18 Birthday Nail Ideas to Try This Year, from Chrome to Confetti and More

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From colorful confetti to statement-making sparkles.

As much fun as neutral milky nails and understated manis are, some occasions—most notably, birthdays—call for something extra. Of course, there's no one-size-fits-all. Birthday manicures come in a variety of colors, patterns, and lengths. “My personal philosophy when it comes to picking a birthday set is do whatever makes you feel good versus doing what the trends are dictating,” says nail artist Sigourney Nuñez. “But if you need some inspiration and love astrology, a manicure inspired by your sign is never a bad idea.”

According to manicurist Mazz Hanna, confetti designs, glam accents, cute details, and glitter galore lend to a fun, party-ready nail look. Essentially, when it comes to your birthday, anything goes. You just have to determine what kind of vibe you want to put forth on your fingertips.

Meet Our Expert

• Sigourney Nuñez is a licensed lacquer artist. She is based in Los Angeles, CA.
• Mazz Hanna is a manicurist and the CEO of Nailing Hollywood.

Whether you're after a mani that complements your birthday makeup or one that's attention-grabbing on its own, keep scrolling for 20 birthday nail ideas.

Holographic Butterfly

Birthdays are a time for transformation and butterflies are the perfect motif for such a celebration. The holographic base and glinting decals make it even more elevated.

Sprinkle Skittle Nails

Here's another cute nail art idea perfect for birthday celebrations. You can create the sprinkle nail art using a nail art brush. The design works well as a single accent nail or a few.

Retro Pink and Green

Celebrate your birthday with a nail look that pays homage to your youth. There's something subtly retro about these green and pink nails, which wouldn't feel out of place in a Limited Too.

Purple Glitter Star Nails

It's your birthday and you're the star. Put forth that energy with a monochrome, dual-finish star manicure. While this one was perfected in purple polish, it's one nail look that stuns in every shade of the rainbow.

Blue Cat Eye

We could all use a little more sparkle in our lives, especially on our birthday. For a softer glam effect, consider a cat eye look. Silver decals are the cherry on top.

Glinting Glitter

Few things are more celebratory than sparkles. For a subtle, artsy effect, paint a wash of silver glitter polish over a nude base, and add black glinting decals on top.

Almond Glitter Skittle Nails

Not a fan of square nails? No problem. Try an oval or almond nail shape on colorful jelly glitter nails instead. As an added bonus, both will help to elongate the fingers.

White With Silver Flecks Nails

White nails are the epitome of understated beauty—just look at this manicure as proof. But to give it that whole birthday feel, layer it with a sheer, silvery top coat and your decals of choice.

Candy Stripes

Keep it playful with pink and red candy stripes. The playful pattern would look just as good in other bold hues like butter yellow and baby blue.

Pastel Multicolor Aura Halo Star Nails

Feeling bright and bubbly this birth month? Showcase that mood on your nails with a multicolor aura base paired with bright white sparkle nail art. You can DIY the sparkles with a dotting tool and/or nail art brush. Start with a hefty dot of white polish, then drag it out four ways to create the points.

Pink Chrome

When in doubt, a classic chrome feels elevated and celebratory.

Confetti Sprinkle French Tips

Looking for smaller sprinkle details? A colorful confetti polish will help you get the look. The multicolored confetti really pops against negative space but you can also opt for a neutral base color, too.

Pink Velvet French Tips

A simple way to elevate your go-to French manicure for birth month? With ultra-shimmery tips. “A glitter French is the perfect birthday look for those who want just a touch of glam,” Hanna says.

Silver Chrome Disco Tips

Ready to dance the night away? Celebrate your big day with disco nails fit for the occasion. For full coverage, try Dazzle Dry's Silver Lamé. Alternatively, the brand's Diamond offers a sheer, glittery, holographic effect.

Pink Ombré Heart Aura Nails

Feeling grateful for another year? This aura heart nail look is an adorable way to translate the mood. “If you love a cute aesthetic, your birthday is the perfect time to try out a cute and colorful nail look,” Hanna says, applauding this dainty heart nail art by Nailing Hollywood artist Rachel Joseph.

Holographic Confetti Star Nails

These holographic confetti nails scream celebration. To get the look, start with a pastel jelly base on each nail. Then, apply a holographic confetti topper or hand-place the shimmery sequins for your perfect end look.

Tips

When working with thicker confetti pieces, Hanna recommends using builder gel as a final step to seal them in and prevent lifting.

Radiant 3D Chrome Heart Nails

3D accents instantly elevate any nail look. For your birthday, consider this pastel rainbow chrome stiletto manicure with radiating heart nail art. You can DIY the look by starting with an iridescent chrome base. Then, use builder gel to create the heart design.

Champagne and Gold Nails

Prefer neutral nail looks? Spruce up your standard nude mani with minimalist gold accents, which can be created with a fine-lining nail art brush.

Teal Shimmer Zodiac Nails

“Your birthday month is the perfect time to get a mani inspired by your sign,” Hanna says. “You could pair the color of your birthstone along with nail art elements inspired by your sign for a cohesive look.” If you're not confident in your DIY abilities, Hanna recommends using nail art stickers, as many Zodiac packs exist.

Neutral Glitter Heart Nails

For an understated look, go for a metallic accent nail. The rest of the manicure can stay neutral, with some subtle metallic accents.

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