These Summer Nail Art Designs Will Earn You Endless Likes

Summer is upon us, which means—along with planning days at the pool, road trips to the beach, and ways to not sweat all our makeup off during our morning commutes—we're also thinking of ways to update our beauty routine for the warmer weather. While bright colors are gorgeous all on their own, we're shameless suckers for seriously good nail art. Whether it's an emoji-inspired mani, a tie dye masterpiece, or a different color on each nail—we're here for it and have a feeling you are too.

To help you make the most of the rest of summer, ahead you'll find 27 summer nail art designs that you'll want to show off on the 'gram. Pick one for right now and save a few for the weeks to come. Whichever you choose, we bet you'll receive a compliment or two (hundred).

01 of 27

Flower Power

Acrylic manicure with Murakami flowers design — @nuka.nails

Put your prettiest hand forward with this neon nail look.Getting acrylics means your manicurist can create a range of intricate designs, such as these Murakami flowers, before applying them to your nails.

02 of 27

Tiny Stars

Black French manicure with gold star studs — @paragonnails

Who knew nude nails could look so chic by adding tiny stars to the mix? Instead of trying to paint them on, use confetti topped off with topcoat to hold each star in place.

03 of 27

Nude with Neon Accents

Beige, white, and neon yellow combine for an unforgettable nail look that's both muted and bold.

04 of 27

Abstract Nude

Nude manicure with colorful abstract brushstrokes — @paragonnails

Spruce up your nude mani with an abstract design which, when paired with subtle neon dots, is summer-worthy.

05 of 27

Metallic Dots

A simple mani you'll want to show off all summer and beyond? Tiny metallic dots, of course. Grab the metallic polish of your choice (we love Emilie Heathe's Nail Artist in Mr. M ($30)), and use a toothpick or dotting tool to create your design. Finish it off with top coat and you're good to go.

06 of 27

Summer Camo

Lilac, yellow, and peach camouflage manicure — @chillhouse

You may have noticed that camo is back in action these days. If you're not a big fan of the all-green look, switch it out for summery pastels, as NYC resident nail studio Chillhouse did here.

07 of 27

Marble Mani

rainbow marble nail art — @absolutelynailed

Water marble nails are having a major moment this summer. You can recreate the multicolored designs by dropping polish in water and dipping your nail in overtop, but given the hard-to-perfect technique, you might want to consult a pro for this look.

08 of 27

Tortoise Shell Halfsies

Clear manicure with beige tips and tortoiseshell central strip — @paragonnails

Tortoiseshell is one of the chicest accessory materials of the moment, so why not put the trendy acetate design on your nails, too? For an ultra-posh take, refrain from covering your whole nail. That way, you can show off not one but two nail trends, as you'll be employing negative space, as well.

09 of 27

Cow Print Cuties

Periwinkle manicure with cow print accent nails — @paintsalon.uk

Kendall Jenner was one of the first celebrities to rock this untraditional animal print—and in typical Kardashian/Jenner fashion, it seemed as if the whole world followed suit. It perfectly combines black and white in a universal mani and paired with a joyful accent shade, it screams summer.

10 of 27

Dotted Accents

Nude manicure with red, white, and blue dotted design — @oliveandjune

How simple and chic, no? All you need to perfect this mani is a nude base, three colors for your dots, a toothpick to create them, and a topcoat to seal the look.

11 of 27

Confetti Dots

Green French manicure with colorful rainbow confetti polish — @jinsoon

Here's a dotted colorful mani that's as eye-catching as it is easy to achieve. Just use a toothpick to create dots and confine the colors to one edge.

12 of 27

Hot Pink Plants

Neon pink nails with plant designs — @paragonnails

We don't know about you, but these hot pink nails with plants remind us of tropical vacations.

13 of 27

Neon Tips

Take your love of vibrant '90s nostalgia and recreate this vibe on your own nails. Instead of going full neon, just cover the tips.

14 of 27

Pretty Little Cherries

French acrylic manicure with cherry designs — @paragonnails

How delicious are these? The fruity negative space nail art is definitely more advanced, so either hone in on your patience or ask a pro for help.

15 of 27

Lovely in Lime

Negative space nails with lime green diagonal tip and horizontal base stripe — @paintboxnails

We don't know about you, but we're in love with all things lime green, and these nails are no exception. Like the neon yellow arcs, this nail design is all about adding pops of color without covering the whole nail. To achieve the ultra-crisp lines, use nail tape and keep a clean-up brush nearby.

16 of 27

'80s Squiggles

Manicure with purple, white, and blue abstract design reminiscent of '80s drink cups — @oliveandjune

Old school movie theater vibes, anyone? These pastel squiggle nails are both nostalgic and modern, making them a great choice for your summer nail art.

17 of 27

Negative Space Rainbow Nails

Negative space manicure with rainbow gradient sides and central bare strip — @betina_goldstein

If you love rainbow nails but don't want to only choose five colors for each hand, you'll love the idea of these gradient tips. Each nail features two different shades of the same family for an intricate take on the Insta-famous nail trend.

18 of 27

Cosmic Creations

Silver glitter manicure with white star and crescent moon designs — @joysedition

If you live for your daily Co-Star horoscopes, allow us to introduce you to your new favorite nail art. This cosmic creation is all about matching glossy polishes with metallic finishes for a unique look that shimmers like the night sky.

19 of 27

Sunset Tips

Neon pink and orange oval manicure with negative space base — @paintboxnails

We're in love with these sunny tips. The pink and orange combo reminds us of all our summer faves: Aperol spritzes, sunset, and grapefruit.

20 of 27

Eye See You

Teal and pink manicure with cow print stripes and eye designs — @joysedition

If you're looking for a twist on an evil eye mani, check out this pastel rendition. Between the eyes, black and white dots, and soft hues, we can't get enough of this nail look.

21 of 27

Matte Neon Squiggles

Blurred nude nails with matte neon orange squiggles — @imarninails

Sometimes all you need is a few simple squiggles to make a seriously eye-catching nail look. Copy the matte orange design here or consider switching colors for each nail.

22 of 27

Leopard Details

Matte black nails with leopard print — @nails.by.liv

Looking to balance your love for all-black everything with some summer fun? Swipe a matte noir polish on most of your nails, and use leopard print and a highlighter yellow stripe as accents.

23 of 27

Happy Days

rainbow smiley face nail design — @elias.nails

On days when you need a pick me up, these rainbow smiley face nails are playful and fun, which is the epitome of summer.

24 of 27

Peach Emoji

Negative space peach design nails — @betina_goldstein

There's nothing like a juicy peach in the summertime, especially in the form of beautifully stylized nail art.

25 of 27

Negative Space Smiley Faces

Negative space smiley face nail art — @tipsnailbar/tipsnailbar.ca

Happy it's summer? Dot your nails with mini smiley faces to show off your good mood.

26 of 27

Neon Lines

Clear nails with neon pink and yellow outlines on top and bottom — @paragonnails

We love an easy-to-achieve nail look, and this neon cutie is right up our alley. All you need is a handful of electric colors (we love the Côte Neon Everything collection) to bring your mani to life.

27 of 27

Gilded Ocean

Cobalt blue manicure with white stripe accents and gold foil detail — @paragonnails

If you want to sport mermaid vibes, these cobalt blue digits are a great choice for summer and beyond. If you love the look and want to extend it into fall and winter, consider going a shade darker each month.

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