We have some seriously good news: In 2024, the nail art trend is finally starting to catch on. Listen, we love stacked and studded nails when it comes to vibes, like Megan Thee Stallion’s gold studded nails or Doja Cat’s glittery manicure, but for life daily? In this economy? Please give us something easy. (We’re tired of this, man.) Thankfully, the universe has stepped in, and next year’s crop of nail designs is filled with simple and clean designs, like negative-space French tips and The flowers are easily dotted. Additionally, we will see an increase in tools like nail stickers and tube gels that make more complex works of art accessible to everyone.
Of course, if you’re a nail art purist and enjoy spending three hours in the salon, you’ll still have some sophisticated options, such as hand-painted ceramic nails that rival the Ancient nails at the Smithsonian. Essentially, 2024’s nail art is a choose-your-own-adventure moment that can be classed or dressed up.
To guide us through all the best nail art inspiration — and how to recreate the look at home — we chatted with the industry’s top nail artists and manicurists. Keep scrolling and get ready to take screenshots.
Famous French tips
French piercings have officially taken over the nail scene next year, and the spring 2024 runways are no exception. At Staud, lead nail artist Julie Kandalec re-imagined the micro French tip by adding a swirl of negative space to it. Using an ultra-thin paintbrush (yes, real paintbrushes), she highlights each “tip” up and across the bottom of the nail to create a striped effect. “This look is a low-risk foray into nail art, especially since you can add a little color without it feeling like a statement,” says Kandalec.
Because the embossed French is the reverse of a regular tip, Kandalec recommends “starting with a neutral base color with a little bit of coverage so it can cover the natural part of your nail.” . For coverage that isn’t too sheer, we like Lights Lacquer Nail Polish in Mrs Potts (for lighter skin tones) or in the shade Mrs Wheeler (for darker skin tones).
3D jelly art
Despite being extremely popular in Korea and Japan in the last few years, 3D jelly nails have yet to attract the same fan base in the US. But that’s about to change in 2024, according to our experts, who’ve noticed a rise in 3D accents this year (like the pink 3D bow above, or the silver 3D heart or transparent 3D raindrops). “It’s a super fun and ingenious way to apply gel” (a popular choice), says Kandalec, who loves Korean brand Jello ZigZag Manicure Gel for its three-dimensional designs. Another K-beauty product is Keepu Custom Gel or you can choose Amazon favorite Makartt 3D Art Gel).
“A quick and easy way to get this look at home is to use 3D gel in a tube or pot,” says Los Angeles-based nail artist Vanessa Sanchez McCullough. “The gel stays where you put it, so you just squeeze or apply it into the shape you want, then cure and maybe put another color on it.”
swirly nails
Swirly nails, wavy nails, nails that look like water – whatever you call them, as long as you’re talking about them for 2024. As we enter the new year, these swirly nails are almost every nail can be found on every artist’s IG grid, and for good reason: They’re an easy way to experiment with bright color combos without needing a completely steady hand.
“I’m a huge fan of bold, contrasting nail colors, so I love seeing them combined in swirly designs, as they tend to be a lot more fun,” says Portland-based nail artist Brittney Ellen. stand out’ a little more. “You can experiment with intriguing swirls, abstract swirls, psychedelic swirls and textured swirls — really, it’s just a way to express your personality and mood with these designs .”
Each artist has a different technique for creating her swirls (Ellen likes to paint them carefully with a nail brush, while Kandalec likes to use Gelish Blooming Gel to create a marbled effect). Regardless of technique, make sure to use “a generous amount of top coat,” says Ellen, to prevent the design from smudging and smudging at the end. “I find that when the brush doesn’t have enough top coat, it hits the design and tends to ‘pull’ the polish and create ridges.” She likes to use UNT’s Base Coat and Top Coat to perfect her curls, but you can also try the long-lasting, high-shine Essie Gel Setter Top Coat (so good, it’s three-wear won an Allure Best of Beauty award).
Halo nail art
Good news (or bad, if you’re h8r): Aura nails aren’t going anywhere in 2024. In fact, our experts say they’re one of the biggest nail art trends that we can expect to see next year – and honestly, we’re not mad about it. “I like the illusion of halo art,” Kandalec said. “It creates really beautiful peaks and gradients on your nails that look really expensive.”
If you’re a pro at painting your own nails, you can try recreating this look yourself by painting the halo design on a clean makeup pad, then dabbing it onto your nails (see instructions). This aura guide from Ellen shows how to do it). Or, you can try the eyeshadow method, which involves dabbing eyeshadow onto slightly sticky nails before applying a top coat.
Glazed ceramic nails
Sorry ma’am, but we’re going to take your antique ceramics and put them on our nails in 2024. “Lately, blue and white prints have become popular again because they are elegant, timeless and loved by so many cultures,” says nail artist Emily Zheng, who pays homage to the Year of the Cat with the Chinese porcelain nails above.
Brooklyn-based nail artist Samantha Rose — whose nails are inspired by Dutch Delftware — agrees: “The color combination is so comfortable, like a thrifted vase or vintage teapot, that you won’t You can’t help but be attracted and stare at it. ” Although both experts took the liberty of designing their own porcelain designs (“none of the designs were perfectly painted, which added to the overall feel of the design,” says Rose), but we recommend leaving this trend to your nail technician for the sharpest results. Or, you can try creating the same feeling at home with a set of Delft blue nail decals (suitable for beginners) or try your hand at nail stamping with some Chinese ceramic printing plates and polish Delft blue nails.
Molten chrome accents
One of the biggest nail and toenail color trends of 2023 is chrome — specifically, a full set of monochrome silver that packs a splash. But for the nail art of 2024, the megawatt of shine will be revoked and replaced with molten chrome accents that run along your nails like flames. “Chrome nail art can really elevate the simple look of nails and spice it up without causing a feeling of being overwhelmed.”
You can pair your chrome accents with a complementary base color, such as Zheng’s metallic paint color above, or mix it up with a mix of 2024 trends, such as adding This color into halo nails or crystal nails. Regardless, “chrome is not a short-term trend,” says Brittney Boyce, a nail artist and founder of nail care brand Nails of LA. “It will stay here.”
Y2K flowers
If you’re aware of them for the first time, you probably spent the first few years of your life manicured with decorative floral nail art on your toes. But don’t worry, square French piercings won’t be joining us in 2024 – just flower dots on every nail. “These are the simplest flowers you can draw for beginners, but they will always look impressive,” says Rose. She suggests using a dotting tool, pin, or toothpick to create the flowers, and experimenting with their size and color to change the feel of your mani.
Additionally, unlike many 2000s trends that burned brightly for a month before fading, these old flowers “aren’t specific enough to be tied to a season,” Rose says, meaning they can Can easily be worn all year round. “I can do them in red, green and white and no one will wonder why I’m doing floral nails for Christmas,” she says. “They are truly a blank canvas for every season and every holiday.”
Monocrystalline nails
One of the easiest nail art trends of 2024 is the monocrystal mani (also seen at Eudon Choi’s spring/summer show), which requires virtually no skill or planning. As long as you have some mini rhinestones and nail glue (or, tbh, a strong base coat), you can easily recreate this look at home. “This is a look anyone can pull off,” says Boyce, who accented her neutral nails with free-edge crystals, while Rose opted for cuticles features a contrasting crystal fringe with a French ombré hairstyle. However, don’t worry too much about the gemstone’s location. “It’s not about the crystal; what matters more is the reflection as it catches the light,” Kandalec said.
When trying this look at home, Boyce recommends letting the base coat, polish, and top coat dry for 10 minutes, then dabbing nail glue onto your nails before pressing and sticking the crystals in place with tweezers. “Be sure to hold the ice in place for about 30 seconds, then avoid contact with water for 30 minutes,” says Boyce.
Alphabet nails
Primary school will be back in action in 2024 with the alphabet – that is, nails with individual letters are already starting to appear in different iterations as we get closer to the new year. At Helmut Lang’s spring/summer show, models wore the designer’s name spelled out on each nail in a sans-serif typeface, while celebrity nail artists like Boyce experimented with fonts Gothic on French foundations. Even Vanessa Hudgens tried an alphabet manicure on her bride, spelling out “BRIDE” and “MRS. T” in gothic lettering along her French ombré nails.
“I’m obsessed with this look,” Boyce says of the alphabet trend. “It adds a minimalist tattoo feel to your mani and feels a bit edgy.” To help the letters stand out more, start with an opaque white base coat that matches your natural nails, but provides a little coverage, such as Londontown Perfecting’s nude collection Nail Veil Polish. Then, for the typography, “you can have your nail technician hand-paint it at the salon, or you can use decals or stickers to get the same look at home,” she says.
