Pastel nails are the perfect choice if you’re craving color but don’t want something too bold. Pastels have a milky white base that allows you to get pigment in a light and airy way. “Pastel shades add a subtle pop of color,” says Hang Nguyen, a nail artist with Nailing Hollywood. “Pastels are ideal for someone who is looking for an understated look that still manages to get attention. When it comes to choosing a pastel nail polish, I tend to gravitate towards softer, less vibrant tones that provide excellent coverage and an overall delicate look.”
While pastels are perfect for spring, celebrity manicurist Brittney Boyce notes that you can wear them year-round. “Most people associate pastels for spring and flower designs but to translate the colors for the colder months, you can’t go wrong with a pastel French tip or adding a chrome on top gives a cool effect,” says Boyce. “I also love to use pastels for the aura nail trend.”
To inspire your next look, browse the 30 pastel manicures below.
Simple Florals
“This is a really fun look that’s easy to replicate at home,” says Nguyen, who is also the author of Nail Art Deck ($20). “All you need is two to three pastel colors of your choice, a white polish for the center of the flower, and a bobby pin or a dotting tool to create the flowers.”
Abstract Pastels
There’s no wrong way to make blobs and squiggles! To create this look, I used five shades of gel polish and a bobby pin to create the shapes.
Lavender Milk
Milky nails are so fun because you get a little wash of color while still seeing the beauty of your natural nails. This look used a light purple jelly polish to create a lavender milk look.
Edgy Metals
“I love mixing pastels with metals,” says Boyce. “It’s so cute but adds a little edge.” This look features a milky white base with a pastel pink aura down the middle and 3D gel designs coated in silver chrome.
Butterfly
Perfect for spring, this look features a pinky-purple jelly polish. Because the polish is translucent, you can see the smile line of the nail so it creates a tip effect. One nail per hand is accented with butterfly stickers.
Muted Pastels
Pastels don’t always have to be bright, as demonstrated by this muted manicure. Each nail features a different muted pastel for a look that’s equal parts airy and moody.
Mystic Blues
“This nail look is so mystical,” says Cameron. “It’s perfect for the winter with different shades of blues and glitter embellishments.”
Cotton Candy
“This nail look is a pretty blend of a blue and pink ombré,” says Cameron. “The rhinestones add a fun touch to enhance the design.”
Pastel Skittles
“This look is perfect for mid-spring through early summer,” says Nguyen. “This is another look that’s really easy to replicate at home—just grab your favorite pastels and layer each shade in the shape of a rainbow. You don’t need a nail art brush for this look but it is helpful if you struggle to paint with a regular polish brush.”
Flaming Hearts
“I’m literally obsessed with this look — it’s so cute,” says Boyce. “It’s perfect for spring but you could wear this all year long. It’s a pastel French with a white heart flame with chrome overlay. I used the shade I Love You So Mochi from the Aprés Nail French Manicure Gel Tokyo Ombre Set ($50) underneath for the French design and layered with Subway Tile White from the Aprés Nail French Manicure Gel New York Ombre Set ($50) for the flames!”
Wild Flowers
Pastels and florals are the perfect combo. This look features pale purple nails that flank two fun accent nails. The accent nails use a nude sheer polish as a base for a mix of peach, purple, pink, yellow, and white floral stems.
Pink Chrome
Chrome powder is a great way to add some interest to an otherwise simple look. This features a pearlescent chrome over a pale pink.
Airbrush
This pretty look pairs a pastel pink with a deeper purple for a bit of contrast. To fake the airbrush look, grab a makeup sponge and tap on the polish.
Baby Blues
Baby blue is a great color to choose for a pastel manicure. This shade gives light-wash denim vibes.
Pastel Aura
“You can’t go wrong with a pastel aura,” says Boyce. “The aura effect was achieved with Aprés Nail’s Aer Gel Machine.”
Minty Fresh
This minty green-blue is a great pastel shade—it really pops with the gold jewelry.
Half French
“This pastel half French is a cute twist on the classic French,” says Boyce. The look features a pale green angled tip outlined by a white line.
Lover
This pretty design features blobs of pastel pink, orange, blue, yellow, and purple. The look can be created with a makeup sponge or an airbrush. Plus, each nail has a sweet pink heart.
Springy Mix-and-Match
This mix-and-match manicure uses a fun blend of pinks, purples, yellows, orange, and green. The design features hearts, flowers, and a smiley face.
Floral Chevron
This pastel tip design mixes an angled chevron pattern with a mix of flowers. Each nail features a mix of colors, keeping the look extra fun.
Pretty Purple
This pale purple polish has a hint of pink in it to keep the polish from looking chalky.
Bold Florals
Go bold and cover your nails in a blend of pastel flowers. It features a fun blend of different shapes and sizes to keep the design interesting.
Neon Pastels
This design leans into the bright nature of pastels with neon polishes on each nail.
Marble Swirl
This squiggle look blends shades of pink, orange, yellow, and green to create a fun look. A few of the squiggles are marbled for added interest.
Mixed Prints
White, purple, yellow, and blue make up this design. It features a blend of checkers, swirls, and flowers.
Sunny Day
With this bright yellow on your nails, you’ll smile every time you look down at your hand.
