What better way to embrace the bright and carefree vibe of summer than with fun and fashionable nail art?
I’ll walk you through how to recreate each look, suggest tips and tricks to make application easier, and explain what makes each design perfect for August.
The looks range from beginner-friendly polish swipes to more advanced nail art, so there’s something for nail artists of every skill level.
Get ready to spark your most stylish summer ever with these 13 fresh and fabulous August nail ideas!
Neon Nails
Nothing says summer quite like neon!
The bright, saturated shades of neon polish instantly liven up any look.
Neon nails are eye-catching and fun – the perfect match for soaking up the summer sun.
Start with a base coat to protect your nails, then apply two coats of the neon shade of your choice.
Neon polishes tend to be on the sheer side, so the multiple coats will help you achieve that ultra-bright finish.
top it off with a glossy topcoat to lock in the color.
Some of the hottest neon shades for August include:
Lime green – This electric shade is bold and energetic.
It’s a perfect color for summer and looks especially great on longer square-shaped nails.
Coral – Vibrant coral is a must for spring and summer.
It’s tropical, beachy, and so fun.
The creamy finish gives it a retro vibe.
Yellow – Sunny yellow nail polish is ideal for summer.
It’s cheerful and gives off vacation vibes.
For extra pop, opt for a pastel or neon yellow.
Pink – Add some girlie flair with hot pink polish.
The bright, playful hue instantly livens up any look.
Pair it with neon accessories for a coordinated color palette.
Orange – Bold orange nail polish is striking and eye-catching.
It’s ideal for short almond-shaped nails and gives off a tropical, citrusy vibe.
Go graphic for even more visual interest by adding stripes, polka dots, or color blocking with neon polish.
Get creative and layer on the brights – neon nails are all about making a statement!
Marble Nails
Marble nail art is a hot trend that gives your nails a stylish, high-end look.
The marble design is created by blending two nail polish colors together using a toothpick, dotting tool, or the end of a paintbrush.
The result is an elegant, organic pattern that resembles natural marble.
Here are some tips for achieving the perfect marble mani:
– Start with a base color of white, black, nude, or gray polish.
This acts as your “marble” background.
– Choose two polish colors that complement each other to marbleize on top.
Pastels like pink, blue, lavender work well for a soft marble look.
Opt for brighter shades like emerald, cobalt, or magenta if you want something bolder.
Metallic polishes also make stunning marble designs.
– Apply the two marble polish colors next to each other in a diagonal stripe pattern across your nail.
Don’t cover the entire nail.
– Before the polish dries, use a toothpick, dotting tool, or brush end to “swirl” the colors together.
Blend them into an abstract marble pattern.
– Top with a fast-drying top coat like Seche Vite to seal in the design.
Marble nails are a breeze to DIY and allow for endless color combo possibilities.
Plus, the irregular stone-like pattern gives nails an edgy, luxe vibe.
Go for contrasting bright colors or soft pastel blends – either way, marble nails are totally on trend for August!
Metallic Nails
Metallic nail polish and chrome powder are having a major moment this summer.
These high-shine finishes add glam and edge to any mani for instant style points.
The easiest way to hop on the metallic nail trend is with a foil finish polish.
Choose a bold metallic like copper, rose gold, silver, or gunmetal gray for maximum impact.
Apply two thin coats for opaque coverage.
Using a topcoat is optional since metallic polishes have a built-in reflectiveness that makes them super shiny.
For next level metallic nails, brush chrome powder over any base color polish.
Here’s how:
– Start with a base color of your choice.
Darker shades work best to allow the chrome powder to show up.
– Paint your nails with two coats and let dry fully.
– Brush powder over the polish using a dense makeup brush.
Press down firmly to adhere the powder to your nails.
– Seal it in with a layer of quick-dry topcoat like Seche Vite.
The end result is a dynamic, mirror-like chrome finish!
Use sparingly over an accent nail or full coverage for a futuristic, fashion-forward look.
Metallic chrome nails are the hottest way to glam up your August style.
Negative Space Nails
Negative space nail designs play with contrasting polish and bare nails to create cool geometric shapes and graphic patterns.
Leaving strategic sections of your nails bare (the “negative space”) allows the polish to pop even more.
Negative space manicures are surging in popularity thanks to their modern, artistic vibe.
Some chic ways to rock the negative space trend:
– French tip – Classic with a twist!
Paint on an inverted French tip by leaving the base of your nail bare and painting only the tips.
– Half-moon – Leave a half-moon bare at the base of your nail for a cute summer look.
Fill in the rest of the nail with your polish shade.
– Diagonal or striped – Paint stripes diagonally down your nail, alternating between polish and bare nails.
Or do full striped nails, leaving parts bare.
– Geometric shapes – Use striping tape to create geometric shapes like triangles, trapezoids, or chevron designs.
Leave the shapes bare for a graphic look.
– Skittle – Paint each nail a different color with one left bare.
The “skittle” mani is fun and funky for August.
Go for bold brights, pastels, or metallics when trying negative space designs.
The contrast of the polish against your bare nails is striking and so stylish for summer!
Fruit Nail Art
What better way to celebrate the sunny season than with cute fruit-inspired nail art?
Pineapples, watermelon, cherries, lemons, and more vibrant fruit designs are adorable additions to your August nails.
The juicy, summertime motifs are perfect for tropical vacations or just bringing a taste of paradise to your everyday style.
Here are some of the sweetest ways to incorporate fruit into your nail art:
– Pineapple – Nothing says summer quite like this tropical fruit!
Paint yellow base nails and add little brown triangle shapes for the pineapple skin pattern.
Accent with green for the spiky leaves on top.
– Watermelon – Nail art doesn’t get much sweeter than watermelon designs!
Use gradients of pink, white, and green to recreate everyone’s favorite juicy summer treat.
– Cherries – A cherry mani is a classic.
Paint on red circle shapes and little green stems.
For extra flair, add cherry drips or splatter details.
– Lemons – Bright yellow lemon slices against a sky blue base capture summer’s citrusy freshness.
Add sliced lemon accents or full nail lemon art.
– Strawberries – Vibrant red berries with green leafy tops are simply adorable.
Paint just the tops or full strawberry nail art.
Fruit manicures are fun, playful ways to celebrate summer.
The juicy motifs look great as accents on one or two fingers or as the star of the show on a full fruit-art mani.
They’re sweet, fresh, and super on-trend for August!
Checkered Nails
Bold black and white checkered nail designs are having a major moment this summer.
The graphic, retro pattern instantly
amps up your nails with mod style.
Recreate the checkerboard print at home with nail tape, striping tools, or freehand painting.
Some tips for DIY checkered nails:
– Start with a base coat to fill ridges and prevent staining.
Paint your base color, then let dry fully before taping.
– Apply strips of painter’s tape or masking tape in a checkered pattern across your nails.
You can do a traditional grid or play with different check sizes.
– Paint over the tape with the contrasting color.
For example, glossy black polish over a matte white base.
– Carefully peel off the tape.
Clean up edges with a small brush dipped in acetone if needed.
– Use striping tools or toothpicks for checkered details.
Paint stripes crossing each other instead of using tape.
– Get creative!
Experiment with colored glosses like red and blue for a fun twist.
Or do a black and silver checkered look with chrome powder.
However you achieve the motif, checkered nails will add instant retro flair to your August style.
Have fun with this graphic look!
TIP: Apply a fast-drying top coat immediately after removing tape to seal in the pattern.
This prevents smudging.
Galaxy Nails
The galaxy nail trend captures the wonders of outer space in one mesmerizing manicure.
These dark base nails are flecked with shimmering mini glitters, iridescent flakes, chrome pigments, and microbeads to recreate a starry night sky.
The end result is a mystical nail design that’s totally captivating.
Here are some tips for creating cosmic galaxy nails at home:
– Start with a black, dark purple, or midnight blue polish as your base.
Paint two opaque coats and let dry.
– Sweep a dense glitter polish with iridescent sparkles over your nails.
Or, use loose iridescent glitter flakes for more multidimensional sparkle.
– Really bring in the galaxy vibes with chrome powder dusted over the base in sweeping motions.
Holographic powder works too.
– Use a dotting tool to add “stars” with white acrylic paint or glitter polish.
Keep stars minimal for a subtle celestial look.
– Finish with a fast-drying top coat like Seche Vite to smooth everything and seal in the design.
Your nails will look infinitely dreamy and beautiful with a mesmerizing galaxy manicure!
Let your creativity soar by playing with glitter shapes, colors, and galactic accessories like mini aliens, planets, and rockets.
Floral Nails
What’s more summery than fresh blooms?
Floral nail art lets you sport those sweet flower motifs all season long.
Rose, daisy, orchid, and hibiscus designs are popping up everywhere as floral nails trend for August.
The beautiful blooms symbolize growth and rebirth – ideal for summer.
Recreate these romantic blossoms on your nails with the following tips:
– Simple floral accents – Use a dotting tool to paint on flowers like daisies.
Keep them minimal as accents against a nude or pastel base.
– Colorful floral prints – Make a statement with bold tropical blooms in vivid colors against a contrasting base shade.
– Detailed floral art – Get creative with different flower types, leaves, and arrangements for a natural garden look.
You can paint or use floral nail stickers.
– Ombre blooms – Use gradients of color like yellow to orange to craft ombre flowers for a fun twist.
– Minimalist French floral – Adorn your tips with simple black or white blooms floating on top of bare nails.
– Rose gold dried flowers – Paint chrome powder roses and leaves over a blush pink base for romantic dried florals.
Whatever your style, floral nail designs are timeless, feminine, and so pretty for summer.
Find inspiration in your own garden and let your creativity bloom!
Glitter Gradient Nails
One of the prettiest nail trends this August is glitter gradient nails.
These shimmering ombre designs seamlessly transition from concentrated glitter at the tips to sparse sparkle near the cuticles.
The glitter fades softly in between to create a dreamy, ethereal look.
Here are some tips for nailing this whimsical mani:
– Paint your base nail color first and let dry fully.
Soft nudes, pinks and pearlescent polishes work beautifully.
– Choose a glitter shade that complements your base color.
Apply a dense layer of glitter polish just to the nail tips.
– While the glitter is still wet, use a brush or sponge applicator to softly pull and blend the glitter back toward the cuticles.
This creates a sparkly fade.
– For extra dimension, apply loose iridescent glitter the same way over the gradient.
The scattered sparkle takes it to the next level.
– Finish with a fast-dry top coat to smooth and seal.
Glitter gradient nails are fairy-like and gorgeous for August.
Plus, they’re easier to DIY than traditional ombre.
Dab on that dreamy sparkle and get ready to shine all season!
Abstract Nail Art
If you love art, why not wear it on your nails?
Abstract nail designs are taking over as a huge trend for August.
These artistic manicures feature bold shapes, colors, lines and textures blended together in imaginative ways.
Recreate the modern art look at home with some simple techniques.
Start with a base color, then improvise with:
– Paint blobs and splatters – Use the end of your brush to fling random dots of contrasting shades over the base.
– Swipe and pull lines – Drag polish across the nails in uneven stripes.
Then smear it into abstract lines before it dries.
– Stamp shapes – Make triangles, circles, squiggles with cosmetic wedges or the edge of striping tape.
– Layer textures – Apply polish, let dry, then dab on holographic glitter, a matte top coat, or cracked effect.
– Embellish with studs – Add metal studs on an accent nail for industrial edge.
Take inspiration from Pollack, Mondrian, and Kandinsky.
Use a variety of art supplies like acrylic paint, glitter, tape, stamps and dotting tools to explore patterns, colors, shapes and textures.
Let your inner Picasso shine through with artsy nails!
Glazed Donut Nails
Calling all donut lovers!
The delicious breakfast treat has become a huge nail art trend for August.
These donut-inspired manicures feature glossy, glazed looking finishes with colorful sprinkles and drips.
It’s a fun, foodie nail look that’s ideal for summer.
Recreate the yummy glazed donut style with these tips:
– Start with a pink, brown or neutral base to mimic the donut color.
Paint two coats and let dry.
– Apply a thick layer of glossy topcoat still wet to act as the glaze.
– Use a toothpick to drizzle clear or colored polish down the nail while the glaze is wet.
Polish “drips” complete the freshly glazed look.
– For sprinkles, dab on dots of different colored polish or multilayer glitter dots.
Keep them clustered toward the tips.
– Finish with another glossy top coat to smooth and set.
The end result looks good enough to eat!
Play with glaze colors and sprinkle combos like chocolate drizzle over a pink base.
Glazed donut nails are irresistible and super cute for August.
Cow Print Nails
Move over leopard print, cow prints are moo-ving in this season!
Spots and cow patterns are a huge nail trend for August.
The black and white bovine look ranges from subtle polka dots to bold Southwestern designs.
Dairy-inspired nails are such a fun way to sport the animal print trend.
Some ways to rock cow spot nails:
– Single accent nail – Paint a single black cow spot on one accent nail against a white or nude base.
– Simple polka dots – Add white dots in random patterns over black nails.
Keep it minimal for a classy cow look.
– Bold spots – Make a statement with fully covered black and white cow spotted nails.
Use acrylic paint for clean definition.
– Southwestern cow – Outline different sized black and white spots and connect them with black brush strokes for a Southwestern vibe.
– Gold cow – Metallize your cow print by painting gold spots instead of black over a glossy nude base.
Glam cow vibes!
Have fun with your moo-tiful mani by customizing spot sizes and placements.
Brush on some flowers or play with colorful tips too.
Cow prints are a fresh take on animal nail art for August!
Ditsy Floral Nails
Cute, dainty florals are blooming all over nails this summer.
Ditsy floral nail designs feature repeat patterns of tiny painted blossoms and minimal foliage.
The delicate flowers are a romantic twist on floral nails – perfect for August.
To recreate this feminine look:
– Choose two to three pastel polish colors that complement each other, like pink, peach, yellow, and sage green
– Paint on rows of miniature blooms in the different shades.
Use a dotting tool or the tip of a thin brush to paint little flower circles.
– Add skinny stems, leaves, and buds in green and brown polish.
Keep them super delicate to balance the petite blooms.
– Outline larger flowers and accent leaves with black polish for definition.
– Finish with a glossy top coat to protect the dainty details.
The mix of soft pastels and intricate floral motifs is so pretty and fresh for summer.
For nighttime appeal, do dark ditsy florals using deep blues, purples, blacks and metallics.
Mini blossoms equal maximum style!
The 90’s French Manicure
Classic French tips get a bold 90’s style update this August.
The new take on tips involves making them bolder, thicker, rounder and shorter than traditional French manicures.
Dark polish, glitters, pearls and graphics amp up the edge for serious nostalgia.
How to nail the 90’s French mani:
– Paint wide, round tips that don’t extend down too far.
Aim for just below the midpoint of your nail for that blunt 90’s shape.
– Use black, deep burgundy, or dark green polish instead of typical nude for bold definition.
– Add mini glitter or pearls to really make tips stand out.
Keep placement dense toward the end of the nail.
– Get creative with tips!
Do graphic checkerboard or cow print designs, ombre glitter, and colors like orange for neon vibes.
– Leave the base bare and represent that 90’s minimalism.
Or go with a sheer jelly polish for translucent edge.
This cooler, updated take on French tips is all about capturing the best parts of 90’s style.
Show off the bold colors, textures, and shapes with your tips.
It’s nostalgia at its coolest.
With dazzling metallics, artsy patterns, juicy fruit motifs and more, these 13 August nail ideas are just what you need to refresh your summer style!
I hope these tips and tricks inspire you to try some new nail art techniques while also taking advantage of summer’s best colors and vibes.
Get ready to rock tons of compliments along with your fab nails!
Which design will you wear first to embrace the last of those sunny August days?
Get your nails ready to soak up all of summer’s beauty and take your mani game up a notch!
