12 Nail Art Inspirations for Your Next Trip to the Nail Salon

A visit to the nail salon can be a great way to have fun with yourself. However, many are guilty of shying away from taking the time to do something new with their nails. 

There are many cool nail art designs that look amazing on anyone, even those who don’t have the occasion to be out in public to show them off. With a bit of art and heaps of creative style, you can make your nails look ultra-chic, trendy, and eye-catching. 

Here are 12 nail art ideas for your next salon appointment:

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Nail Art Designs to Try

It’s true that you can bring home whatever ideas you want for your nails, but the real challenge is how you pick just one. Create eye-catching nails using these super easy and trendy nail art design ideas:

French Manicure

Nail enthusiasts are reviving French manicures nowadays. This nail art design screams simplicity and elegance, especially when you have long nails. On the other hand, if you have short nails, getting a french manicure will accentuate them to appear longer.

Things You Will Need

• Base coat
• White nail polish
• Top coat

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. Prep all your nails before the mani. A French manicure is a nail art that often includes square-shaped nails, but if you like, you can also keep them round.
2. Apply a base layer and let them dry before proceeding with the nail art.
3. Apply the white nail polish on your tips.
4. Once done with the nail art, apply the translucent top layer all over your nails.

Twisted French Manicure

We’re definitely big fans of reinvented French manicures, as they are frequently featured in nail extensions. 

70s-inspired nails, you can now deviate from the standard fresh-colored polish as this nail art design is no longer limited to white nail polish. People can now try different colors, such as pastel shades or pink tips, to create a twisted French Manicure.

Things You Will Need

• Base coat
• Pink, green, or pastel nail polish
• Top coat

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. Before the manicure, prepare your nails using the right tools. Then, you can try other nail shapes depending on your liking.
2. Apply the base coat.
3. Apply your preferred nail polish on your fingertips.
4. Try other French manicure ideas, like a diagonal mani or nail polish with two shades, apart from the horizontal one.
5. Apply the translucent top coat all over your nails once satisfied with your nail art.

Geometric Nail Art

Nails with geometric shapes are creating a trend nowadays. From everyday casual to nighttime glam, this nail art is fun, unique, and easy to make using different symmetrical shapes and unusual geometric ideas. 

Whether you’re an experienced artist or just starting out in nail design, you can create and invent your own shapes using appropriate manicure tools. 

Things You Will Need

• Clear base coat polish
• White nail polish
• Wine nail polish
• Metallic gold nail polish 
• Clear top coat

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. File your nails to the shape of your liking.
2. Before starting with the nail art, apply a clear base coat.
3. Add three stripes on the left, on the right, and at the center of your nail beds using your preferred nail polish.
4. Make a diagonal stripe from the center edge of the left side of your nail all the way to the tip and fill in above the stripe. For this step, you can use a darker color to provide contrast.
5. Repeat the same process at the right-center side of your nail to the opposing tip and fill in the edges with another shade of nail polish.
6. Finish the nail art with a clear top coat.

Cherry Nails 

Level up your nail design with a cherry on top. No matter what the season, cherry nails never go out of style. This is one of the most popular nail art design ideas that will make your nails look sweet and timeless.

Things You Will Need

• White nail polish
• Red nail polish
• Light green nail polish
• Dark green nail polish
• Dotting tool (options: bobby pin, toothpick, or thin nail brush)
• Clear top coat

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. Start by prepping your nails before the mani.
2. Apply a white base coat. For a more stylish look, you can alternate the colors of your fingernails using red and white nail polish.
3. Start making the nail art on the edge of the white-colored nails by painting the cherry stems with light green polish.
4. To achieve the desired nail art, make small red circles on top of the stems of your white-based nails.
5. Create a set of dots in the middle of your red nails using a dotting tool. 
6. Add leaves around the stem with a darker shade of green, and put a small white patch on the cherry to make the nail art seem more realistic.
7. Apply the top coat as a finishing touch to the nail art.

Accent Nails

Accent nails are one way to spice up your regular manicure. Add personality to your usual look by adding a contrasting color, pattern, or design to one fingernail of each hand.

If you want to take your ideas to the next level but don’t want to go over the top, then this is one of the perfect nail designs for you. 

Things You Will Need

• Clear base coat
• Red nail polish
• Gold nail polish
• Top coat

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. Fine-tune your nails to your desired shape with a nail file.
2. Cover your nails with a clear base to prepare for nail art.
3. To achieve the desired nail art, use the first nail polish of your choice to paint your nails, except for the nail you chose for the accent. 
4. Once dry, apply the second layer.
5. Apply the second nail polish shade to accentuate the chosen fingernail.
6. In this nail art, you can add cute ideas and elements like flowers, geometric shapes, and the like.
7. Finish the manicure with a clear top polish.

Metallic Nails

Metallic nails can make your fingernails look fierce and sophisticated. Gold chrome nails or gold metallic accents are a few of the perfect nail art design ideas to wear, not only for a festive holiday manicure, but also for all the seasons to come.

Things You Will Need

• Base polish
• Metallic gold nail polish
• Top polish

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. Prep your nails for the mani. This design is best for people with short nails.
2. Apply the base layer before proceeding with the nail art.
3. Apply a thin layer of the metallic nail polish of your choice.
4. Dry it for two minutes, then apply the second layer to achieve your desired look.
5. Apply the top layer to add more shine to your nail art.

A Hint of Animal Printing

Animal prints are timeless and always on trend. With the combination of chic and sexy nail polish, you can unleash your wild side with leopard print nail art designs.

Things You Will Need

• Base polish
• Nude nail polish
• Light brown nail polish
• Dark brown nail polish
• Nail brush
• Top polish

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. Shape your nails with a nail file. You can also cut your nails to your desired length to match the nail art you will make.
2. Apply an even layer of your base coat.
3. Cover your nail with your preferred base color.
4. For the base, you can choose between neutral shades, bright hues, or pastel colors, such as pink, green, blue, and yellow nail polish.
5. Using a thin nail brush, create several small and imperfectly shaped dots with darker nail polish. Make smaller dots if you have shorter nails to achieve this design.
6. Apply a clear top polish.
7. Outline the spots with the darkest color of the nail polish you have. Make half circles and some small and uneven dots to achieve the leopard print look.
8. Paint your nails again with the clear polish once you’re satisfied with your nail art.

Glitter Nail Art

We all need a little sparkle in our lives, so with this nail art design, you can add sparkle in your holiday seasons and all year round. Take inspiration from this nail trend, and you’ll never run out of bright and sparkly ideas. 

Things You Will Need

• Base polish
• Pink nail polish
• Rose gold glitter nail polish
• Chunkier glitter nail polish (optional)
• Clear top polish

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. Prep your nails by cleaning, trimming, and shaping your nails.
2. Start by applying a layer of base polish before proceeding with the nail art.
3. Apply two coats of your chosen nail polish on your fingernails.
4. Decorate your nails with glitter polish. You can style the entirety of your nail or half of it for a gradient look.
5. Apply another layer of nail polish according to your desired look.
6. You can opt to mix in some chunkier glitters to elevate your nail design.
7. Seal your glitter nail art with top nail polish.

Negative Space Nail Art

Think outside of the box with a negative space look in your nails. Deviating from the usual manicure ideas, negative space nail art gives sophistication and a futuristic feel.

Things You Will Need

• Base polish
• Scotch tape
• White nail polish 
• Black nail polish
• Dotting tool
• Top polish

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. Remove any residue and file your nails to prepare for the mani.
2. Place the scotch tape in the middle of your nails.
3. Apply a base layer on the remaining area.
4. After drying the first layer, paint the remaining area with two coats of white nail polish.
5. Carefully remove the tape on the negative space.
6. Outline your nails.
7. To achieve the desired nail art, trace the lower part and the border between the white and black nail polish.
8. Dry and finish your negative space nail art with the top coat. 

Rainbow Nails

A rainbow always comes after the storm. As the rainy season ends, paint a rainbow on your nails and let it be a ray of hope in your life.

If you like creamy pastels, earthy tones, pale shades, and androgynous colors, you can put them all in one design with this rainbow-inspired nail.

Things You Will Need

• Clear base polish
• White nail polish
• Red nail polish
• Yellow nail polish
• Blue nail polish
• Purple nail polish
• Palette 
• Sponge or brush
• Nail polish remover
• Cotton buds
• Clear top polish

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. Prep and file your nails to your desired shape.
2. Begin by applying a clear base coat.
3. Paint your nails with white nail polish. Once it dries, apply a second layer.
4. Apply the top polish.
5. Place red, yellow, blue, and purple polish on a palette or any flat surface.
6. Press the brush or sponge on the palette and let it absorb the colors.
7. Dab the sponge on your nail until the color transfers to your nails. You can also move the tool sidewards to ensure that all sides are coated.
8. Clean the sides with a nail polish remover and cotton bud.
9. Once clean, apply a top coat to finish the manicure.

Elemental Nail Art Designs

Unleash your creativity by using bright hues and graphic shapes to make your fingernails look cute, fun, and chic. You can try creating a simple design like flowers, half-moons, or a smiley. 

Things You Will Need

• Base polish
• Pink nail polish
• Yellow nail polish
• Black nail polish
• Thin brush
• Clear top polish

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. Begin by filing your nails. You can also trim your nails for a neat appearance.
2. Apply a base layer.
3. Paint your nails with your preferred base color that will suit the nail art.
4. For this nail art, use a thin brush to create a yellow circle.
5. Layer the circle until the color is opaque. You can also paint a number of yellow circles in different sizes and shades to create a variety of smiley faces.
6. On top of the yellow circle, make two black dots for the eyes and a curved line for the mouth. Repeat the process to ensure that the features of the nail art are opaque.
7. You can also incorporate other design ideas, such as flowers, sparkles, stars, and half-moons.
8. Finish your masterpiece with a top coat.

Mismatch Nail Art

Nails with the same color are sometimes out of the league. With single-shade manicures being outnumbered by mismatched nails, it’s true that this nail art has entered the trend.

Things You Will Need

• Clear base polish
• Pastel yellow nail polish
• Pastel pink nail polish
• Pastel purple nail polish
• Pastel blue nail polish
• Pastel green nail polish
• Clear top polish

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. To prep for the mani, file your nails and apply the base layer.
2. Paint your whole nail with your chosen shades of color. 
3. Mix and match different colors for this nail art.
4. Alternate two or more colors and paint your nails using different shades.
5. Apply a second layer using the respective colors you’ve chosen on each nail. 
6. Finish it off with a clear top polish once dry. 

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Nail Polish to Try for Your Nail Art

Choosing the brand of your nail polish is as important as choosing from the existing nail design ideas. We tend to think long when we choose the colors and nail art designs for our fingernails rather than the actual product that we’ll be using.

Oftentimes, we just grab whatever nail polish we find at the department store.

Manicure is not just about painting your nails and making them presentable – it’s about nail care. We have to be wary of the products we apply on our nails as they can get sensitive over time if we are too reckless with our choice. After all, nail polish is not just for beautifying your nails, it can also strengthen their structure and restore moisture. 

Because of this, we have to take extra care in choosing our nail polish to make sure that we do more good than harm. To be guided in choosing the nail polish that will best suit your nail care and designs, check out the products featured below.

YOKO Nail Polish

With a price ranging from ₱72 to ₱160, you can have a set of high-quality, guilt-free, and quick-drying nail polish. This nail product is perfect for your desired nail designs, not only because it is UV-free, but it also comes with a non-toxic, healthy, and environment-friendly formula.

CARONIA Nail Polish

You can achieve cool nail art while supporting a local business at the same time. The CARONIA Nail Polish is a locally-manufactured and FDA-approved nail product that can be used for your desired nail designs.

YULYNA Candy Nail Polish

If you’re eyeing bright ideas in your next manicure, Yulyna Candy Nail Polish is one of the best options for you. This product is made of healthy ingredients to create long-lasting yet easy-to-remove nail polish formulas. You can buy a set of this nail polish to make your nails look beautiful.

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Final Note

If you’re a nail enthusiast like me, it can be hard sometimes to find good inspiration for the next time you head to the nail salon.

Nails are a great way to show off your inner geek or a playful side. Just like the clothes you wear and the cosmetics you use, having beautiful nails definitely makes you look cool, chic, and fashionable.

If you want to spice up your nail game, you can try any nail designs with acrylic nail extensions.