. Grande rocked a muted version, but you can also go with brighter with pastel droplets.
Cow Print
We've been thinking about this look ever since Kendall Jenner told the world she loves cow print. Long, almond tips painted a crisp white, with imperfect black spots sprinkled over the top, is the chic spring nail trend we never knew we needed.
'70s Florals
Florals for spring may not be groundbreaking, but all things that bloom feel adorably apropos this time of year. "You can paint a single blossom on each finger, or mix and match your bouquet with press-on stickers," says Sarah Gibson Tuttle, founder of L.A. cool-girl nail chain Olive & June. That's right: A '70s-inspired flower child moment is upon up yet again.
Pearl Accents
If you've dabbled in nail studding, like teeny tiny gems or rhinestones, then consider levelling up to delicate pearls for spring. "Pearls are so trendy right now," says nail pro Thea Green. For the most minimalist adaptation of nail jewellery, use a top coat to get a clear glossy base, then stick a single pearl right at your cuticle.
Vibrant Ombré
Faded ombré was a big winter nail trend that we're seeing trickle into the spring season, but instead of the dark or glittery shades, we're seeing a brighter ombré. Nail pro Skyy Hadley recommends starting with a base polish in a nude that's a few shades lighter than your skin tone, then blending a fun colour — like this peach polish — as your tonal gradient.
Mix & Match
The single greatest part of the mix and match nail trend is that anyone with opposable thumbs and a few different bottles of nail polish can pull it off. The secret? Tenoverten nail pro Nadine Abramcyk tells us that the key to getting a multicoloured manicure to feel cohesive is to be choosey about your polishes. "I always recommend take a range of shades in the same colour family," she explains. Paint each nail a different colour, and you get a shade transition that feels purposefully mismatched.
Negative Space
Negative space adds unexpected shape and dimension to a manicure, while keeping the overall look minimalist. "Negative space nails are going to be huge this season," Green tells us. "You can definitely expect to see more cool creativity with the design of the bare nail." We're partial to this diagonal stripe between two blocks of pastel, but the whole point of this look is to try something new, so have fun experimenting with cut-outs, dips, and floating negative designs, too.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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