We’re big fans of soft, spring beauty looks. And one color that makes its way into many of them is lavender, especially for seasonal manicures.
Here, we chatted with nail artist and Nailing Hollywood CEO Mazz Hanna about why she loves the tranquil and calming hue. Plus, she shares her favorite pale purple polishes and the 20 best lavender nail looks for spring.
Peach and Lavender Squiggle Nails
We love the bright, colorful allure of this soft squiggle mani by Nailing Hollywood artist, Rachel Joseph. Get the look with Madam Glam’s Blissfully Yours & Kiss On the Cheek ($10 each). (Psst: You’ll need a nail art brush for an equally-as-clean squiggle.)
Cool Ombré Nails
This cool cobalt-to-lavender ombré was created using Holo Taco’s Feeling Fiendish and Royal-Tea Blue ($12 each). Since Feeling Fiendsih is sold out, you might want to try one of Hanna’s faves: Dazzle Dry’s Week in Provence ($22) or Manucurist Paris’ Lisa Lilas ($14). “Week in Provence is a cool-toned lavender with a little bit of a darker shade—this is great for those who prefer more saturation in their nail colors,” Hanna says. “Lisa Lilas is a lavender shade with a touch of mauve, making it a perfect transitional color from spring to summer.”
Shimmery Lavender Aura Nails
Aura nails continue to be a popular nail art choice and this glazed, ethereal take might just be one of our faves. Nail artist Dayanna I. Sapiens created it using Salon Perfect’s Peek-a-Blue and Candy Skies ($4 each).
Holographic Lavender Nails
These glittery lavender nails almost look holographic. Joseph created them using Dazzle Dry’s Faith and Wink Wink ($22 each). No time for multiple coats of different polishes? Make it easy on yourself with another of Hanna’s go-tos: Dazzle Dry’s Lovely Lilac ($22). “Lovely Lilac is a pale purple lavender that has a very subtle shimmer effect that pairs beautifully with the polish color,” she says. For a cooler lavender shimmer mani, she suggests Peacci’s Wisteria ($13). “Wisteria is a cool-toned lavender with a shimmery finish,” she says. “It’s a great choice for those who love to make a statement with their nail color.”
Lavender and Lime Mismatch Nails
Lavender and lime make for an especially fun high-contrast nail look. Joseph created this mismatched mani using Bioseaweed Gel’s Victoria and Tea Cups ($12 each).
Negative Space Lavender Mani
You can create a compelling lavender manicure with a single shade of polish. The trick is to get creative with your polish placement. For this look, Joseph opted for solid nails interspersed with French tips and cuticle accents. To DIY the look, grab bottles of Bioseaweed Gel’s Petit Fours and Milkshake ($12 each).
Lavender Diagonals
Here’s another super easy lavender nail DIY. Use striping tape to section off your nails diagonally. Fill one side in with Bioseaweed Gel’s Milk or Cream ($12), and the other with the shade Petit Fours ($12).
Iridescent Lavender Tips
Here we have another ethereal lavender nail look. Nailing Hollywood artist Laura Malarkey created the lavender chrome mani. For a similar look, use the nude polish of your choosing with another of Hanna’s faves: Orly’s Just Breath Nail Polish ($11). Use a sponge to dab the colors on; let the ombré dry, then apply chrome powder with a foam eyeshadow wand and finish with a top coat.
FYI: “Just Breathe is a creamy lavender shade that is infused with argan oil, pro-vitamin B5, and vitamin C,” Hanna says, noting that it enhances nail health while imparting color.
Lavender Nude Star Nails
This ultra-light lavender nude star mani has an early ’00s feel to it. While we don’t know the exact products she used to get the look, we do know that you can achieve a similarly moisturized mani using the Paume All-in-One Cuticle & Nail Cream ($28) and Probiotic Hand Balm ($24)—trust us, you’ll become obsessed with these next-level hand-care products.
Lavender Opalescent Skittle Nails
Not one for single-shade nail looks? Incorporate lavender polish into a Skittle mani.
Lavender & Blue Pastel Opalescent Nails
Lavender pairs beautifully with pale pink and a hint of glitter. You can DIY this look with the pastel pink and purple polishes of your choice, topped off with the Cirque Colors Fantasia Topper ($15).
Pastel Neon Lavender Nails
Love the idea of pastel neons but want to rock a solid mani? Copy this nail look with Cirque Colors’ Klepto Nail Polish ($13).
Lavender Shift Nails
Ombré shifts are big as we head out of spring and into summer 2024. We love this rich lavender to royal purple transition. Know what’s cool? This nail look was created using a single polish: West Texas Peyote Thermal Polish ($16) by Death Valley Nails.
Lavender and Spritz Squiggle Nails
For a high-contrast lavender nail look, add a reddish-orange spritz polish to the mix. You can DIY these swirls and negative space cut-outs using the Lights Lacquer Detail Brush Kit ($17).
Lavender Spritz Mix-n-Match Nails
Another way to wear lavender and spritz is within a mix-n-match mani. We love the daisy, retro swirl, and checker accents—don’t you?
Lavender Daisy Nails
Speaking of daisies, here’s how a flower-dotted lavender mani can look. You can recreate the look using dotting tools, like the Lights Lacquer Dotting Tool Kit ($13).