25 Stunning Summer Nail Designs You Must Try This Season

Summer is all about vibrant colors, playful patterns, and letting your personality shine – and what better way to do that than with fresh, fun nail art?

Whether you’re heading to the beach, lounging by the pool, or just enjoying sunny days out, these 25 summer nail styles will have your hands looking fabulous.

Tropical Palm Trees

Nothing says “vacation” like palm trees on your nails.

How to Create It:

• Start with a gradient base using a makeup sponge – blend sunset colors like orange, pink, and yellow.
• Use a thin nail art brush or black stamping tool to draw palm trees over the gradient.
• Finish with a glossy top coat to seal the design.

Watermelon Tips

Fresh and fruity – this look is adorable and summer-perfect.

How to Create It:

• Paint the nail tips a juicy pink or red.
• Add a thin green stripe at the end of the tip for the rind.
• Use a dotting tool or toothpick to add black seeds.
• Top it with a clear coat for shine and protection.

Ocean Waves

For a breezy, beachy vibe.

How to Create It:

• Paint nails a pale blue base.
• Use a fan brush to lightly dab on white and deeper blue swirls.
• Add a shimmer top coat for that sea-glass shine.

Citrus Slices

Bright, tangy, and totally eye-catching.

How to Create It:

• Paint your nails in pastel shades like lemon yellow, lime green, and tangerine orange.
• Use a detail brush to draw tiny citrus slices near the tips.
• Finish with a glossy top coat.

Sunset Ombre

Soft blends and dreamy colors.

How to Create It:

• Create a gradient using pink, coral, and gold shades.
• Apply using a sponge for a smooth transition.
• Seal with a glossy top coat.

Pineapple Accents

Tropical fun in a cute design.

How to Create It:

• Paint nails in a pale yellow or soft beige.
• Use a fine brush to draw tiny pineapples on accent nails.
• Add green leafy tops and outline with brown for detail.

7. Neon French Tips

A modern twist on a classic.

How to Create It:

• Start with a clear or nude base.
• Add bright neon shades to the tips – try electric blue, pink, or green.
• Finish with a top coat for long wear.

Starry Skies

Twinkling summer nights on your fingertips.

How to Create It:

• Paint nails navy or deep purple.
• Add tiny white or silver stars using a toothpick or dotting tool.
• Use a glitter top coat to add some sparkle.

Flamingo Fun

A cute tropical animal moment.

How to Create It:

• Start with a pastel base like baby blue.
• Use decals or draw flamingos with pink polish and a fine brush.
• Add palm leaves for extra detail.

Tie-Dye Vibes

Playful and colorful.

How to Create It:

• Swirl multiple bright colors together while wet.
• Use a toothpick to create a tie-dye effect.
• Seal with a clear coat.

Coral Crush

A classic summer hue.

How to Create It:

• Paint all nails in a vibrant coral polish.
• Accent with gold foil or glitter for added glam.

Ice Cream Drips

Sweet and fun.

How to Create It:

• Start with a light pastel base.
• Use contrasting colors to draw dripping ice cream shapes from the tips.
• Finish with a matte or glossy top coat.

Beach Shells

Bring the seaside to your nails.

How to Create It:

• Use a sandy nude polish for the base.
• Add tiny shell stickers or hand-paint seashell shapes.
• Finish with a shimmer top coat for a sunlit look.

Sunflower Accents

Brighten your look with cheerful sunflower motifs.

How to Create It:

• Paint nails a light blue or nude base.
• Use a dotting tool to create a brown center for each sunflower.
• Add yellow petals around the dot using a thin brush.
• Finish with a clear top coat.

Neon French Tips

A bold twist on a classic look.

How to Create It:

• Apply a nude or light pink base coat.
• Paint the tips with neon shades like green, orange, or hot pink.
• Seal with a glossy top coat.

Starry Night Skies

Perfect for summer nights under the stars.

How to Create It:

• Use a navy or dark blue polish as the base.
• Add tiny white or silver dots to mimic stars.
• For extra sparkle, use glitter polish or rhinestones.

Citrus Slices

Refreshing and colorful for hot days.

How to Create It:

• Start with a pastel base.
• Paint tiny citrus slices (lemon, lime, orange) on accent nails.
• Outline slices in white and add seeds with a dotting tool.
• Finish with a top coat.

Rainbow Stripes

Celebrate summer with a pop of every color.

How to Create It:

• Use striping tape to section off areas.
• Paint each section a different color of the rainbow.
• Remove tape carefully and apply a top coat.

Mermaid Scales

Magical and shimmery for ocean lovers.

How to Create It:

• Use iridescent polish or a base of turquoise.
• Stamp or hand-paint scale patterns.
• Add glitter or chrome powder for a shimmering effect.

Ice Cream Cones

Sweet and fun nail art.

How to Create It:

• Paint a waffle cone base using beige polish and a crisscross pattern.
• Add pastel blobs for scoops on top.
• Use a detail brush for drips and a top coat for shine.

Flamingo Flair

Tropical and trendy.

How to Create It:

• Start with a white or light pink base.
• Paint flamingos on accent nails using pink and black polish.
• Add palm leaves or dots for flair.
• Seal with a clear coat.

Polka Dots and Daisies

A cute retro vibe.

How to Create It:

• Use a pastel or white base.
• Apply polka dots in various summer shades.
• Add tiny daisies using a dotting tool.
• Finish with a glossy coat.

Jelly Nails

Transparent, fun, and modern.

How to Create It:

• Use translucent gel polish in summer colors.
• Cure with a UV lamp.
• Keep them sheer or add tiny decals inside.
• Finish with a shiny top coat.

Gradient Ombre

A simple but stunning color fade.

How to Create It:

• Use a makeup sponge to blend two or three polish shades.
• Dab onto nails gently to create a fade effect.
• Clean edges and apply a top coat.

Beach Sand & Shells

Bring the beach to your fingertips.

How to Create It:

• Use a nude or tan base.
• Add gold glitter to resemble sand.
• Stick on mini seashells or use stamping plates.
• Seal it all with a strong top coat.

With these 25 fabulous styles, your summer nails are sure to be the star of your look. Whether you go fruity, floral, or beachy, there’s something here for every mood and occasion. Don’t forget to tag your creations on social media and let your nails soak up the spotlight!