Kylie Jenner may have just been trying to show off her new Kylie Cosmetics products on her TikTok, but the real star of her 30-second cream blush tutorial was actually her pastel chrome manicure, changing color and shimmering with her every move. his hand The look was everything summer nails should be: colourful, playful and with a glossy finish that looks even better in the sunlight.
Summer 2024's biggest nail trends offer the same fun, holiday-ready opulence. Think juicy jelly nails, flashy colors and metallic charms. Because whether you take your mani with you on a trip to St. Tropez as if you only stare at your hands at the keyboard all day, summer nails should still evoke a burst of joy. Read on for eight summer nail art and color ideas you'll want to take straight to the salon this season.
Shiny jelly nails
Editorial nail artist Jin Soon says jelly nails have a lightness quality that feels refreshing for summer, unlike the deep colors and creamy polishes of other seasons. “The gel look is both vibrant and soft,” says Soon, “the finish is perfect for creating a modern-looking manicure.” To best show the translucent effect, adding a design to the nail (like airbrush art or even simple dots or lines) under the top coat of jelly will really show the depth of the color.
Yellow Butter
We told you first: buttery yellow will be everywhere this summer. Painting your nails a soft shade of lemon will add an instant dose of radiant positivity to any outfit.
Pastel chrome
People have been focusing on chrome powder manicures since Hailey Bieber started the nail polish donut trend, but this season we're giving the look a new summer twist. Zola Ganzorigt (the originator of glazed donut nails) recently created this pastel chrome look for Kylie Jenner using a different base shade and a combination of chrome powder shadows on each nail to give the most opalescent effect . For a similar look in a bottled nail polish, nail artist Miss Pop recommends Zoya's Iridescent Nail Polish in the shade Leia. “A glossy summer mani is made to catch all the sun,” she says.
Contours in orbit
Ditch the expected nail art in favor of a design focused on the outer perimeter of your nails. Contouring around the edge of the nail gives your manicure a futuristic, dimensional look, but it's also a surprisingly stylish way to highlight elongated almond-shaped nails.
radioactive green
One nail color you can't miss this summer is a vibrant green that's so bright it almost seems like it's giving off energy. (Hailey Bieber's Coachella manicure actually glows in the dark.)
The French Flaming
Nail artist Brittney Boyce says this Y2K flame design twist on a French manicure will be huge this summer. “It's cool, but it's not so out there that people are intimidated to try it,” he says. Stick to classic whites and pastels that go with French manicures for a subtle look, or go bold with brights and metallics for a more punk vibe.
Blues for days
Miss Pop can't get enough of blue nail colors in the summer. “Cobalt, baby, periwinkle or with a shimmer, all shades as long as they're blue!” she says. If your mani is the same color as the sky, sea or stone (like Alix Earle's “stone nails”), you're totally on trend.
3D silver charms
You can give any nail color or design an edgier feel by accessorizing with jewel-like metallic embellishments, advises Boyce. A few well-placed studs, piercings, or balls can take a chrome finish from space-age to heavy metal, or give a simple neutral mani a rock 'n' roll twist.
