Tired of red nail theory and classic summer neons? Consider rocking a bright blue nail design instead.
Whether you opt for baby blue, dusty blue, cerulean, or cobalt polish, blue manicures are a breath of fresh air in the heat of summer. As for which blue nail designs to create in the weeks and months ahead, manicurist and Nailing Hollywood CEO Mazz Hanna says you can’t go wrong with swirls, flowers, evil eyes, aura applications, chrome accents, and mix-n-match nail art.
Need some inspo? Peruse 20 gorgeous blue nail designs below.
3D Blue and White Shell Nails
Summer 2024 is all about French manicures, builder gel applications, and 3D accents. As such, this turquoise and white seashell manicure is a must-try. If you don’t have naturally long nails, you can recreate this look with stiletto Gel-X tips.
Dodgers Nails
Blue and Silver Chrome Nails
Feelin’ sporty? Show your team spirit with your nails. “I love using a bright blue color to wear a fan-incure,” says manicurist Sigourney Nuñez. “The best way to show support to my favorite sports team is with some nail art.”
Blue and Silver Chrome Nails
Chrome applications are another must for summer 2024. While this exact design doesn’t have a set name, it’s a popular technique we’ve seen popping up all over our feeds. Celebrity manicurist Rachel Joseph is behind this look, which she created to look like her favorite Poppi flavor.
Comme des Garçons Blue Heart Nails
Consider this Comme des Garçons nail art for a kitschy blue nail design. You can easily DIY it with a dotting tool, cobalt blue polish, black polish, white, polish, and a fine-lining nail art brush. Make two blue dots to create the hearts—you just have to drag a little polish down from each into a point for the bottom of the heart.
Blue Daisy Nails
Another design that’s easy to DIY with a dotting tool? Daisies. This blue, white, and yellow daisy manicure was created by Nailing Hollywood manicurist Morgan A. Dixon. To create the flowers, make five to nine dots in a circle, then drag them in toward a point in the middle. Top it off with a yellow dot for the center of each daisy.
Matte Blue, Mint, and Purple Esoteric Occult Nails
For a mystical, magical blue nail design, opt for occult nail art atop a purple and blue ombré base. This blue nail design is a bit more challenging to DIY, so you may want to bring this photo as inspo to your next mani appointment.
Blue and White Italian Summer Nails
Cobalt also looks stunning on a bright white base. You can recreate this design using a fine line nail art brush and French manicure stencils. Just be sure to wait for your polish to dry before removing the stickers, otherwise you risk smudging the vivid polish.
Blue Bumblebee Nails
Want to make a statement with your blue nail design? Add a few teeny bumble bees to the mix for a polished remark on the importance of pollinators.
Cherry Picnic Nails
Fruit nail art remains a fan-favorite in 2024 and this cherry gemstone take makes it really stand out. For the picnic French tips, start with a white base then layer two to three blue horizontal and vertical stripes for the pattern. Finish with top coat.
Bejeweled Blue Aura Nails
Hanna and Joseph are also big fans of aura nails. While some people DIY the design with a sponge, Hanna says there’s an easier method. “Aura nails [can be] created using blooming gel and powdered makeup like eyeshadow, blush, or pigments, or an airbrush,” she says. As for the bejeweled accents? They’re nail stickers!
Opalescent Blue Chrome Nails
Gold and silver chrome might be most popular but here’s proof that opalescent blue chrome can look pretty stunning, too. The best way to DIY this nail look is with a baby blue base topped off with blue-tinted holographic chrome powder. Encase it in top coat for a high-shine finish.
