The summer is the one time that I almost always have my nails done. When you’re in a super cute swimsuit at the beach with a straw hat and rocking a nice tan, gorgeous summer nails really complete the look.
The great thing about doing your nails is that you can try out fun seasonal designs! And this summer, there are some really cool looks.
Nail trends don’t change a ton from year to year, but there are crucial small differences. A few years ago, stark white nails were not in; last year, white was the color over 85% of women were wearing during the warmer months.
This year has some of the coolest summer nail trends yet!
Major Summer Nails Trends:
This summer, the trends are very similar to last, but there’s an emphasis on art. In 2022, various interesting designs are still “in,” but they’re all slightly abstract and upscale. Focus on adding just a touch of summer through color, pattern, and design.
As far as the shape goes, almond and square are both popular this year. If your nails are short, I recommend asking for gel tips with a dip manicure. I find that the dip manicure works best because it keeps your nail strong so it doesn’t break.
Don’t forget: if you opt for press-on nails, you can always cut and file them yourself to fit the current nail shape trend. I like to buy press-on nails on Etsy, but I use this glue to get them to stick for a good long while.
Shiny nails seem to be much more popular than matte this year.
Specific designs that are popular this year include:
- Abstract designs in one color (use different shades of the color to achieve a seamless look)
- Floral designs in beachy summer colors
- French tips covered with summer designs
- Rainbow nails
You’ll see that a lot of color is popular this year as you scroll through the summer nails photos below. You have a choice between staying on one side of the color wheel (which means you use various shades of similar colors, like red/orange/yellow or blue/greens), or using opposite colors (i.e. red with blue). While staying on one side of the color wheel seems to be more popular this year for summer manicures, you’ll definitely find both options here.
Summer Nails Inspiration
Here are 100+ gorgeous summer nails for 2022! Some of these are pretty complicated designs while others are simple summer nail colors.
Feel free to save any of these photos to your phone so that you can show your nail technician. Just press down on the photo and click save to camera roll.
This is a nice white because it isn’t insanely stark but will still stand out against most skin tones (and work with most outfits).
This is one of my favorite summer nail colors for pale skin! It looks great with any skin color but is especially a good choice for those with skin that doesn’t tan easily.
Navy blue is one of the best summer nail colors for pale skin. I love how navy is slightly preppy so it will never go out of style.
This is one of the prettiest summer nail colors! I love how it’s simple (and neutral) but still has a summer feel. These are stick on nails so they’re easy to use in a pinch.
If you really want to make your nails pop, try incorporating rings. I like to do a few on each hand. There’s lots of rings available on Amazon that are pretty decent quality for a low price!
Some hand jewelry will give your nails that extra flair that makes them stand out. Even the prettiest summer nail colors can benefit from some rings calling attention to your hands.
Another important piece to make your summer nails look especially amazing is a nice tan. Whether you’re super pale or naturally tan, you can always add a few levels or even just get a nice glow that makes summer nail colors really stand out.
While nails especially look great with a tan and add an important extra element to any outfit. If you’re not the type that likes to lay out in the sun (and you want to be especially careful with your skin), then opt for a spray-tan or an at-home tanning lotion. Make sure to apply either before you do your nails, especially if they’re a light color!
If you’re looking to do your own get nails at home, head here for my full guide! It’s a quick and easy way to get gorgeous nails all summer long without having to sit and pay at a salon.
Great article. Turquoise nails are beautiful.