Now that summer is finally here, it’s time to start actioning our warm-weather beauty plans, and of course, summer nail designs. Top of the agenda? Designs and colours that lift the mood and put a smile on your face. According to Juanita Huber-Millet, founder and creative director of luxury nail salon brand Townhouse, it’s the ocean that inspires this season – think translucent bases, pearl details, shimmering chrome top coats and subtle gold accents.
“High shine is giving way to iridescence, and softer, nature-inspired textures are replacing some of the more maximalist designs,” she says. “It’s a nod to our connection to the sea and the serenity and sense of calm it instils. This ‘blue mind theory’ is finding its way into beauty, fashion, interiors and now nails.” So, don’t be surprised to see a blue renaissance this summer, with aquamarine, turquoise, cyan, cobalt, periwinkle and cerulean all trending.
Beyond the ocean, there are some other summer nail design ideas we can’t get enough of – from the modern summer French to micro-citrus fruits, hazy auras and even a rebooted cow-print effect. Here’s British Vogue’s pick of the best nail ideas to experiment with this summer.
1. Into the blue
As Huber-Millet predicted, the blue mood is here, and with it myriad summer nail designs to choose from. There’s the Lone Star State vibe of combining vibrant cobalt with silver and stars, or creating undulating waves of colour by pairing blue with lots of negative space. A personal, Yves Klein-inspired favourite is a nude base with just a single, slightly hazy sapphire dot in the middle. Minimalist without feeling nothing-y, it’s easy to achieve at home.
