After chatting with nail artists backstage during New York Fashion Week, I’ve gathered one very key thing about spring 2024 nail trends: Anything goes. Truly, we’re in an era of beauty in which simple nail designs and the “clean girl aesthetic” peacefully coexist with gothcore matte black nails and ultra-long bejeweled claws—which is why this season’s nail trends are so damn cool and exciting. Planning your manicures for the next few months? Keep scrolling for my seven favorite spring 2024 nail trends, according to runways:
1. Embossed Lace Nails for Spring 2024
The “naked dress” look is all over my Instagram feed rn, but in a few months, it’ll be all about the lace nail. As seen at PatBO’s spring/summer 2024 show, embossed, lace nails paired beautifully with all the coquette-ish, lace and crochet garments the models wore, making this an ideal look for your spring vacay or pretending you’re in the Bahamas when you’re staring at yet another day of rain.
If you’re not a whiz with an embossing gun (you’re not?! No way!), fake the look with a set of lace nail decals (seen above).
2. Spring 2024 Nail Trend: Balletcore
The clean-girl aesthetic is still alive and well this spring (sry, mob wives), which is making way for even more ballet vibes, especially on your nails. But if you don’t wanna adorn your nails with bows and prefer a more simplistic approach, just coat your entire nail in a sheer light-pink polish. It’s minimal yet chic—the ideal canvas for whatever outfits and makeup vibes you’re trying.
Wanna make your naked nails look even more special? Make sure to majorly moisturize your hands (massage L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream into your entire hands and Tenoverten Rose Cuticle Treatment into your nails) and head to the salon every few weeks for a pro touch-up.
3. Floating French Tips for Spring 2024
Nail artist Julie Kandalec debuted these floating French tips at the Staud S/S24 show, and I immediately knew everyone would be recreating the look, in which the tips extend into the nail. It’s difficult to totally reinvent the wheel on a classic French tip, but this incorporates a lot of visual interest that makes the style feel exciting and new. And the best part? You’ve got hella options in terms of color and placement to make your set feel totally your own. FYI: If you’re trying to DIY at home, grab a set of guides to help you get a straight line with your French tips.
4. Bright Red Nails for Spring
The reds we all adored through the holidays and Valentine’s Day are especially hot for spring 2024, if the runways are any indication. Models at Viktor & Rolf, Brandon Maxwell, and Proenza Schouler all got a red manicure, complete with a majorly glossy finish to add a cherry-glaze vibe to their nails. If you want your look to veer more spicy and fun versus Christmas, opt for an orange-based shade instead of a deeper blue-based red (Essie Electric Geometric, above, is my favorite, but Dior 999 will always be a go-to classic red, IMO).
5. Long Stiletto Nails for Spring 2024
If you’re all about a flashy nail, ditch your medium-length almonds for ultra-long stiletto nails this season. It injects something fun and special into your look, especially after the dreary winter season. My recommendation? Opt for a set of press-on nails if you don’t wanna commit. This way, you can serve drama and intensity for as long or as little as you’d like, then pop ’em off once you wanna do the whole minimalist thing again.
6. Spring 2024 Nail Trends: 3D Nail Art
The newest take on the chrome craze involves 3D accents to (literally) elevate the whole look, as seen at Prabal Gurung. Here’s a quick tutorial, which uses builder gel (at left) to create a 3D effect on the nails if you wanna try at home. But if you’d rather take an easier route, just paint your nails with a shimmery polish, then stick on a few nail charms to get a similar 3D vibe, like bows or hearts.
7. Minimalist Nail Art for Spring
Nail art doesn’t quit, but this season, it’s a little more abstract and demure. At the Jason Wu show, nail artist Jin Soon Choi drew lines and dots across the models’ nails in black nail polish, then made it even cooler by layering on a matte top coat. But if you’re recreating on your own nails, play around with the design: Feel free to reject symmetry and order with a mix of bare nails, shiny versus matte looks, and simple doodles.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with five years of experience researching, writing, and editing nail stories that range from winter nail colors to dip powder nails. She’s an authority in all nail categories, but is an expert when it comes to spring nail trends from researching the biggest nail trends and consulting experts
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you “have to try.” Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair ‘do every few months.
