The easiest way to look and feel festive for any holiday is by painting on a themed manicure. And this Memorial Day is no exception! Show off your patriotism with red, white and blue nails (we even have a pink gingham design for those who prefer the pretty hue) with any of these Memorial Day nail inspiration below. The best part? They’re all easy to recreate and DIY at home, so you can save time and money.
11 DIY Memorial Day nails
Don’t worry — they don’t all require extensive skills! But if you’re not one to DIY, bring any of these pictures to your next nail appointment.
1. Star spangled style
The best part of this Memorial Day nail design from @manis_by_kaitie on Instagram is that the stars are just stickers. No hand painting required!
Get the look:
- Paint the thumb and middle fingernails with two coats of red polish, like CND Vinylux Longwear Nail Polish in Poppy Fields. On the pointer nail, apply two coats of a shimmery white polish, like Cirque Colors Nail Polish in Soleil. On the ring fingernail, apply two coats of opaque white polish, like Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Color in White On Time. And the pinky nail, paint two coats of a blue glitter polish, like KBShimmer Nail Polish in I Got A Crush On Blue. Let dry completely.
- On the ring fingernail, place two diagonal rows of red and blue star-shaped nail decals, like COKSDUPID Red, Blue, White Star Nail Stickers, across the middle of the nail.
- Seal all nails with top coat.
2. Pretty and patriotic American flag
“The combination of sparkly stars, blue and red polish evokes our flag with artistic flair!” says celebrity manicurist Patricia Yankee.
Get the look:
- Apply two coats of opaque red polish, like OPI Nail Lacquer in Big Apple Red, to your thumb, middle and pinky fingers. Let dry completely.
- On the middle fingernail, use a white striper polish, like Finger Paints Striping Polish in Hip Hip Hue-Ray!, to paint white horizontal stripes over the red.
- Apply two coats of opaque blue polish, like Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish in On the Download, on the index and ring fingernails. Then, use a toothpick to place rhinestone stars, like Leelosp 4th of July Patriotic Star Nail Charms over the blue polish.
- Seal all nails with top coat.
Related: 10 Fun Blue Nail Ideas to DIY at Home or Bring to Your Next Nail Appointment
3. Radiant red, white and blue glitter galore
This is another Memorial Day nail design, by Instagram user @anroberts814, that requires no special art skills. All it takes is a few swipes of a festive, glittery polish.
Get the look:
- Paint all nails with two coats of a glittery red polish, like ILNP Nail Polish in Joy. Let dry.
- Apply one coat of glittery blue polish, like KBShimmer Nail Polish in I Got A Crush On Blue, and one coat of silver glitter polish, like ZOYA Nail Polish in Cosmo Magical Pixiedust. Let dry completely.
- Seal all nails with top coat.
4. Gorgeous pink gingham nails
Bring the fun of a Memorial day picnic or BBQ to your nails with this colorful and classic gingham manicure.
Get the look:
- Apply two coats of white polish, like Olive & June in HD, onto the ring fingernail and two coats of dark pink polish, like essie Nail Polish in Mod Square, onto the rest of nails.
- Mix one drop of each polish to make a light pink hue, then use a toothpick to paint it on the white nail. Create two vertical lines and three horizontal, crisscrossing lines.
- Once nails are dry, dip a new, clean toothpick into the dark pink polish and use it to fill in the squares where the horizontal and vertical lines intersect. This enhances the tonal gingham pattern. Let dry completely.
- Seal all nails with top coat.
5. Amazing American flag French tips
This flag-inspired nail design adds a bit of bling right to your fingertips.
Get the look:
- Paint all nails with a classic red nail polish, like OPI Nail Lacquer in Big Apple Red. Let dry completely.
- With a white nail art pen, like Sally Hansen I Heart Nail Art Pen in White, paint thick crescent tips on your pointer and ring finger and let dry.
- With a blue nail art pen, like Sally Hansen I Heart Nail Art Pen in Blue, trim the top half of the white crescents with thin blue crescents and let dry. Next, use a toothpick and a dot of clear nail polish, apply small star-shaped rhinestones, like Leelosp 4th of July Patriotic Star Nail Charms on accent nails.
- Seal all nails with top coat.
Related: Dazzle on a Dime: 12 French Tip Nail Designs That are Easy to Do at Home
6. Stunning star spangled French tips
Tried and true, French tips get a patriotic spin with this design by @honeymoonnail on Instagram that makes for the perfect Memorial day nails look.
Get the look:
- Paint all nails with two coats of a clear polish, like OPI Natural Nail Base Coat. Let dry.
- On all fingers except for the ring fingernail, use a white nail art pen like Sally Hansen I Heart Nail Art Pen in White. to paint crescent tips. Let dry completely.
- On the ring fingernail, start by painting a blue crescent tip with a blue nail art pen, like Sally Hansen I Heart Nail Art Pen in Blue, starting at one upper corner and stopping slightly before you reach the opposite corner. Underneath, use the white nail art pen to follow the same shape, but connecting all the way to the other corner. Next, use a red nail art pen, like Nails.Inc Lipstick Red Mani Marker Nail Art Pen, to follow the same shape underneath the white tip. Let dry completely.
- Use the white nail art pen to paint three small stars along the blue tip. Let dry.
- Seal all nails with top coat.
7. Retro polka dots
Add a hint of retro fun to your nails with this easy design by blogger Emi Fukushima of Small-Good-Things.com.
Get the look:
- Paint your thumb and ring finger with two coats of sheer pink polish, like Ella + Mila Nail Polish in Pure, immediately followed by two coats of sheer white polish, like essie Nail Art Studio Jelly Gloss Nail Polish in Arctic Jelly. Next, paint the rest of your nails with two coats of red polish, like CND Vinylux Longwear Nail Polish in Poppy Fields. Let dry completely.
- Using one side of an unfolded bobby pin, carefully dot red nail polish onto your thumb and ring finger. Repeat the same dotting process with royal blue nail polish, like essie Nail polish in Butler Please, using the opposite end of the same bobby pin. (Emi did five dots of each color on her thumb and four dots of each color on her ring finger.) Let dry completely.
- Seal all nails with top coat.
8. Bold patriotic polka dots
Vertical rows of bold dots “stretch” nails so they look longer. And it couldn’t be simpler to create!
Get the look:
- Apply two coats of white polish, like Olive & June in HD on all nails. Let dry. Next, dip a nail dotting tool, like Orly Dotter Duo, in blue polish, like Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish in On the Download, and create three vertical rows of dots on the index and pinky fingernails.
- Wipe off excess polish on the dotting tool with a paper towel. Then, dip the tool in red polish, like CND Vinylux Longwear Nail Polish in Poppy Fields, and make three vertical rows of dots on the middle, ring and thumb fingernails. Let dry completely.
- Seal all nails with top coat.
9. Marvelous mix and match Memorial Day nails
Celebrate Memorial Day in festive style with this fun and simple-to-do nail art from HannahRoxIt.com.
Get the look:
- In a diagonal fashion, paint the top half of each nail with white polish, like OPI Nail Lacquer in Alpine Snow, and the bottom half with blue polish, like essie Nail Polish in Push Play. Let dry completely.
- Dip a medium-size dotting tool into the white polish and create polka dots on top of the blue polish. Then, using a red striper polish, like FingerPaints Red-Aissance Striping Polish, paint diagonal stripes across the white polish. Let dry.
- Seal all nails with top coat.
10. Eye-catching micro polka dots Memorial Day nails
With these simple steps from BlogNailedIt.com, you’ll create festive Memorial Day nails that look like you just left the nail salon.
Get the look:
- Paint two coats of white polish, like OPI Nail Lacquer in Alpine Snow, on all nails. Let dry.
- Use red polish, like OPI Nail Lacquer in Big Apple Red, to paint a slanted line at the top of one nail and a blue polish, like essie Nail Polish in Push Play, to paint a slanted line at the bottom in the opposite direction. Repeat on all nails, alternating colors. Let dry completely.
- Dip a toothpick in red polish and dot on the inside of white triangles. Then, dip a toothpick in blue polish and dot on red slants. Finish by dipping a toothpick in white polish and dot on blue slants.
- Seal all nails with top coat.
11. Striking yet subtle blue French tips
These bedazzled blue French tips are easy to recreate with this how-to from nail blogger Copycat Claws.
Get the look:
- Paint all nails with two coats of a French manicure base polish, like OPI Natural Nail Base Coat. Let dry completely.
- Line the edge of each nail using a white nail art pen, like Sally Hansen I Heart Nail Art Pen in White. Let dry completely.
- Using tweezers, place blue sequins, like qiipii Royal Blue Nail Art Flatback Rhinestones, along the bottom of the white line.
- Seal all nails with top coat.
For more nail inspiration, click through these stories:
Manicurists Reveal the Top Nail Shapes of 2023 That Are Sure to Flatter Your Fingertips
12 Red Nail Designs: Easy Ways To Add Even More Flair To This Classic Nail Color At Home
