With summer now less than a stone’s throw away, our seasonal beauty switch-ups are officially in motion, starting with the arrival of joyful, sunny manicures. Whether it’s a layer of glossy yellow polish or a minimalist spring-inspired design, the options are endless when it comes to sunny nail ideas. It’s simply a matter of choosing your style.
It’s also important to consider what type of manicure you’d like to sport this summer. Classic polish allows you to chop-and-change your design (not to mention, try new nail art techniques at home), while a gel formula will offer longevity for those looking for a longer-lasting mani. For ultimate durability, opt for acrylics, which are perfect for a long haul trip, or try BIAB to encourage strength and new length for weakened tips.
Here, we rounded up the best sunny nail designs and manicure ideas for this week’s upcoming heatwave, including fancy French tips and playful aura nails.
The 4 Best Sunny Nail Ideas For An Early Summer Manicure
Chrome French Tip Nails
You can add an elegant sheen to any classic manicure using chrome, but this summer it’s best placed over a sunshine yellow French tip.
‘Begin by paint one coat of your desired base shade (I’m a huge fan of Essie Gel Couture in Sheer Fantasy and Of Corset),’ explains nail artist and Essie ambassador Michelle Humphrey. ‘Paint your french tip; this can be a white, or any colour! For warmer days you might want to opt for a brighter shade like lilac, matcha green or yellow.’
To finish, apply either a chrome top coat (or chrome powder with a clear top coat) to add a finishing metallic glaze to your mani. So chic and so modern.
Daisy Chain Nail Art
Florals for spring-summer may seem cliché but we assure you, these delicate designs couldn’t be more trendy.
‘Start by applying your desired base shade; sheer always nudes look beautiful, but you can choose any colour you like. Soft sorbet shades would also be dreamy for this look,’ says Humphrey. ‘Use a dotting tool or a bobby pin to create a small circle of 5 white dots, then create the centre of the flower by adding one more yellow dot. Tip, be sure to clean the tool regularly to prevent the polish drying and the dots becoming uneven. You can have several flowers or just one on the nail, the options are limitless!’
If you’re opting for a daisy design at home, we’d recommend reaching for Essie’s ‘Blanc’ and ‘Rev It Up’ polish shades.
Sunset Aura Nails
Trendy but never childish, these airbrushed tips have been making the rounds since 2023, retaining their popularity thanks to an effortless to replicate design and versatile set of colourways. This summer, they’re worn best in bright yellows and vibrant oranges. Think sunset shades.
‘Paint your nails in your desired shades, I love choosing bright pastels on each nail,’ says Humphrey. ‘Apply a matte top coat and allow to throughly dry. Grab any eyeshadow palette. Using an eyeshadow applicator sponge, gently buff the eyeshadow into the nail where you’d like your aura.’
Complete on all nails, then apply a glossy top coat for that high-shine professional finish.
Gingham Nails
Gingham has long been hailed as the official fabric of summer, but did you know it also looks incredibly chic when adorned over bare nails? Better yet, match your manicure to your lightweight summer wardrobe.
While we’re huge fans of an at-home nail design, we’re the first to admit that this idea is far from beginner friendly. Save this detailed inspiration for your in-salon appointment, whether that’s an acrylic set to last well beyond the heatwave, or a classic gel manicure that won’t smear and smudge throughout the week.
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Katie Withington (she/her) is the Beauty Writer, at ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar. Working alongside the ELLE UK Beauty Team, she covers all things beauty for both print and digital, from finding backstage make-up trends at London Fashion Week and investigating buzzy skincare ingredients, to unzipping the beauty bags of Hailey Bieber and Margot Robbie. Prior to joining ELLE UK in 2022, Katie studied (BA) Fashion Journalism at London College of Fashion and has previously contributed to Red, Good Housekeeping and Prima.
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