Because DIY-friendly, vibrant nail art is the epitome of spring.
As we’re slowly but surely slipping into spring, we can’t help but get excited about all of the style changes to come, including the spring nails we’ve been thinking about all winter long.
Not only will we start putting our winter moisturizers away as the sun starts to rear her beautiful face more and more each day, but we can also say hello to bright, fun nails again. This year has been an anomaly so far with colorful nails coming back into fashion as early as February — it seems celebrities such as Megan Fox and Beyoncé have started celebrating spring early in 2022.
In 2021, the hottest spring nails included twists on French manicures, long nails with playful line art, and color blocking techniques that could otherwise be seen in the Museum of Modern Art. These DIY designs became popular at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when all we had to do was sit at home and pick our fingernails, but the resulting spring nail ideas are still commonplace today.
Fast-forward to today when salons are back and better than ever, and it’s time to go all out, style-wise — down to our pinkies. Therefore, we expect to see a mix of popular nail art designs in 2022, including some of these DIY styles that we got so good at perfecting in the past two years but also some of the more extra designs for those of us who need to look our best. At. All. Times.
We’ve turned to the experts to give the best advice about the spring nails that you’ll be seeing everywhere in the next few months, including jelly nails, 3D designs, and marble nail art. Whether you want to use press-ons and call it a day, DIY some funky colorful lines across your long natural nails, or hit up your nail tech for some short neon acrylics, there’s a spring nail design here for everyone. But make sure to take notes on the nail polish and tool recommendations from the artists themselves. That’s it. Go crazy. Go stupid.
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Instagram/@katebonarnails1/30Metallic DotsThis look was made for minimal nail-art lovers and neophytes alike because it couldn’t be easier to do — no professional needed. “I love a sheer-base manicure because you can’t see any growth,” United Kingdom-based nail artist Kate Smith says of her dotted creation. “I made sure I picked three very highly pigmented colors for the polka dots so they really stood out.”
To do this look at home, paint your nails with a nude or beige base shade, such as Essie’s Wild Nude, before painting on your metallic dots with a fine line brush or dotting tool.
Instagram/@katebonarnails2/30Pride Stripes“This design was based on four of the LGBTQIA+ flag color schemes,” Smith says of this fun rainbow-striped look. “I used very pigmented colors to hand-paint the lines.”
Smith recommends using a very thin nail-art brush. Micro Trader’s 3Pcs Ultra-Thin Nail Art Brush is a great option that’ll help you get clean, runway-straight lines.
Instagram/@katebonarnails3/30Delicately Dotted Rainbow NailsThis super-simple (yet no less stunning) manicure is another great idea for nail-art beginners because it’s as easy as painting each nail a different color and adding some tiny white dots with a toothpick.
“I used different pastel base colors, which always remind me of spring,” Smith says. “And I used a dotting tool for the polka dots, but a cocktail stick would also do the job.”
Instagram/@ginaedwards_4/30Graphics with Negative Space“I was inspired by the Black movement and equality of Blacks in America,” nail artist Gina Edwards tells us of this look she created for an Allure photo shoot. “Stemming from George Floyd and others before him, the design shows black strokes moving in various directions in search of equality and respect.”
To DIY this nail look, simply use a thin art brush to paint whispy half moon-style lines on each digit. You can either leave the base bare or apply nude or light-pink polish — whatever you prefer.
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Courtesy of Instagram/@ginaedwards_5/30Floral CrystalsAfter seeing floral Swarovski jewels online, Edwards says she was inspired to create a “transparent flower garden on the nails,” another look she created just for Allure. This rhinestone set from Amazon costs less than $10 and comes with a variety of crystal flower appliqués to choose from.
Apply a tiny amount of glue to each nail using a toothpick and then carefully position your flowers on top until you’re happy with how they look. You can also apply a coat of shiny clear polish on top if you like your nails to have some luster.
Instagram/@ginaedwards_6/30Mid-Century Modern PurpleArt Deco was the name of the game when it came to this funky, multicolored creation by Edwards. “There was no guide for this look,” she says. “I ended up blending some colors by Emilie Heathe and decided to make a grid on the nail.”
For this look, you’ll obviously need two shades of purple — a lavender as well as a dark grape color — plus a crisp, opaque white. To create the grid, use a striping nail stencil (such as this one) in combination with a thin nail art brush to give you control.
Instagram/@nailsbykirstenchanel7/30Evil Eye AccentsThis unique negative space nail look is easier to DIY than it looks — promise.
“To achieve the evil eye design, just using a dotting tool dipped in blue polish,” suggests nail artist Kirsten Camenforte of @nailsbykirstenchanel. Then use a fine line brush to add swirly white lines on each nail like so.
Instagram/@nailsbykirstenchanel8/30Black and White ColorblockingThis mod look comes at the hands of Camenforte, who recommends some very specific prep. “Before you work on the design, wipe down the surface of each nail with alcohol to get rid of the [base polish’s] tacky layer,” she advises. Her explanation? “Drawing on a more matted surface keeps the design crisp and prevents bleed out.”
Another tip: Definitely use a stencil, like this one, to get the cleanest lines possible. As for the nail polish, any black and white shades in your collection should get the job done.
Instagram/@nailsbykirstenchanel9/30Muted, Marbled PastelsThis stunning nail look marries two different nail trends we’ve been seeing everywhere: embellishments and muted colors. “To create the marble look, dip your nail-art brush in acetone to make the polish watery; this help creates the marble effect,” says Camenforte.
Alternatively, there are myriad stunning marble-patterned press-on nails available on Amazon and Etsy.
Instagram/@rachel.messick10/30Muted Terracotta“A warm, muted terracotta orange will give you that effortless lifestyle-blogger-who-wears-hats vibe,” quips Los Angeles-based nail artist Rachel Messick. “To recreate this look at home, try Cirque Colors Nail Lacquer in Arabesque.”
Source: https://www.allure.com
