Dreaming up your next nail look? Instead of pastels, why not go bold with neons? While neons tend to be reserved for summer we’re here to remind you that color rules are arbitrary and you should wear whatever you want whenever you want.
“Neons are the perfect option for those who want a bold, vibrant manicure that will be sure to stand out,” says manicurist and Nailing Hollywood CEO Mazz Hanna. And that’s true regardless of how you employ them. Whether you rock a solid neon nail look or choose a more intricate design with neon accents, you can count on your manicure being memorable.
Meet the expert
If you can’t quite picture it, though, we’re here to help. Ahead, find over two dozen statement-making neon nail designs.
Abstract Black and Yellow Swirl Nails
Sonia Sanchez
Highlighter yellow and jet black create an instantly eye-catching color combo. Nail artist Sonia Sanchez, an Aprés Nail brand ambassador, created this look using the shade Hi-Lite from the Aprés French Manicure Gel Neon Ombre Set ($50).
Neon Skittle Dot Nails
@thehangedit / Instagram
Neon nail colors are especially fun because they look bold regardless of nail length. Here, see how short neon nails can look. This mani in particular is super simple to DIY. “Grab your favorite neon polishes and a dotting tool, toothpick, or Q-tip to create neon dots on each nail,” Hanna instructs.
Celestial French Tips
Sonia Sanchez
For a sunny, summery nail look, consider a celestial design. Sanchez created this one with French tips and aura accents, which she designed using the Après Aer Gel Machine ($99), interstellar charms, and a liner brush to create the French tips. As for colors, she used Après Gel Couleur ($15) in the shades Luna Luna and Cloud Nine.
Neon Two-Tone French
@thehangedit / Instagram
We love the look of this asymmetric two-tone French mani. Nail artist Hang Nguyen created it using Nails.Inc Nail Polish in the shades Knightrider’s Street and Wellness In Wimbledon. While she has a super steady hand and was able to create the extended shade shift using just a nail art brush, you might want to use the Orly Half Moon Guides ($7) to help create crisp lines.
Jelly Coral Floral Nails
Sonia Sanchez
Neons look slightly more subtle when crafted with jelly color. Sanchez created this jelly coral floral manicure using Après Gel Couleur ($15) in the shades Bubblegum Glow and Cloud Nine.
Neon Coral and Turquoise Aura Nails
For an easy-to-achieve neon nail look, snag a box of the Chillhouse Mood Ring Chill Tips ($16). They come with 24 nails, a dual-sided file and buffer, and glue. Though, trust us, press-ons apply much better with brush-on glue like the Olive & June Brush-On Nail Glue ($7).
Electric Lemon Chrome Nails
Sonia Sanchez
As bold as neon nails are on their own, adding a chrome topper takes them to a whole new level. For this look, Sanchez once again used the Après Hi-Lite shade but topped it off with white chrome powder.
Neon Mismatch Nails
@thehangedit / Instagram
Why restrict yourself to a single nail design when you can embrace a few with a fun mismatch manicure? “Add an interesting touch to your neon nails with nail art,” Hanna says. “You can recreate this look by Hang Nguyen at home with a nail art brush and a toothpick or dotting tool.” (Or you can take this picture to your local nail salon to show your manicurist what you want.)
Lime Chrome Nails
Sonia Sanchez
Love the idea of chrome neons? Sanchez created this glazed mani using Après Gel Couleur in the shade Lime Pop topped off with chrome powder.
Neon Strawberry Nails
@thehangedit / Instagram
How cute is this bright pink strawberry manicure? If you aren’t the best at nail art, make it easy on yourself with strawberry nail stickers like the Jmeowio Summer Fruit Nail Sticker Decals ($6).
Lime Slime Nails
@melanated.mani / Instagram
“Nothing invokes the excitement and freedom of summer like an electric pop of color at your fingertips,” says Nailing Hollywood artist Laura Malarkey. The color used here is the Cirque Colors Nail Polish ($13) in the shade C.R.E.A.M..
Neon Polka Dot Nails
@thehangedit / Instagram
A neon polka dot mani is easy to DIY. You can use the Lights Lacquer Dotting Tool Kit ($13) to create dots in various sizes or pick one of the tools to create uniform spots.
Neon Mix-n-Match Nail Designs
@melanated.mani / Instagram
This mismatched mani is pretty abstract but it doesn’t matter because the bold neon colors make it look positively picture-perfect. It was created using Cirque Colors Nail Polish ($13) in the shades Renegade, Electric Daisy, and Kushy.
Pink Rhinestone Nails
Sonia Sanchez
While many neon nail looks are glossy as can be, here’s proof that matte manicures can look pretty cool, too—especially when rhinestones are part of the mix. Sanchez created this look using Après Gel Couleur in the shade Electric Flamingo.
Neon Skittle Nails
@melanated.mani / Instagram
We love rainbow Skittle nail looks and they’re a cinch to create at home. Simply paint every nail in a different neon color and your hands will look photo-ready.
Neon Jelly Diagonal French Tips
Sonia Sanchez
We’re swooning over these neon jelly window diagonal French tips. Sanchez crafted them using the Après Color Extend Gel ($23) in the shade Insatiable and Gel Couleur ($15) in Acid Lime.
Neon Squiggle Halfsies Nails
@thehangedit / Instagram
Nguyen created this fun halfsie nail look using a color-block squiggle approach. Create your own by choosing two colors for each nail, with at least one of each being neon.
Neon Lime Swirl Nails
Sonia Sanchez
Sanchez designed these pretty neon lime swirl nails using a thin liner brush. The green polish she used is the Lime Sour shade from the Après French Manicure Gel Neon Ombre Set.
Neon Stripe Nails
@thehangedit / Instagram
“Neon pink and orange pair really well together and will really make your nails stand out,” Hanna says, referencing Nguyen’s fun neon stripe nail look. To recreate the crisp lines at home, use nail striping tape like the FANDAMEI 32 Colors Nail Striping Tape ($6).
Matte Neon Snake Skin Nails
@lauradidmynails / Instagram
Here’s another matte neon nail look that snatched our attention. Malarkey created it using pastel neon yellow polish along with lime green accents.
Neon Zebra Nails
@thehangedit / Instagram
Zebra print is one of the hottest prints of the year so this neon zebra mani is a must if you ask us. Admittedly, the dual-finish mani will take some skill to recreate, so you may want to book a nail appointment to bring this beauty to life.
Pastel Neon Skittle Nails
@lolo.nailedit / Instagram
“If you’re looking for something eye-catching but a little more toned down, opt for pastel neons,” Hanna says. “Nails.Inc has a great pastel neon four-piece kit called Neon Lite ($22). Nails.Inc also has a 4-piece bright neon kit called Naked In Neon ($22) for those looking for a bolder look.”
Two-Tone Neon Rainbow Nails
@thehangedit / Instagram
We love the look of these two-tone neon rainbow nails. To DIY them, use the Orly Half Moon Guides upside down to section off your tips.
Graphic Two-Tone Pink Nails
Sonia Sanchez
Sanchez created this Barbie-inspired neon nail look using Après Gel Couleur in the shade Electric Flamingo paired with the shade Tulipmania from the French Manicure Gel Holland Ombre Set ($50).
