The ombré look isn’t just popular for hair anymore—ombré nail designs are having a moment. Unlike other types of nail art that can feel overwhelming to execute and look a little too busy for some, an ombré mani is simple and seamless. It gradually blends at least one color into another. What’s more is that you can easily add personal flair to create a totally customizable style.
If you want to have sparkle at your fingertips, get glitter ombré nails. You can also let the seasons inspire your manicure with a fall-curated color gradient. Regardless of your DIY mani skills, ombré nails are an achievable look you can do right at home. All you need are two nail polish shades and a blending sponge. (For what it’s worth, this YouTube tutorial is pretty easy to follow.) But if you’re not confident doing your own mani, feel free to set up an appointment at the nail salon.
Below, we round up 20 of our favorite ombré nail designs to inspire you.
Ombré French Tips
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This roundup wouldn’t be complete without an ombré take on the classic French manicure. Sleek and classy, this milky look is one you’ll want to repeat again and again.
Rainbow Sherbet Ombré
What better source of ombré inspiration than a sunset? This colorful nail look combines all the best elements of the summer sky, merging pink, orange, green and blue like a colorful scoop of rainbow sherbet.
Sunset French
This summery nail look fades from orange to pink like a perfect sunset (or tequila sunrise for that matter.) The hot pink French tip is the cherry on top.
Lavender Ombré
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The nude-to-lavender transition is both seamless and classic. Plus, thanks to the sheer base, the grow-out phase will be nearly invisible. While this is a great mani for spring, you could also wear it as a more subtle summer look.
Mint Ombré
This minty green manicure features a subtle ombré gradient that moves from a pale milky green to a more vibrant and saturated shade. it also alternates the placement of the gradient, including the most saturated end at the tip of some nails and the cuticle of others. It’s an easy way to add interest.
Aura Ombré
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Aura nails are their very own category of ombré nails. The design is categorized by the gradient starting in the middle and working its way out to a solid color. Here, a soft purple and pink color gradient lends an other-worldly vibe.
Icy Ombré
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Embrace the chill of winter or keep cool in summer with this icy ombré manicure. Kick it up a notch with silver glitter specks on each nail. It might cost a bit more at the salon due to its intricacy, but it’ll be well worth it.
Sunrise Ombré
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Not sure whether to go warmer or cooler with your polish? Then try both. Here, warm orange and yellow seamlessly combine with cool blue tones, resulting in a beautiful color contrast reminiscent of a sunrise.
Ombré Accent Nails
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If the ombré look is too much for you to have on every nail, keep it simple yet playful by adding a bright ombré accent nail. This watermelon-inspired design is a great way to dip your toes into the trend. Plus, it’s perfect for summer.
Rainbow Ombré
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This rainbow pastel ombré manicure screams spring, but it also works for any season. Play around with light and dark shades of the rainbow and have fun with it.
Rather than wear your ombré from nail base to tip, change it up with a horizontal gradient. This take is also recommended for beginners who are looking to DIY the look; it allows for one uninterrupted stroke of polish along the length of the nail so that blending is seamless.
Pearl Ombré
This swirling pink and white manicure features a textured, mother-of-pearl finish. What’s more polished than that?
Pastel Ombré
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Bright and cheerful, pastel ombré nails are the perfect accessory for spring—or whenever you could use a mood boost. Use a variety of shades, as seen here, or select just a couple of colors that complement each other.
Forest Ombré
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This is a perfect ombré nail design for earth signs. Your nails appear as lush as the woods up top and remain your natural color closer to the base. And since this look combines earth tones, it’ll go with any outfit.
Glitter Ombré
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Glitter tips always look cool—but especially so à la ombré. The colorful glitter in this manicure looks like a party on your tips. Best of all, you can easily achieve this style at home with your favorite microglitter polish.
Start by painting your base in whichever shade you like, then lightly dab glitter from the tip toward the nailbed. This way, the highest concentration of glitter stays on your tips and the remaining bit gently transfers to the rest of the nail.
Vampy Ombré
This moody mani fades from a deep wine red to black. An almond or coffin shaped nail would be extra fitting.
Tie Dye Ombré
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Ombré doesn’t just have to go one way. For a unique take on the popular trend, try out this side-to-side design. We love that we don’t really know where the ombré starts and ends because the colors almost seem to melt into each other like tie-dye.
Deconstructed Ombré
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If you’re after color-blocked nails, let this ombré-inspired twist inspire you. To DIY, all you’ll need is five different polishes that look like they could melt into each other. Copy this exact color gradient or change it up to match your favorite hues.
Red Ombré
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Take a step up from the classic red manicure to this two-toned look. It mixes bright red with a darker, moodier shade for a fierce combo. It’s also got a slightly sweet essence, considering it’s reminiscent of plump berries.
Polka Dot Ombré
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This is one of the most versatile ombré nail designs on this list. Since you can easily change the color of the dots, you can customize it to whichever outfit or season you’d like. Think: blues for winter, earth tones for fall, pastels for spring, and neons for summer.
Sandy Nudes Ombré
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To glam up your standard nude polish, consider a glitter top coat finish. Lighter beige tones at the base of the nail blend into deeper brown tips for lovely ombré nails that are both subtle and statement-worthy.
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