It’s time to start planning your HOT weather nail looks!
This year, coffin nails are shaping up to be one of the hottest nail trends for the sunny season.
Coffin nails, also known as ballerina nails, are longer nails with a square edge that create an elegant, dramatic look. The coffin shape naturally draws the eye and works with any nail length.
Coffin nails go perfectly with the bright, vibrant colors and patterns that are popular for summer nail designs.
We’ll go over tips, tricks, and step-by-step instructions to help you recreate these gorgeous summer coffin nail looks at home.
With so many options, you’ll find endless inspiration for your own unique and fabulous warm weather manicures. Let’s get started with the first dazzling design!
Rainbow Coffin Nails
What better way to kick off summer than with a fun, rainbow-bright manicure?
For this cheerful look, paint each nail in gradient shades going from red to orange to yellow to green to blue to purple. Use a makeup sponge or ombre nail technique to seamlessly blend the vibrant colors on each nail.
Start by painting the base of the nail red. While it is still wet, use a makeup sponge loaded with orange polish and lightly dab it over the red 2-3 times until it blends together.
Do the same blending yellow over the orange, green over yellow, and continue all the way up the nail length with the rainbow colors until you get to purple.
Make sure to fully saturate the makeup sponge with each polish color before dabbing to allow for even blending.
Once all the colors are blended, outline the tip of the nail with your purple polish using the square edge of the coffin shape as a guide.
This helps define the shape and make the colors really pop. Finish by sealing in the gradient rainbow design with a fast-drying clear top coat.
To make this rainbow mani extra eye-catching, use glitter polishes for an added sparkle effect on top of the gradient colors.
Mixing in different iridescent glitters can create a fun confetti look. For extra bling, tiny rhinestones or glitter flakes can also be applied as a finishing touch along the tip or near the cuticle. This happy, colorful rainbow design is guaranteed to put you in a sunny mood.
The squared coffin shape shows off the gradient colors beautifully and makes the rainbow really stand out on your tips!
Marble Coffin Nails
Marble nail art never seems to go out of style and it’s easy to see why – the marble pattern looks so luxe and elegant on any nail shape.
For this chic coffin nail design, start by prepping your nails with a base coat to protect your natural nails. Paint your coffin-shaped tips with an opaque white or soft nude polish to create the base color.
Once the base color is completely dry, use a toothpick and black nail polish to create thin jagged lines across the nails to form the veins of the marble pattern.
Focus the black lines more heavily towards the tip and slowly make them lighter and thinner as you work downwards towards the cuticle.
Next, go in with dark gray polish and make more fuzzy, blurred veins overlapping and intersecting the black lines. Use the same technique of starting heavier at the tip and lightening up near the cuticle.
This creates depth and dimension.
Follow with thinner gold vein-like lines drawn on with a thin nail art brush for a luxurious touch. The gold polish will pop against the black and gray to mimic the shimmer of real marble.
Feel free to add dots and swirls with the gold polish as well for extra flair.
Finally, use a cotton swab soaked in nail polish remover to softly blend and feather the edges where the colors meet. This gives the marble effect a natural, seamless look.
Finish with a fast-drying shiny top coat to smooth and seal in the design.
You can keep the marble pattern simple or go for fuller coverage – whichever you prefer. The marble coffin nails give off natural stone vibes that are totally on point for summer.
Go for an overall neutral color scheme for a stylish and understated look or use brighter colors like teal or pink for the marble veins for a pop of color.
Lemonade Coffin Nails
These cheerful lemonade-inspired coffin nails are ideal for summer! Start by applying a base coat first to protect your nails. Paint your coffin tips a bright and opaque lemon yellow polish.
For the most vivid color, apply two to three thin coats and allow each layer to dry before adding the next. The opacity helps the fun details stand out better against the background.
Once the lemon yellow base is dry, use a small detail brush dipped in white polish to paint on random ‘ice cube’ shapes near the cuticle and tip.
Keep the shapes varied – some more rounded, some elongated. Make the edges slightly jagged for a realistic icy effect.
Next, paint on oval ‘lemon slices’ using a light pastel yellow polish. Make some slices have a paler yellow center that fades out to deeper yellow edges.
This mimics the pulpy interior and outer rind of real lemons. Use a pale green polish to accent some slices with a tint of green around the edges the way actual lemons often appear. Keep the slice shapes semi-transparent for a natural citrus look.
For extra pizzazz, place a small clear or yellow rhinestone in the center of each lemon slice to represent juice droplets! The stones will catch the light beautifully.
Finish by using a small detail brush and white polish to paint on squiggly ‘condensation’ lines around the ice cubes and down the nail for a refreshing lemonade effect.
The fresh lemon shapes and colors are so fun and really put you in the summer spirit. This mani is sweet, citrusy perfection!
Watermelon Coffin Nails
Nothing says summer like juicy watermelon!
This lively coffin nail design captures all the vibrant colors and essence of the fruit. Start by applying a base coat, then paint your coffin tips with a bright raspberry red creme polish for the watermelon ‘flesh.’ Apply two to three thin coats to build up to an opaque, vivid red.
Once the red base is dry, use a small dotting tool dipped in lime green polish to make oval ‘rind’ shapes around the edges of each nail. Next, make more dotted oval shapes overlapping in the center using white polish for a subtle highlighted effect.
With a very thin nail art brush, add a curved black or dark green line down the center of each white oval to represent watermelon seeds. Make the lines varied in size and shape for an organic look.
Finish the seeds with small black dots on each side using the dotting tool. Feel free to add extra dots and seeds for fuller watermelon texture.
Use a matte top coat on just the rind and seed sections to give them a flat finish that stands out against the shining red watermelon flesh base.
The end result is so vibrant and makes a super cute melon-inspired summer mani! The coffin shape shows off the juicy details beautifully.
Neon Tie-Dye Coffin Nails
Neon colors are always huge for summer and this year tie-dye designs are also having a major moment. Combine both of these fun trends with these electric tie-dye coffin nails!
Start by applying a base coat to protect your nails, then paint your coffin tips white or a pale neutral base. Make sure the base is completely opaque before moving on.
Next, make neon polka dots using two or more bright polish colors like yellow, pink, green and orange. Use either a toothpick or dotting tool for precision. Cover the entire nail, clustering the dots closer together near the tip fading to sparser dots at the cuticle.
Once all the neon dots are made, gently drag a thin striping brush through them horizontally while the polish is still wet. This will blend the dots together creating the tie-dye effect.
Continue lightly pulling the brush back and forth vertically and diagonally across the different colored dots to blend them. Don’t over-mix the polishes otherwise the neon colors will get muddy.
Finish with a fast-drying glossy top coat to seal in the design and make the neons really shine. The end result is so vibrant and playful!
You can make each nail have different neon color combos or use the same scheme on all nails – either way they’ll POP! This artsy tie-dye mani lets you show off your creative side with fun neon style!
Floral Lace Coffin Nails
Pretty florals and lacy details are perfect for creating a romantic and feminine summer mani. Start by applying a base coat first, then paint your coffin tips a soft neutral nude or pale pink polish.
Once the base color is dry, use a small thin nail art brush dipped in white polish to paint on flowy floral lace designs. Keep the patterns minimal and delicate on each nail, visualizing real lace.
Make sure to seal the lace design with a top coat before moving on. This ensures it stays in place for the next steps.
Next, use the nail art brush with light pink polish to add petite flower shapes like small roses, tulips, or daisies accompanying the lace. Create thin, leafy stems from the flowers trailing down the nail.
Tiny pearls or iridescent glitter placed near the flowers completes the dainty romantic look. The soft colors, florals, and lacy details create a dreamy, delicate nail design that’s ideal for a warm weather manicure.
Upgrade the look for a summer wedding or special occasion by outlining the lace patterns with glitter polish for an elegant shimmer. Crystals, gold foil, or metallic touches can also amplify the style.
Cow Print Coffin Nails
Unleash your funky and playful side this summer with these fun cow print coffin nails! Start by painting your tips with two coats of a bright white creme polish as the base color.
Once the white is dry, begin using a small detail brush dipped in brown polish to paint on brown cow spots in various sizes. Keep the spots random, some larger and some tiny, with uneven edges. Allow some spots to overlap for a natural abstract cow pattern.
Focus the spots heavily at the tip fading to sparser spots near the cuticle, just like real cow markings.
For an extra pop of color, make some spots pink! Cows with pink pigmented skin are not uncommon.
Finish with a matte top coat over the spots to mimic the soft velvety texture of real cow hide. This also makes the white base polish remain ultra-glossy in contrast.
For even more boho cowgirl style, add a tiny pink rhinestone nose ring on the ring finger!
The animal print nail trend is huge for summer fashion and these cowboy-chic coffin nails let you jump on board with a unique twist!
Sandy Beach Coffin Nails
Dreaming of walking on sandy beaches? Bring the summer vacation vibes to your nails with this simple yet chic beach-inspired coffin design!
Start by applying a base coat to protect your nails. Then paint your coffin tips with two thin coats of a shimmery beige or pale nude polish to mimic the look of natural sand.
Once completely dry, use a small thin striping brush dipped in metallic gold polish to paint on thin wavy lines representing the smooth ridge-line left by waves along the shore.
Make the lines fluid and flowing, imagining the water washing up on the sand. Create lines of varying widths and opacity, making some lighter and some bolder for dimension.
Finish the beach wave effect by outlining just one side of each gold line with bright white polish. This mimics the sea foam edging the crests of real ocean waves.
For extra seaside-inspired decoration, stud a few nails with tiny seashell charms or flat back rhinestones. Place them towards the cuticle area. Using a base coat first will help the charms adhere properly.
Complete the mani with a fast dry top coat to seal in the design and add a polished shine.
With its soft natural hues and tranquil beach vibes, this coffin nail design is totally calming and relaxing. It’s the perfect subtle mani to put you in a coastal state of mind!
Iridescent Butterfly Coffin Nails
Butterflies and shimmer go hand-in-hand for picture-perfect summer nail inspiration. Start this ethereal look by applying a base coat followed by two coats of a light neutral base color like pale pink or white.
Once the base is dry, use a makeup sponge lightly dabbed in iridescent glitter polish to create a sparkly ombre effect on each nail. Repeatedly dab the sponge starting at the tip and moving downwards towards the cuticle to concentrate the glitter at the top.
The glitter will gradually fade further down the nail for a magical dimensional effect. Try using a few different iridescent glitters for extra depth and color variation.
Next, use nail glue to attach a small delicate butterfly charm or jewelry piece to one or two nails for exquisite 3D embellishment. Place towards the cuticle area.
Finish with a fast-drying top coat to smooth and set the design. The reflective rainbow sheen gives off an ethereal, fairy-like vibe that’s so pretty and perfect for the warmer months. Dazzle up your tips with these glam glitter butterfly nails!
Mint Green Coffin Nails with Gold Leaf
For elegant summer style, you can’t go wrong with soft mint green nails topped with gilded touches. Start by applying a base coat followed by two coats of a pastel mint green polish to achieve an opaque finish.
Once the mint nails are completely dry, gently brush on some gold leaf towards the tips for a glam gilded ombre effect. Use a small detail brush and handle the gold leaf gently to transfer it on semi-sheer.
Concentrate the gold leaf more heavily at the tips, letting it fade further down the nail for a luxe faded effect. The gold leaf gives off the look of real gold – regal and opulent!
For extra embellishment, stick on small clear rhinestones or holographic glitter flakes in a diagonal line near the cuticles. This adds pretty accent shimmer.
Finish with a fast drying top coat to seal in the gold leaf design and add a smooth glossy shine.
The light minty pastel color has an airy, refreshing vibe that’s perfect for hot summer days, while the gold leaf gives off vacation luxury. This mani is gorgeous yet understated for any occasion!
Red, White and Blue Coffin Nails for 4th of July
Show your star-spangled spirit this summer with these festive patriotic red, white and blue coffin nails!
Start by applying base coat as usual, then paint each nail tip with stripes or blocks of the classic Americana colors.
A simple horizontal striped pattern looks classically nautical. Or get creative and play with wavy stripes, checkered blocks, diagonals or even polka dots!
Add silver or blue glitter in between the stripes or shapes for added Independence Day sparkle. Holographic glitter also pops beautifully against the red, white and blue.
For extra flair, accent your tips with mini star embellishments or crystal rhinestone decals placed towards the cuticle area.
Finish up your festive 4th of July mani with a fast-drying top coat to seal in the design and amp up the shine factor.
No matter what patriotic pattern you choose, this color combo looks so vibrant, celebratory and summery! Show off your nail art pride with these fun coffin tips!
Sunflower Coffin Nails
Bright happy sunflowers perfectly capture the joy and warmth of summer. To recreate the cheery blooms on your tips, start as usual with a base coat followed by a solid yellow base color on each nail.
Apply two coats for super vibrant opaque yellow ‘petals.’
Once the yellow base is completely dry, use a small dotting tool dipped in brown polish to add ‘sunflower seeds’ with concentric dotted circles emanating out from the center.
Make some near the edges to mimic outer seeds and place some centralized seeds closer to the cuticle as well. Vary the sizes for organic variety.
Next, use a thin detail brush dipped in green polish to create thin curved leaf shapes radiating out from the central seeds. Imagine the leaves circling around the flower.
Add mini glitter decals or rhinestones sparsely around the center seeds to recreate the glimmer of real sunflowers.
Finish with a fast-drying glossy top coat to make the sunny yellow ‘petals’ shine and pop. The happy sunflowers on your tips will inspire smiles and brightness to your day!
With so many stunning coffin nail designs to inspire you, your summer nail game will be stronger than ever!
Use embellishments like rhinestones, foils, glitter and charms to take your designs over the top.
Follow the step-by-step instructions to easily recreate these beautiful summer coffin nails at home.
With vivid colors, pretty florals, and shimmering bling, your nails will shine as brightly as the summer sun! So get ready to flaunt sensational, on-trend nail art with coffin shapes.
Your nails will be summer ready in no time with these gorgeous designs. Get ready to rock runway-worthy coffin nails all season long!
