From dried flowers to the return of animal prints, get ready to explore an array of fun and dynamic nail art trends in 2024. After all, there’s nothing quite like a fresh manicure to boost your mood, and this spring, you’ll have plenty of nail art trends to draw inspiration from. Coquette essentials like feminine bows and pearls, as well as bold, shiny 3-D metallics, are at play, and there’s something for just about everyone when it comes to this year’s trendy nail aesthetics.
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These wearable looks can be personalized to your liking in nail shape and length; plus, they all share an element of adaptability that can be built upon if you wish to do so. Chances are that you’ll want to try more than one of these nail art trends, so setting up a schedule to get all your chosen looks some air time this spring is a move we totally wouldn’t blame you for (and might just have to do ourselves).
Wild and free with animal prints
We’ll be seeing zebra, leopard, cow, and snake prints all over spring manicures this year. “Who doesn’t love an animal print? Nail prints will be in and will be the new go-to. Celebs are already rocking these looks,” nail expert Iram Shelton told Who What Wear. These fun and flashy animal prints, which can act as neutrals if you ask us, make for a fun and fresh look. If you want to exercise your nail art skills, you can accomplish these prints at home, but heading to the salon for a polished look is totally understandable, too.
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Dainty and delicate dried florals offer a whimsical vibe
Perfectly reminiscent of spring’s early blooms, dried flower nail art is an ideal seasonal manicure trend to try out this year. Dainty with a cottagecore vibe, dried flower nail art is soft and romantic. While the flowers used in this trend may appear to be drawn on, they’re actually real dried flowers sealed into a clear polish. If you have the skill to make this magic happen at home, we recommend using miniature dried flowers designed for nail art, not large flowers that you’ll need to cut down first.
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Mix-and-match manicures can offer abstract twists
If you’re eager to try out multiple trends and simply can’t make yourself space them out, there’s no harm in trying out a few at once. Mix-and-match manicures feature multiple designs and colors, taking your maximalist energy to the next level. The options are endless with this style, and you could definitely incorporate one or more of the nail art trends you’ll be seeing on everyone’s hands in spring 2024, like animal prints and bows or 3D floral chrome nails. Or, you could just do one or two of those, with the other nails sporting your personal favorite designs.
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3-D metallic designs for the win
If you feel like chrome nails were everywhere not long ago, you’d be correct. The trend is back after a short hiatus, speaking to its impact and popularity. “Chrome had a major moment in 2017 and 2018—a lot of nail techs have joked that we’ve had to ‘blow the dust off’ our chrome powders now that they are back in such a major way,” nail artist and Sick Nails owner Kate Proulx told Glamour. This time around, we’re seeing a fun intersection of metallics and other trends, like 3-D looks, abstract designs, and true artistry perfected on each nail bed. For an even more inspired look, try one based on Zendaya’s “Dune: Part Two” premiere look.
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Frilly and feminine bows are ultra charming
Taking the balletcore trend to the nail salon, bow accents are the perfectly frilly and feminine addition to your delicate and simple manicures. Blush pinks, soft whites, and even lavender hues all bring this aesthetic to the forefront with a sweetness that can’t be matched. A touch of nail glue will hold down accessories like bows or pearls and can easily be accomplished at home.
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Mysterious aura manicures offer plenty of intrigue
Aura nails are the ethereal and soft nail trend that is just what it sounds like — a gentle aura of color blending inward toward the center of the nail bed. This look has a hint of mystery to it and can be accomplished with any color. For spring, you may want to opt for pastel pink or yellow, but the aura manicure also stuns in darker, moodier colors. “I love the illusion of aura art,” celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec told Allure of the trend. “It creates this really beautiful apex and gradient on your nails that looks expensive.” We couldn’t agree more.
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