Festival season is somewhat mystifying (and no, we're not just talking about the suspect substances you'll likely come across in line for the Porta-Potty). Instead, we're referring to the fatigue-inducing trends we see over and over again. (We have this weird theory that the overt predictability of festival beauty is part of the general allure).
That being said, the inherent "fun factor" shouldn't be underestimated. After all, when else are you going to cover yourself head to toe in gilded body tattoos, glitter, ombré rhinestones, or heck, all three simultaneously? Which brings us to other festival ideas, like nail art. We rounded up 16 of the best festival-inspired nail art ideas we've seen on Instagram as of late to keep your nail game inspired. Keep scrolling to see them all!
Butterfly Stickers Galore
If you thought the peel-on sticker trend was purely the stuff of your middle school mani dreams, think again. Beloved California-based nail salon Olive & June has two different sets of salon-inspired designs, which basically give you the look of a painstaking, in-house job, sans the sweat, wait time, and investment. Simply peel, stick, and seal (with your favorite clear top coat) for a festival-ready nail aesthetic. The butterflies shown here are a part of the brand's Desert Mood Nail Art Sticker Set ($8).
Neon Ombré
Ombré nails have been around for a while, and the trademark trend shows no sign of fatigue. Plus it's easy to do at home. To keep things fresh, we like this neon (versus chrome or metallic) take with fiery shades of yellow and orange.
Rock 'n Roll
As much as we would love to see The Rolling Stones perform on the Coachella stage, we're pretty certain our dream is 100% outside the realm of possibility. However, that won't stop us from carrying the band's iconic vibes to our nail game. This iteration feels on point for festival season and falls on the simpler side of the spectrum if you're not a fan of glitter and lollipop-esque color.
Diamonds, Roses and Eyes, Oh My
As a certain iconic blonde once sultrily sang, "diamonds are a girl's best friend." And since we don't recommend actually wearing them while partaking in festival fun (it just doesn't seem like a wise choice), why not paint one onto your nails instead? Paired with a bevy of other fun designs (including cacti, a blue sky, and a rose garden) you're practically guaranteed to have a carefree time.
Flower Power
Spring essentially means it's festival time, am I right? Go for all things floral with this sweet, retro mani. Not into hand painting? Not to worry—these are actually super simple stick-on gels by Mainme. Get the Daisy Chains ($25) print for a long-lasting and impressive manicure that stays put for weeks one and two.
Rainbow Color Blocking
The simple color block decorating this black mani has completely captured our hearts. This design embraces the rainbow in a really chic way that's equally playful. (PS: Use some nail tape for this one.)