The Best Spring 2024 Nail Trends
Every year, we get excited about new beauty trends. This past year, nail art flourished, paving the way for next year to be even more epic. Given the nature of at-home manicures and the limitations of our own amateur nail skills (which, we will admit, did mildly improve during the past few years), we’re ready to enlist the expertise of professionals to help us try all the newest nail trends of 2024.
That’s why we asked the industry’s top manicurists to share all the fun nail trends you’ll be seeing everywhere this year, and their answers have us eager to change up our manicures ASAP. To preview, you can expect to see bold hues and moody colors among the top nail-color trends of the year, in addition to muted looks like “old money” nails; experiment with fun finishes with cat-eye nails; and load up on intricate embellishments. The best part is there’s something for everyone: dark, goth-inspired nails à la Wednesday Addams; aura designs to suit your every mood; and so much more.
Whether you’re looking for inspiration for popular nails to take with you to your next salon appointment or searching for nail trends you can do on your own at home, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to see new nail styles worth trying in 2024. We guarantee you’ll find a set of trendy nails that you love.
Naked French Tips
Over the past year, french manicures have had a major resurgence. The latest trend, “naked french tips,” is all about your nails but better. The look is a mix of a diffused french manicure and your natural nails. “This makes it look like a natural nail, as if you’ve got nothing but clear polish on, while still covering any imperfections,” Vanessa Sanchez-McCullough, celebrity nail artist, previously told POPSUGAR.
Cat-Eye Nails
Cat-eye nails are truly mesmerizing. The nail trend has a velvet-like finish and can be paired with any color of polish that you choose.
Coquette Nails
The viral “coquette aesthetic” from TikTok is influencing every area of our look. “Coquette nails are all about tapping into your ethereal, hyper-feminine side by using specific colors, patterns, and embellishments,” Rianna Basurto, marketing specialist for the salon Bellacures, previously POPSUGAR. The manicures typically feature bows, pearls, and shades of pink.
Aura Nails
You’ve probably seen aura nails on your social media feed at least once in 2023, but it’s predicted to be huge in the next year. “The style features a circular ombre effect that emulates a glowing aura,” Pattie Yankee, consulting manicurist for Dashing Diva, says. Not only is it stunning, but it’s easy enough to re-create at home on your own.
To be clear: aura nails don’t have to feature your actual accurate aura reading, but rather utilize colors that mimic the colors of the body’s chakras and energy fields. (Think swirls of colors that diffuse outward, starting in the middle.)
Rita Pinto, founder of Vanity Projects nail salon, previously told POPSUGAR: “It’s very New Age meets Gen Z because the colors of the manicures are way more interpretive and expansive than the usual aura-chart colors. I’ve also heard them be referred to as ‘color trips’ in the salon by clients.”
Chrome Nails
Perhaps the biggest trend in 2023 was chrome nails, and that will continue into the next year. “It won’t be a surprise to see chrome or metallic nails all over,” says manicurist and LeChat nails educator Hemi Park. Expect to see chrome finishes across a range of different colors — silver, gold, blue, and pink, to name a few.
Like any other nail design, chrome can be used on the entire nail or as part of a nail art look — like french manicures, stars, and more — and the latter take will be a new twist on the trend you’ll see a lot of in 2024.
Junk Nails
The beauty of “junk nails” is that they can be whatever you want them to be. “This nail craze captivates a fusion of vibrant hues; 3D elements like rhinestones, beads, glitter; and eccentric nail art,” Liana Thomson, nail expert at Nails.co.uk, previously told POPSUGAR.
Rich-Girl Nails
Rich-girl nails are proving to be a popular nail style for 2023 after stars like Jennifer Lopez, Marsai Martin, and Hailee Steinfeld wore the look. The manicure is minimal, clean, and very chic. “‘Rich girl’ nails are a modern take on a sophisticated classic,” celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik previously told POPSUGAR. “[The] color is a creamy, full-coverage nude playing homage to the greige inspiration originally seen with Chanel.”
Because the rich-girl nail trend is all about the color, you can wear it in any shape. They’re perfect for year-round wear, thanks to the minimal style.
