Your Summer Nail Art Guide

Photo 1/5

Give a traditional French manicure a fun and summery twist by using a neon polish for your tips. Simply paint your nails any sheer nude shade, and once that is completely dry paint your tips in a bright orange, like Zoya in Paz, $8. For extra precision while drawing on the tips, use a thin paintbrush (you can buy one at any craft store). Finish with a clear topcoat.

Photo 2/5

Don't have a steady hand but still want a complicated-looking nail art style? Try this scotch tape trick. Cut pieces of scotch tape into triangles and then paint them any bright color of your choice. A bright shade like Essie in Orange It's Obvious, $8, works really well. Let the painted tape pieces dry.

Next, paint your nails in color that contrasts well, like Essie in Mint Candy Apple. Wait five minutes for this to dry, and then carefully apply each triangle tape at the tips of your nails. For extra control, use a pair of tweezers to place the pieces of tape. Press down on the triangles firmly, and then apply a topcoat.

Photo 3/5

Stripes are one of the easiest, no-brainer nail art designs. The trick is to go for thicker stripes, because they're easier to paint on than delicate thin lines. To get this look, paint your nails in a bright pink shade like Ciate in Cupcake Queen, $15. Let this dry for five minutes, and then using a bright yellow like Ciate in Big Yellow Taxi, draw a slightly off-center vertical line down each nail. Let this dry and finish with a clear topcoat.

Photo 4/5

This pastel mixed-color mani requires absolutely zero nail art skills, but it still has a trendy, beachy vibe. You can use any five pastel shades of your choice -- one for each nail. Essie, $8 each, has some gorgeous pastel options like Mint Candy Apple, French Affair, Coat Azure, Tart Deco, and Pop Art Pink.

Photo 5/5

The half moon style is essentially an opposite French manicure. Instead of the tips, you are highlighting just above your cuticles, creating a half moon. First paint your nails in a neutral shade. A soft gray like Essie in Chinchilly, $8, works nicely. Let this dry completely.

Next, paint over your nails in a bright shade like Butter LONDON in Primrose Hill Picnic, $15. But do not paint your nails entirely. Instead, leave a gray crescent shape just above your cuticles. For more precision, you can use a thin paintbrush to create the half moon shape. Finish with a clear topcoat.

Summer is the perfect time to try all the trends you've been too much of a scaredy cat to try the rest of the year. From May to August, there's pretty much zero excuse for being boring and sticking with your same old beauty routine. And the easiest place to start when it comes to injecting some color and pattern into your style? Your nails.

So, set aside the plain red polish you've been wearing non-stop for the past three months, and switch things up with one of our five favorite nail art trends. Do you prickle at the suggestion of "nail art"? Don't worry, these aren't super intricate, Picasso-level nail art designs.

Instead, we've rounded up the cutest (and simplest) nail designs that even the shakiest of hands can master. So get to painting your nails, and then treat yourself to some frozen yogurt (extra rainbow sprinkles, please), because it's officially summertime.

Your Summer Nail Art Guide

Now's the perfect time to break out of your plain nail polish routine and try something bright, bold, and fun

Electric Orange Tips

Orange and Mint Triangles

Neon Stripes

Pastel Rainbow

Grey Half Moons

GET FREE SAMPLES

Your Summer Nail Art Guide

Now's the perfect time to break out of your plain nail polish routine and try something bright, bold, and fun

Electric Orange Tips

Orange and Mint Triangles

Neon Stripes

Pastel Rainbow

Grey Half Moons

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE