Looking for a simple way to boost your mood or manifest your future? Your next manicure just might do the trick—especially since 2024’s trending nail designs are so cool that it’s impossible not to be inspired.
As for what’s predicted to take over? According to Michelle Nguyen, nail expert and founder and CEO of PLA Nails, the sleek, minimal styles we loved this past year aren’t going anywhere. “It seems like quiet luxury is here to stay for a bit,” she tells Glamour. “Many people are now embracing a sleek, minimalistic look for their nails, and we’re seeing a lot of sheers and pigmented skin tone and nude shades trending for 2024.”
This should come as no surprise, especially after a year filled with bright pink Barbie-inspired nail designs. Our nails—and eyes—need a breather.
That doesn’t mean 2024’s trending nail designs are boring, however. Nguyen adds that while minimalist nail looks are definitely in, loud, vivid colors aren’t gone for good; they’re just evolving. “They can still be seen in more abstract designs and patterns, like bold, bright swirl designs and more-vibrant French tips,” she explains. “French manicures with a sheer base and bold, vivid tip are a look to watch out for, as it blends a classic design with a pop of color.”
Jan Arnold, a nail expert and cofounder and style director of CND, agrees, noting that while 2024 is shifting away from 2023’s over-the-top extremism, the new year’s nail designs will still be spiritual, virtual, and trippy (and therefore, super cool). More specifically, Arnold predicts psychedelic, holographic, and pearlescent finishes to trend for spring, and says summer will be a time to embrace “carefully curated bright, warm, and cream palettes, for love, light, and good fortune.”
By fall we’ll see an uptick in muted earth tones mixed with optimistic bright finishes that “evoke a futuristic feel,” and “winter and the holiday season will bring us regal refinement through textures and dimensions for a deep, glamorous, festive season,” Arnold continues.
Other styles to expect? “Colors and tones will feature top notes and undertones that play in concert and in contrast, depending on how they’re paired,” says Arnold. “Extravagant details like overscale embellishments with rich and luxurious colors will be a perfect design for a festive night out, and patterns and textures will bring inspiration, motivation, and calm.”
According to Arnold, we will see medium to longer lengths with softened stiletto, coffin, and almond shapes continuing to dominate the nail world.
However, Nguyen says that short and natural shapes will continue to spike in popularity along with stealth-wealth minimalism. “It looks like natural colors and nail shapes will be prominent in 2024,” she says. “There seems to have been a shift from ultra-long nails to shorter and more manageable square or round nails.”
Whatever your preferred nail length, shape, or style, there’s at least one—or a few—2024 nail trends for you. See the coolest nail-art inspo for the year ahead and get ready to screenshot. (And then call your nail tech.)
Blush Nails
Shades of baby pink and hot pink will transform your aura nails into blush nails. To get the gradient affect, apply baby pink all over the flat side of a soft sponge before adding hot pink to the center. Carefully buff on to the nail and follow with a layer of clear topcoat.
Rainbow Chrome
It doesn’t get more fun than this neon rainbow chrome set. Stick to similar color families on each nail for a gradient effect.
Baby Blueberry
Take the blueberry milk nail trend a step further with tiny little berry nail art. After all, tiny fruits and veggies are trending.
Island Peach
This palm tree and peach manicure screams vacation. Screenshot this design for your next tropical getaway.
Mix and Match
Leopard, blue, and gold-jewelry-inspired decals sound overwhelming, but they somehow make sense with this mix-and-match design.
Oat Milk Latte
Latte nails, but make them muted and textured. This quiet-luxury-coded color scheme and 3D nail art are everywhere this year.
Mod Monochrome
Nguyen points to abstract designs and patterns, like swirl designs and unconventional French tips, as trends to watch. We love this monochrome take on the look.
Matcha Moment
Lattes aren’t the only beverage taking over nail trends. Anticipate more mint green, matcha-inspired manis in 2024.
Vanilla Chrome
If plain white is a bit too basic for your taste, top it off with a chrome finish for an ultraluxurious look.
Pattern Party
As Nguyen says, we’ll be seeing lots more abstract designs and patterns, such as these bold, bright swirl designs, in 2024.
Embellished Blue
Arnold points to “extravagant details like over-scale embellishments” as a top 2024 nail trend, and this regal manicure checks all of those boxes and more.
Indigo Ombré
Earth-toned and embellished, this is a style to try this year.