The Biggest Spring Nail Art Trends for Minimalists & Maximalists Alike
Spring Nail Art. In the midst of dark and cold days, it's hard to imagine that spring is just around the corner. But soon enough, flowers will start to bloom, and the sun will shine. In the beauty world, changing weather is a sign that it's time to put away the midnight blues or matte grays of winter nail polish and embrace colorful manicures, or better yet, add designs with one of the spring 2023 nail art trends.
This year, Hemi Park, LeChat Nails educator, predicts that bright patterns and colors will be more popular than ever. "We've already seen retro patterns with modern color choices, which are very quirky and fun," she told TZR. Some past trends with new variations will also make a buzz. "Velvet and texture trends are here to stay, with colored sheer (aka jelly) polish becoming popular for layering over textured or glitter polishes," Park continued.
As for which colors to choose for your trendy nail art, Thea Green, founder of Nails.INC, says the bolder, the better. "After the dark winter days, we naturally look for brighter colors to welcome spring," she said. Green also noted that she usually receives many requests for rich greens, bright corals, and fresh pinks during the spring.
And whatever length or shape you prefer, this season's nail art trends offer looks for every manicure vibe. Ahead, TZR spoke with some celebrity manicurists to find out the most popular nail designs for spring 2023.
Half-Moon Negative Space
1920s-inspired nail art designs have been making a comeback since last year, and the polished look shows no signs of slowing down. Here, celebrity nail artist Betina Goldstein combines retro designs with another major nail art trend: negative space. The result? A cool look for spring. Choose your favorite bright nail polish as a base to lean into the spring vibes.
Lip Gloss Nails
While glassy donut nails are going strong, another minimalist manicure is making waves for spring 2023. Enter lip gloss nails, a look that consists of a thin neutral base with a glossy topcoat. "The nails look as if you've just applied lip gloss without actually using gloss," Olivia Van Iderstine, Olive & June Mani Trend Expert + VP of Content and Creative, previously told TZR. "There's a touch of color from a sheer tint and the super shiny finish of the topcoat."
Bits & Clumps
The beauty of this funky abstract manicure is that it's super easy for nail art beginners to DIY. You don't need special nail art tools (clumps and lines can be done with a brush from the nail polish bottle), and it can be done with any colors. For example, this jade green is the perfect middle ground between subtle and bold.
Invisible French Manicure
The French manicure continues its reign as one of the most popular nail art designs because there are so many ways to wear it. For spring 2023, the look is coming back through the invisible French manicure, which highlights negative space, very fine lines, and you can even add a hint of color like celebrity manicurist Jin Soon Choi did above.
Hourglass Nails
While hourglass nails originated from one of Maddy Perez's manicures in an episode of Euphoria, the look has stayed alive thanks to celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and nail artists on Instagram. The design consists of a neutral base with thick swirls of colorful hues framing the sides of the nails.
Feel the Rainbow
When you can't decide on one or two nail polish colors, why not do a rainbow variation to show off all your favorites? "Skittle nails are always great for those of us who are indecisive," says Park. "You can either choose nails with colors in the same tone, similar color groups, or have fun experimenting with all different colors."
Airbrush Nails
This popular Y2K style has made a comeback thanks to Instagram influencers. The design is achieved with gel polish and a handheld airbrush spray to seamlessly spray the nail polish. "[Airbrushing] creates the perfect blend of two colors while adding a reddish blush from bold shapes (like flames and barbed wire) or other embellishments," Park says to TZR.
Textured Nails
This season, you have the freedom to match your favorite cable-knit sweater or slip dress with your nails, thanks to the textured manicure trend. Celebrity nail artist Elle Gerstein, whose A-list clients include Blake Lively and Mariah Carey, describes the buzzy trend as various textures wrapped in separate layers to create dimension. Embrace the trend with embellishments, decals, different patterns, negative space, and more — through accent nails or full-blown manicures.
Reinforced Velvet
Fuzzy and textured velvet nails are a top spring choice. "I love this trend because it truly expresses movement — we are no longer one-dimensional," Gerstein says to TZR. "You can reinforce it by adding stones, tin foil, and textured shimmer like LeChat Sky Dust for extra dimension on top of the velvet."
Ombre Nails
A classic nail art technique, ombre nails use a gradient technique to blend two different colors, either within the same color palette or contrasting ones. When doing this look yourself, Gerstein's top tip is to use cuticle oil and seal it with a top coat. "Oil every day keeps the nail strength and flexibility," the pro shares. "The life of a manicure really depends on proper nail preparation."
Chrome
Last year, Hailey Bieber, Dua Lipa, and Lizzo might have been among the first to showcase glossy (aka chrome) nails on social media. Since then, many variations of the look have gone viral on TikTok, with the hashtag #glazeddonutnails garnering over 170 million views. And the style is still going strong for spring 2023. Silver, bronze, metallic, milky white — chrome nails in any color are sure to catch attention.
Florals
As Miranda Priestly famously said in The Devil Wears Prada: "Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking." It wouldn't be a spring nail art list without floral motifs, but rest assured that this year's classic designs are anything but what Priestly envisioned. "Flower prints are always a big trend for nail enthusiasts in spring," says Park. "This spring, try wildflower arrangements with stickers and flowers on the tips of your nails for an updated look."
Micro French Manicure
If you want to step away from long coffin-shaped nails, micro or baby French manicures are having a moment this spring. This style can be done on acrylic, gel, or natural nails, and it can be done with neutral colors, simple designs, or maximalist accents. For a longer-lasting French manicure, Green suggests adding another top coat layer to freshen up the color a week into your manicure.
Jelly Nails
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The Kardashians and Hailey Bieber are just a few of the celebrities who have put jelly nails in the spotlight. Similar to the lip gloss you love, jelly nails have a semi-sheer tint with various color options, and they're paired with a chrome finish for glass-like nails. And if peeling is always an issue, Zola Ganzorigt, a manicurist consultant for Dashing Diva, recommends using nail strips or press-on nails instead of nail polish. "They're much easier and quicker to change than polish — plus, the extras come in a pack," the pro tells TZR.
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