A word to the wise: Little about the hottest summer 2021 nail art and color trends is going to fall into the realm of "subtle." Nail technicians and at-home artists alike have spent lockdown perfecting their skills—which include illustrations that look like actual pieces of art, chrome manicures, neon colors, and so many different types of swirls. Below, 13 popular nail designs for summer to bring to your next appointment. (Or, better yet, learn how to DIY yourself.)
Smoky Swirls
Like a trailing swirl of smoke, this abstract nail design is all over Instagram, and it'll only keep growing this summer.
Heavy Metal
Take your favorite neutral or nude, and upgrade it with a metallic finish.
Tiny Accents
Unlike all-over metallics, this trend uses the glitzy elements in smaller amounts—a sticker here, a line of rhinestones there.
Complementary 3D
Texture nail art has been a thing for a minute, but we predict that summer 2021 is going to approach it from a minimalist perspective—think noticeable designs in nudes and neutrals.
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French Plus
Your regular French tip with a 2021 treatment. Ask for a nail art design applied over a French tip; extra points if it makes a colorful contrast.
Rainbow Nails
Mismatched nail colors remains a trend that just won't quit, and we still love how effortlessly cool it makes nail colors we already own.
Throwback Butterflies
Dua Lipa brought back the butterfly nail art trend from last year, and we're so grateful.
Cheeky Checkerboard
The checkerboard fashion trend will continue moving onto our nails this summer. Spice it up with extra florals, or be happy with the already intricate design.
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Artistic Tips
This trend takes all the artistry you love and isolates it to just the tip of the nail, creating a riff on the classic French manicure.
Nostalgia Overload
Smiley faces, '90s pop art, and cartoons are fair game for summer 2021.
Water Marble
Remember spending hours trying to perfect water marbling nail art? It's time to dust off the skill.
Simple Pink
All of the nail art is fun, but simple pink and nude manicures are still very on trend for 2021. (And they're so much easier to do on your own.)
Summer Brights
Likewise, you can never go wrong with a pop of neon for summer.
This article originally appeared on Harper's BAZAAR US.
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