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Nail art is entering its everything era. Sure, the “princess manicure”—short, sheer and fit for real-life royalty—is having a moment. But don’t let the clean-girl vibe fool you. If our favourite A-listers (and the nail pros they have on speed dial) are anything to go by, there’s also a ton of fun to be had with playful twists on the minimalist aesthetic, nostalgic details and juicy colour combos.
Bookmark these celeb-approved nail designs for your next salon appointment and thank us later.
Polka Dots
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Polka dots just got their cool-girl comeback. For Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild” music video, nail artist Zola Ganzorigt brought the dotting tool out of retirement to create a minimalist mani that’s both sweet and a little cheeky. She glazed the singer’s long almond-shaped tips with a coat each of OPI’s “Passion” and “Bare My Soul” to create a soft natural base, then added a smattering of teeny-tiny dots in the shade “Alpine Snow”. This is a minimalist girl’s dream—think of this design as almost-bare nails, with blink-and-you’ll-miss-it detail.
The look was so good, the duo brought it back for a second round, albeit with the addition of tiny sparkly gems. We have a feeling it’s going to be on repeat around our offices, too.
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Lemon Drop Martini
Courtesy of Rhode
Leave it to Hailey Bieber to turn a nail moment into a full-blown aesthetic. She recently took to IG to hard-launch the latest fruit-inspired craze: “lemon martini drop” summer. In the carousel, she shows off a zesty yellow base with a sprinkling of tiny polka dots, putting her own spin on the Sabrina Carpenter-approved look.
Unlike the mellow butter yellow that’s everywhere this season, artist Zola Ganzorigt (the very same artist that’s behind Sabrina’s polka dots look) opted for an energizing shade that dials up the vacation vibes. And just like the cocktail it’s named after, the result is fun, fresh and bright. Cue lemon yellow polish flying off the shelves.
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Picking Daisies
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Dua Lipa recently stepped out with monochrome nail art that proved once and for all that florals aren’t just for spring. The nude base adorned with pretty black-and-white daisies has a retro Tumblr-era vibe that’s sure to turn heads this festival season. If you’re the more-is-more type, try it in a daring colour combo.
And the good news? No need for a steady hand—just opt for press-ons for an easy way to try the look.
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Sorbet Scoop
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Tom Bachik, the man behind Selena Gomez’s perpetually polished fingertips, recently served up this peachy twist on the classic French. And he’s not the only one embracing juicy hues—the fruity spin on pastels is big this season, whether it’s a tangerine ombré, a strawberry pink aura design or an addictive shade of pistachio splashed all over the nail. It’s refreshing—and refreshingly easy to pull off.
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Oyster Platter
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The fisherman aesthetic is still going strong (oh hello, breton tops and netted market totes), and all things seaside are right on trend this summer. As much as we’re loving beachy designs (ocean blues and sandy hues topped with starfishes) and its mermaid counterpart (pinks and turquoise with seashell details), we’re partial to the incredibly chic oyster nails by Queenie Nguyen, who works with Florence Pugh and Kristen Bell.
Mismatched designs and 3D details are everywhere, but a pearlescent oyster set takes those trends to a whole new level. The off-white, softly reflective finish is key here—top with pearls and gold finishing touches and you’re good to go.
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Nostalgic Stickers
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Remember the 3D candy-coloured stickers you’d wear as earrings before you finally got the go-ahead to get your ears pierced as a tween? Brittney Boyce, who tends to the tips of Kim Kardashian, Megan Fox and Kate Hudson, turned that nostalgic memory into nail art. To make the tiny stars, butterflies and geometric shapes pop, she used a pale pink polish as a base.
Want to replicate the look? Try decals, stickers or colourful gemstones, and get creative with the placement.
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Clear View
Courtesy of Naomi Yasuda via Instagram
Mark our words—glass nails (a.k.a. clear nail tips, not just extra shiny finishes) are going to be huge this summer and beyond. Designed by nail artist Naomi Yasuda, whose client list includes Lorde, Rita Ora and Sabrina Carpenter, this set is a thoroughly cool and modern take on the classic French manicure. And it features another detail all the It-girls are currently swooning over: nail piercings. It‘s somehow both classic and subversive, and we can’t get enough.
Unless you know your way around a curing lamp, leave this one to the pros. Consider this your sign to book your next salon appointment ASAP.
