Limoncello Nails: The Tastiest Summer Mani Trend

It’s a pretty agreed-upon notion that limoncello is an acquired taste. For some, the Italian lemon liqueur is the perfect after-dinner digestif, but for others (myself included, contrary to my Italian heritage—sorry mom) the alcohol tastes more like a counter cleaner than a dessert beverage. But, no one can deny that the fresh, lemon color limoncello creates is absolutely to die for.

If you’re not a fan of drinking limoncello but want to incorporate the beverage’s quintessential summer energy into your life, limoncello nails might just be the way to go. A fruitier, more summery take on the viral butter yellow nails, limoncello nails play off of the citrusy color palette while adding notes of shimmer and shine to evoke that Italian coastline, shiny-waves feeling. Ahead, expert nail techs share their favorite limoncello nails.

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Limoncello Nail Colors and Designs

“The shades of an Italian summer are so on trend for this season,” says Olive & June’s mani trend expert Oliva Van Inderstine. “We all love a Spritz, but a zesty Limoncello is our favorite mani inspo right now. Butter yellow is such a trend, and this is a brighter, punchier version that feels extra fun. An easy way to play into the trend is to go for a Limoncello french for a little accent of yellow.”

If you’re looking for a simple limoncello nail look you can do at home, Van Inderstine has you covered. “For a full on Limoncello mani, choose a bright yellow shade like Olive & June’s Bright & Focused ($9). From there, you can wear it solo or add a coat of Pink Goldfish ($9) to give it that chrome-glaze effect. We’re obsessed with layering, so applying a bright semi-sheer yellow jelly polish like Lemony Lemon ($9) over JLR ($9) gives the coolest depth and bounce—almost like looking through a glass of the drink itself!”

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Lemony French

Lemony fresh? More like lemony French! This limoncello nail style by Rachel Joseph is the perfect combination of an understated, lemon yellow French mani with a design accent of an actual lemon for some extra-fruity flair.

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Lemon Tree Chic

Fruity, farmer’s market nails are easily one of the hottest nail trends of the season, and this style by Joseph is a great way to incorporate those sought-after hand-painted styles with that Italian, limoncello energy.

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Limoncello Flambée

If you like the limoncello color palette but prefer a nail style with a bit more punch, Joseph’s fiery lemon nails are a great way to add a citrus-on-fire feeling to your limoncello nails.

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Realistic Lemon Vibes

One of the distinguishing factors between the viral butter yellow nails and limoncello nails is the deeper, ripe-lemon color associated with a fresh, homemade limoncello, and these deep limoncello nails by Hang Nguyen are perfect for your summer vacay.

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Classic Limoncello

At the end of the day, there is something so timeless about a single-color, no-fuss manicure, and this lemony-yellow style from Olive & June is the perfect way to bring Euro summer into your manicure without straying from your classic roots.