The best way to usher in a new season? New style changes—including new nail art inspiration. As temperatures rise, you’ll begin to see some of the usual spring nail trends crop up (think: pastels), but what can we expect? Below, we reached out to the experts for their predictions on the top nail art trends that’ll be everywhere once winter transitions into spring.
Pops of Neon
Expect to see more neon hues this spring. “Neon has become a really popular shade, especially as the weather warms up,” says Brittney Boyce, celebrity nail artist and founder of Nails of LA. “I did a neon orange for Megan Fox recently and a neon yellow for Olivia Rodrigo for the Billboard Awards. There’s this charged energy in the air that I think people are expressing with neon shades.”
Recreate the Trend:
Minimalist Manicures with Subtle Accents
Neutral-toned nails were seen all over runways this past fashion week, notes Anna Miles, a nail artist and specialist based in New York City. “At the Peter Do show, Jin Soon designed a geometric look that’s super easy to DIY,” she says. Adding a random line here and there to your nails is an easy way to create a minimum-effort, maximum-impact nail art look, Miles adds.
Celebrity nail artist Julie Kandalec agrees—she’s noticed her clients opting for nail art that could be considered minimalistic and extravagant. “People love manicures that are both wearable yet interesting,” she says. And Boyce finds that the minimalist trend “translates to everything from classic French manicures to a gorgeous milky nude with a small accent, like a metallic cuff.”
Recreate the Trend:
Ombré Nails
“As the snow melts, so do the colors,” says Anna Miles, a nail artist based in New York City. “That’s to say, I’ve been doing so many ombré manicures in the past month. The people are ready for the vibe shift, and it’s showing on the nails!”
Recreate the Trend:
Lilacs, Pastels, and Shades of Brown
“Not only is periwinkle big because it’s Pantone’s color of 2022, it’s such a pretty color for warmer weather,” says Boyce. “These aren’t exactly chalky pastel lilacs, but rather they have warmth and depth to them.” Boyce also predicts that brown nail polish will be big come spring. “Shades of brown have been having their moment,” she says. “I think as the weather warms up, we’ll see milkier and rosier shades.”
Kandalec also expects shimmery lilac, watery aqua blues, and opalescent white to have their moment in the sun come spring.
Recreate the Trend:
Coffin-shaped Nails
“People love a square shape—that’s why the coffin nail is so in right now,” says Kandalec. “It’s a tad bit different from the traditional squared nail look. Because coffin nails are more narrow than a square shape, the look itself is a bit more elegant,” she adds.
Boyce adds that because it comes with a lot of surface area, coffin-shaped nails are great for showing off nail art designs.
Photo: Arun Nevader/Getty
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